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Quoted

- The Romanian govemment ordered this vessel in 1872 from the French shipyard of Forges et Chantiers de la Mediteranee, La Seyne (Toulon). The ship arrived in Romania only after many adventures. Her delivery voyage lasted from October I873 to April 1874, reflecting complications in the granting by Turkey of authority for the vessel to enter the Black Sea.
- Upon arrival. she was christened on 15 June 1874. Captain Murgescu. commanding oflicer during the voyage, was decorated by both the French and Romanian authorities and the cruise was widely reported in the contemporary press.

- The vessels characteristics were as follows:
Length: 25 meters
Beam: 4.8m
Draught: 1.3m
Displacement: 90 tons
Machinery HP: 100
Speed: 7 knots
Cost: 140.000 lei
Complement: 35
Armament: two 57 mm, two MG.

- The vessel’s turret (the Romanian word used is turela. or 'turret' but actually this probably was a casemate-ed.) was shipped to Romania by land. The turret was plated to protect the gun crew against shells. However, the structure proved burdensome after assembly, restricting the vessel`s sea-worthiness. Accordingly. the stucture was removed and replaced by a Nordenfelt machine gun.
- The Fulgerul took an active part in the War of lndependence of 1877—78. The ship laid minehelds in 1877 at Hirsova and Macin.
- In July 1877 spar torpedoes were mounted in preparation for an attack on a Turkish monitor at Silistra. However, the operation was called off.
- She served as a transport during 1878.
- Capital repairs were perfomwed during 1880 and again in 1893. The work in 1880 was performed at Galati. Fulgerul survived to act as an auxiliary ship during World War ll and as a fuel storage tank for motor torpedo boats during World War II.
- Finally in 1950 the vessel was dismantled and scrapped.

Source for some Fulgerul information:
- C. Ciuchi. lstoria Marinei Romane de XXI de Secole Incoace (Constanta, 1906; copy in State Central Library, Bucharest).