Wielingen-class frigate

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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, , ran aground in 1988, was decommissioned in 1993 and was scrapped.

Design and description

File: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.Template:SfnTemplate:Efn 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.Template:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn The vessels measured Template:Convert long between perpendiculars and Template:Cvt overall with a beam of Template:Cvt and a draught of Template:Cvt.Template:SfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:Efn The ships had a light displacement of Template:Convert and Template:Cvt at full load.Template:Sfn By 2004, the light displacement had increased to Template:Cvt and to Template:Cvt at full load.Template:Sfn

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 Template:Convert and giving the frigates a maximum speed of Template:Convert or two Cockerill CO 240 V12 diesel engines creating Template:Cvt with a maximum speed of Template:Convert on both diesels or Template:Convert on just one.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn These turned controllable pitch propellers.Template:Sfn The frigates have a range of Template:Convert at Template:Convert.Template:Sfn The vessels also had four 500 kW diesel alternators for electric production. They had a complement of 160 including 15 officers in Belgian service.Template:Sfn

The Wielingen class were armed with four launchers for MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles,Template:Sfn later converted to two twin launchers.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn The frigates also mount a single [[French 100 mm naval gun|Template:Convert/55 calibre modèle 68 naval gun]], one six-barrelled [[Bofors 375mm anti submarine rockets|Creusot-Loire Template:Cvt]] anti-submarine warfare (ASW) rocket launcher with Bofors rockets, and two catapults for L5 torpedoes.Template:SfnTemplate:Efn 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.Template:Sfn

Ships in the class

Wielingen class construction dataTemplate:SfnTemplate:Sfn
Name	Pennant number	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Paid off	Status/Fate
	F910	Boelwerf, Temse	5 March 1974	30 March 1976	20 January 1978	2006	Sold to Bulgaria in 2008, refurbished and commissioned as Verni (Верни – Faithful) (42)
	F911	Cockerill, Hoboken, Antwerp	2 September 1974	8 December 1975	20 January 1978	5 October 2007	Sold to Bulgaria in 2008, refurbished and commissioned as Gordi (Горди – Proud) (43)
	F912	Boelwerf, Temse	28 March 1975Template:Efn	21 June 1977	3 October 1978	2004	Sold to Bulgaria in 2004, refurbished and commissioned as Drazki (Дръзки – Daring) (41)
	F913	Cockerill, Hoboken, Antwerp	8 December 1975	30 March 1976	20 January 1978	1 July 1993	Ran aground in 1988, Scrapped 7 November 2000Template:Sfn

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.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn The four ships, including the final two Wandelaar and Westhinder, all entered service in 1978.Template:Sfn All four ships were based at Zeebrugge.Template:Sfn Westhinder was damaged during an anti-submarine exercise off the coast of Norway in September 1988, striking a rock.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn Following the loss of Westhinder, two of the frigates were kept operational while the third was placed in reserve or under refit.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn 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.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn In 2011 Drazki took part in NATO operations against Libya and since then, the vessels have participated in several naval exercises with Turkey.Template:Sfn

See also

• List of naval ship classes in service