The ships took part in both World Wars, notably in the Battle of Turtucaia during World War I. During the Second World War, on 24 August 1944, "Catargiu" and "Kogălniceanu" were sunk by Soviet aircraft. On 27 August "Brătianu" was captured by the Russians and renamed "Azov". "Lahovari" was also captured on 2 September and renamed "Mariupol". The two ships were given back to Romania on 23 June 1951. They were put into reserve in 1957 and scrapped between 1959 and 1962.