Wielingen-class frigate

Last updated

Bulgarian frigate Verni (42) in the Black Sea in July 2015.JPG
Verni, the former Wielingen, in 2015
Class overview
NameWielingen class
Builders
Operators
Preceded by Algerine class
Succeeded by Karel Doorman class
Built1974–1978
In commission1976–present
Planned4
Completed4
Active3
Scrapped1
General characteristics
Type Guided-missile frigate
Displacement2,283 t (2,247 long tons) at full load
Length106.4 m (349 ft 1 in) oa
Beam12.3 m (40 ft 4 in)
Draught5.6 m (18 ft 4 in)
Propulsion
Speed28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph)
Range4,500  nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement160
Sensors and
processing systems
  • 1 Hollandse Signaal Apparaten DA-05 surveillance radar
  • 1 Hollandse Signaal Apparaten WM-25 targeting radar
  • 2 EOMS IR/Video optical targeting cameras
  • 1 AN/SQS-510 sonar
Armament

The Wielingen class is a class of four multi-functional frigates constructed for and operated by the Belgian Naval Component. In service from 1976 to 2008 with the Belgians, three of the class were sold to Bulgaria for service with the Bulgarian Navy beginning in 2004. The fourth, Westhinder, ran aground in 1988, was decommissioned in 1993 and was scrapped.

Contents

Design and description

The sea battle in the Wielingen, off Zeeland in 1666 Everhardus Koster - Anno 1666. De slag in de Wielingen - SA 4952 - Amsterdam Museum.jpg
The sea battle in the Wielingen, off Zeeland in 1666

The Belgian government began studies in 1969 for a new type of escort that would meet the requirements of escort missions in the North Sea and English Channel during the Cold War. The design would also only be limited to weapon systems already in service with or under development by NATO navies. The design also emphasized seaworthiness, automation and watertight integrity. [1] [lower-alpha 1] The weapons systems, with the exception of the Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile (SSM) were French. The radar and tactical data systems were Dutch and the hull and machinery were constructed in Belgium. As part of the project, the Belgian government made Belgian shipbuilding participation mandatory in the construction of the new ships. [1]

The frigates feature an action information centre between decks and the ships could be split into two independent gas-tight citadels in the case of nuclear, biological or chemical warfare. All machinery could be controlled from a central control station. [1] The vessels measured 103.0 metres (337 ft 11 in) long between perpendiculars and 106.4 m (349 ft 1 in) overall with a beam of 12.3 m (40 ft 4 in) and a draught of 5.6 m (18 ft 4 in). [1] [2] [lower-alpha 2] The ships had a light displacement of 1,880 tonnes (1,850 long tons ) and 2,283 t (2,247 long tons) at full load. [1] By 2004, the light displacement had increased to 1,940 t (1,910 long tons) and to 2,430 t (2,390 long tons) at full load. [3]

The ships are propelled by a two-shaft combined diesel or gas (CODOG) system. This is composed of a single Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbine creating 21,000 kilowatts (28,000  shp ) and giving the frigates a maximum speed of 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) or two Cockerill CO 240 V12 diesel engines creating 4,500 kW (6,000  bhp ) with a maximum speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) on both diesels or 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) on just one. [1] [2] These turned controllable pitch propellers. [3] The frigates have a range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). [1] The vessels also had four 500 kW diesel alternators for electric production. They had a complement of 160 including 15 officers in Belgian service. [2]

The Wielingen class were armed with four launchers for MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles, [2] later converted to two twin launchers. [3] They were equipped with a Mark 29 octuple launcher for eight RIM-7M Sea Sparrow SAMs. These were later upgraded to the RIM-7P model. [3] The frigates also mount a single 100-millimetre (3.9 in)/55 calibre modèle 68 naval gun, one six-barrelled Creusot-Loire 375 mm (14.8 in) anti-submarine warfare (ASW) rocket launcher with Bofors rockets, and two catapults for L5 torpedoes. [2] [lower-alpha 3] The class was fitted with two eight-barrelled Corvus chaff launchers, a Sagem Vigy 105 optronic director, a Signaal DA-05 air/surface search radar, a WM-25 surface search radar, SQS-510 hull-mounted sonar, and the SEWACO IV tactical data system with Link 11 capability. They were also given Argos AR 900 intercept electronic support measures and SLQ-25 Dixie torpedo decoy system. [3]

Ships in the class

Wielingen class construction data [2] [4]
NamePennant numberBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedPaid offStatus/Fate
Wielingen F910 Boelwerf, Temse 5 March 197430 March 197620 January 19782006Sold to Bulgaria in 2008, refurbished and commissioned as Verni (Верни – Faithful) (42)
Westdiep F911 Cockerill, Hoboken, Antwerp2 September 19748 December 197520 January 19785 October 2007Sold to Bulgaria in 2008, refurbished and commissioned as Gordi (Горди – Proud) (43)
Wandelaar F912Boelwerf, Temse28 March 1975 [lower-alpha 4] 21 June 19773 October 19782004Sold to Bulgaria in 2004, refurbished and commissioned as Drazki (Дръзки – Daring) (41)
Westhinder F913Cockerill, Hoboken, Antwerp8 December 197530 March 197620 January 19781 July 1993Ran aground in 1988, Scrapped 7 November 2000 [5]

Construction and career

The construction programme of four ships was approved on 23 June 1971 and an order was placed with two Belgian shipyards in October 1973. [2] [3] Construction of the ships began in 1974. The first two ships, Wielingen and Westdiep, were first delivered in December 1976. However, they were both sent back to their yards for an engine overhaul which was completed in 1977. [2] The four ships, including the final two Wandelaar and Westhinder, all entered service in 1978. [1] All four ships were based at Zeebrugge. [3] Westhinder was damaged during an anti-submarine exercise off the coast of Norway in September 1988, striking a rock. [6] The ship was decommissioned on 1 July 1993 and then used as a parts hulk for the other frigates. The hulk was towed to Ghent for scrapping on 7 November 2000. [5] Following the loss of Westhinder, two of the frigates were kept operational while the third was placed in reserve or under refit. [3] The third ship, Wandelaar, was decommissioned in 2004 and was sold to the Bulgarian Navy the same year. Wielingen and Westdiep were decommissioned in 2007 sold to Bulgaria in 2008. [7]

Bulgarian naval service

Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004 and sought out options to replace their older Soviet-era fleet to fulfill their obligations with the organisation. In May 2004 the Bulgarian government agreed to purchase new equipment for the Bulgarian Navy. [8] On 4 December 2004, a letter of intent was signed by the government and the first ship, Wandelaar was acquired. Approval of the purchase came only on 17 March 2005 and Wandelaar was transferred to Bulgaria in October 2005. The ship was renamed Drazki. [9] Drazki was followed by the remaining two frigates of the class, with confirmation of their acquisition on 7 December 2007. Bulgaria took possession of Westdiep on 22 August 2008 and renamed the frigate Gordi followed by Wielingen in February 2009 which was renamed Verni. [9] [10] In 2011 Drazki took part in NATO operations against Libya and since then, the vessels have participated in several naval exercises with Turkey. [11]

See also

Notes

  1. Moore has the program approved on 23 June 1971 with design studies only commenced in July 1973. [2]
  2. Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon have the draught at 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in). [1]
  3. "/55 calibre" refers to the length of the gun in terms of calibres, or the bore diameter of the gun.
  4. Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon have the date as 5 March 1975. [1]

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, p. 25.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Moore 1980, p. 51.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Saunders 2004, p. 53.
  4. Wertheim 2013, pp. 48, 70.
  5. 1 2 Wertheim 2013, p. 48.
  6. Warship International.
  7. Wertheim 2013, p. 70.
  8. Sanders 2015, pp. 75–76.
  9. 1 2 Saunders 2009, p. 90.
  10. Sanders 2015, p. 76.
  11. Sanders 2015, pp. 76–77.

Related Research Articles

<i>Admiral Petre Bărbuneanu</i>-class corvette

The Admiral Petre Bărbuneanu-class corvette is a series of four corvettes designed and constructed for the Romanian Naval Forces primarily for anti-submarine warfare. Only two corvettes out of a total of the four are still in service. Designed and constructed in the 1980s, they are a product of the Cold War with their armament and sensors based on Soviet designs. This class of corvettes was superseded by the Rear-Admiral Eustațiu Sebastian (Tetal-II) class.

Spanish frigate <i>Santa María</i> Santa María-class frigates

Santa María (F81) is the lead ship of six Spanish-built Santa Maria-class frigates of the Spanish Navy, based on the American Oliver Hazard Perry class design. The vessel was constructed in 1982 and was launched on 11 November 1984. Santa María was commissioned on 12 October 1986. The frigate has served in NATO maritime operations.

Spanish frigate <i>Reina Sofía</i> Santa María-class frigates

Reina Sofía (F84) is the fourth of six Spanish-built Santa María-class frigates of the Spanish Navy. The Santa María class is based on the American Oliver Hazard Perry-class design, providing an anti-air warfare platform with anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities at a reduced cost. Reina Sofía was constructed by Bazan and was laid down on 12 October 1987 and launched on 19 July 1989. The ship was commissioned in 1990 and has seen service in the Mediterranean Sea and off Somalia.

Spanish frigate <i>Numancia</i>

Numancia (F83) is the third of the six Spanish-built Santa Maria-class frigates of the Spanish Navy, based on the American Oliver Hazard Perry class design. The frigate was constructed in Spain by Bazan and laid down on 8 January 1986; launched on 29 January 1987; and entered service with the Spanish Navy on 17 November 1989. Based at Rota, Numancia has been deployed to the Indian Ocean to fight piracy in Somalia as part of Operation Atalanta and to the Mediterranean Sea to intercept illegal trafficking of migrants as part of Operation Sophia.

Spanish frigate <i>Navarra</i> Santa María-class frigates

Navarra (F85) is the fifth of the six Spanish-built Santa Maria-class frigates of the Spanish Navy, which are based on the American Oliver Hazard Perry-class design. The vessel was constructed by Bazan and launched on 23 October 1992 and commissioned on 27 May 1994. The Santa Maria-class frigates provide anti-submarine and anti-air defence for the Spanish Navy.

Spanish frigate <i>Victoria</i> Santa María-class frigates

Victoria (F82) is the second of the six Spanish-built Santa Maria-class frigates of the Spanish Navy, based on the American Oliver Hazard Perry class design. Constructed in 1983, the vessel was launched on 23 July 1986 and commissioned on 11 November 1987. The frigate has been assigned to Operation Atalanta, fighting piracy of the Somalian coast.

<i>Newport</i>-class tank landing ship US Navy tank landing ship class in service 1969 to 2002

Newport-class tank landing ships were an improved class of tank landing ship (LST) designed for and employed by the United States Navy from 1969 to 2002. The ships were intended to provide substantial advantages over their World War II-era predecessors. Larger and faster than any previous LST design, they carried a ramp over the bow that allowed them to surpass 20 knots, a goal of the United States amphibious forces. 27 were planned of which twenty were completed, the high number due to the demands of US force projection estimates. However, the arrival of the air-cushioned landing craft which allowed for over-the-horizon attacks made the class obsolete in the eyes of the United States Navy. Placed in reserve, twelve were eventually sold to foreign navies, while the remaining eight have since been decommissioned.

Chamsuri-class patrol boat Ship class

The Chamsuri class are patrol boats originally constructed for and operated by the Republic of Korea Navy. They first entered service in 1979, and they have since seen service with five other navies, of which the Philippine Navy is currently the largest import user. These boats were built by the Korea Tacoma, and Korea SB & Eng. Masan shipyards. In Korea, the Chamsuri-class boats are being retired and replaced by Gumdoksuri-class patrol vessels.

<i>Vidar</i>-class minelayer Norwegian-built minelayers

The Vidar-class minelayers consists of the two ships, HNoMS Vidar and HNoMS Vale built by Mjellem & Karlsen in Bergen for the Royal Norwegian Navy in 1977 and 1978. Used as multi-role ships, the Vidar class were tasked with minelaying, personnel/cargo transport, fisheries protection, torpedo-recovery ships and as anti-submarine warfare escorts in Norwegian service. In 2003, Vale was transferred to the Latvian Navy via donation and renamed Virsaitis and used as a flagship and tender to patrol craft. In 2006, Vidar was transferred to the Lithuanian Navy and renamed Jotvingis and served as flagship and tender to mine countermeasures craft. Both vessels had their ASW equipment removed upon transfer.

<i>Kortenaer</i>-class frigate Dutch naval ship class

The Kortenaer class was a class of anti-submarine frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy. Like other frigate types of the 1970s and 1980s, they featured a COGOG propulsion system with separate cruise and sprint gas turbines. Ten were built by De Schelde in Vlissingen and two by Wilton-Fijenoord in Schiedam between 1978 and 1982. Only ten served with the Royal Netherlands Navy: two were sold to Greece's Navy while still under construction and replaced by two Jacob van Heemskerck-class frigates which were an air defence variant of the Kortenaer class. The Greek frigates were renamed the Elli class. After service with the Dutch ended, eight of the frigates were sold to Greece in 1992 and the remaining two to the United Arab Emirates. Three of the ships have since been retired from active military service with one converted into the superyacht Yas.

Tripartite-class minehunter Ship class of minehunters

The Tripartite class is a class of minehunters developed from an agreement between the navies of Belgium, France and the Netherlands. A total of 35 ships were constructed for the three navies. The class was constructed in the 1980s–1990s in all three countries, using a mix of minehunting, electrical and propulsion systems from the three member nations. In France, where they are known as the Éridan class they are primarily used as minehunters, but have been used for minesweeping and ammunition transport in Belgium and the Netherlands, where the Tripartites are known as the Alkmaar class.

MEKO 360 Family of German-designed warships

The MEKO 360 is a class of five ships built in Germany for the Argentine and Nigerian navies. The MEKO 360 was the first version of the MEKO family of vessels built by Blohm und Voss. The type comes in two variants, the MEKO 360H1, comprising one ship, and the MEKO 360H2, comprising four ships. They are alternatively classed as frigates and destroyers by different sources. The design is based on the modular concept which allows swapping out different armaments to fit mission requirements and allows for easier application of upgrades and refits.

Kuha-class minesweeper (1974)

The Kuha-class minesweepers is a series of six inshore minesweepers of the Finnish Navy. The ships were constructed in 1974–1975. All the vessels of the class were modified and modernized in the late 1990s, including a lengthening of the hull. Two of the class were withdrawn from service in 2012. The rest of the class will be retired with the entry into service of the Katanpää-class mine countermeasure vessels.

Bulgarian frigate <i>Gordi</i>

Gordi is a Wielingen-class frigate of the Bulgarian Navy with number 43. She was originally commissioned as Westdiep in the Belgian Navy.

Poti-class corvette

The Poti class was the NATO reporting name for a group of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvettes built for the Soviet Navy. The Soviet designation was Project 204 small anti-submarine ships. These ships were the first Soviet warships powered by gas turbine engines; two propellers were mounted in tunnels to give a very shallow draught. A twin 57 mm (2 in) gun mounting provided self-defence. Three ships of the class were exported to Romania and six to Bulgaria during the Cold War. By 2008, all ships of the class were no longer extant.

Bulgarian frigate <i>Drazki</i>

Drazki is a Wielingen-class frigate of the Bulgarian Navy. Originally constructed for and operated by the Belgian Naval Component as Wandelaar, the frigate was designed as a platform capable of multiple uses as an escort during the Cold War in the North Sea and English Channel. The vessel uses weapons and sensor technology from NATO counterparts, which was one of the reasons the ship was acquired by the Bulgarian Navy in 2004. The frigate is currently in active service.

<i>Piratini</i>-class patrol boat

The six Piratini-class patrol boats are a series of patrol vessels that were built for the Brazilian Navy at the Rio de Janeiro Navy Arsenal. Based on the United States Coast Guard Cape-class cutter design, they were built between 1970 and 1971 as coastal patrol vessels. In 1993 they were moved from coastal patrol to riverine patrol.

HNoMS <i>Oslo</i> (F300)

HNoMS Oslo was an Oslo-class frigate of the Royal Norwegian Navy. The frigate was launched on 17 January 1964, and commissioned on 29 January 1968. Oslo ran aground near Marstein Island on 24 January 1994. One officer was killed in the incident. The next day, on 25 January, she was taken under tow. However as the situation deteriorated, the tow was let go and the frigate sank.

HMCS Fundy was a Bay-class minesweeper that was constructed for the Royal Canadian Navy during the Cold War. Entering service in 1956, the vessel was used as a training ship on the West Coast of Canada for the majority of her career. Fundy was decommissioned in 1996 and the fate of the vessel is unknown.

<i>Lindormen</i>-class minelayer Class of minelayers

The Lindormen class is a class of two minelayers built for the Royal Danish Navy to replace the Lougen-class minelayers that dated from World War II. The Lindormen class was designed to lay controlled controlled minefields in the Baltic Sea during the Cold War as part of NATO's defence plan for the region. They were taken out of service by the Danish in 2004, put up for sale in 2005 and transferred to Estonia in 2006.

References