Wielingen class frigate
Encyclopedia
The Wielingen class is a class of four multi-functional frigate
s built for the Belgian Navy
. The ships are named after sandbanks in the North Sea
, not far from the Belgian coast, or sea routes. The lead ship
is named after the Wielingen sandbank.
decided on 22 December 1970 to order four new frigates, which would be built by Belgian shipyards. These ships would replace the old escort ships of the Algerine class. The last of these left service in 1969.
Project studies had already begun in 1964 with the advice of the Dutch Navy
and continued in 1971 in cooperation with the two Belgian shipyards, Boelwerf, at Temse
, and Cockerill
, at Hoboken
, Antwerp. The construction of the ships began in 1974. The four ships, Wielingen, Westdiep, Wandelaar and Westhinder, were commissioned in the following years.
The fourth frigate, Westhinder, was decommissioned in 1993 according to the reforms of Defence Minister
Leo Delcroix. She had previously been damaged during an anti-submarine exercise off the coast of Norway. The third ship, Wandelaar, followed in 2004 and was sold to the Bulgarian Navy
the same year. Wielingen and Westdiep were sold to Bulgaria in 2008.
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s built for the Belgian Navy
Belgian Navy
The Marine Component of the Belgian Army, formerly the Belgian Naval Force, is the naval service of Belgium.-Early history:The Belgian Navy was created as the Marine Royale in 1831. This force has operated in various forms throughout Belgian history.When after the Belgian Revolution, the country...
. The ships are named after sandbanks in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
, not far from the Belgian coast, or sea routes. The lead ship
Lead ship
The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:...
is named after the Wielingen sandbank.
History
The Belgian governmentBelgian federal government
The Cabinet of Belgium is the executive branch of the Belgian federal government, consisting of ministers and secretaries of state drawn from the political parties which form the governing coalition. Formally, the ministers are appointed by the King...
decided on 22 December 1970 to order four new frigates, which would be built by Belgian shipyards. These ships would replace the old escort ships of the Algerine class. The last of these left service in 1969.
Project studies had already begun in 1964 with the advice of the Dutch Navy
Royal Netherlands Navy
The Koninklijke Marine is the navy of the Netherlands. In the mid-17th century the Dutch Navy was the most powerful navy in the world and it played an active role in the wars of the Dutch Republic and later those of the Batavian Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
and continued in 1971 in cooperation with the two Belgian shipyards, Boelwerf, at Temse
Temse
Temse is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Elversele, Steendorp, Temse proper and Tielrode. On January 1, 2006 Temse had a total population of 26,287...
, and Cockerill
Cockerill Maintenance & Ingénierie
Cockerill Maintenance & Ingénierie is a mechanical engineering group headquartered in Seraing, Belgium, producing machinery for steel plants, industrial heat recovery equipment and boiler, and shunting locomotives and military equipment ....
, at Hoboken
Hoboken
Hoboken may refer to:*Hoboken, New Jersey, United States*Hoboken, Antwerp, a district of Antwerp, Belgium*Hoboken, Georgia, United States*Hoboken, Alabama, United States*"Hoboken", a song on Operation Ivy's 1988 album Hectic-See also:...
, Antwerp. The construction of the ships began in 1974. The four ships, Wielingen, Westdiep, Wandelaar and Westhinder, were commissioned in the following years.
The fourth frigate, Westhinder, was decommissioned in 1993 according to the reforms of Defence Minister
Ministry of Defence (Belgium)
The Ministry of Defence is the Belgian ministry responsible for national defence and the Belgian military. As a result of the first Verhofstadt Government's plans to modernise the federal administration, all other ministries were transformed into Federal Public Services but in August 2007 there...
Leo Delcroix. She had previously been damaged during an anti-submarine exercise off the coast of Norway. The third ship, Wandelaar, followed in 2004 and was sold to the Bulgarian Navy
Bulgarian Navy
The Bulgarian Navy is the navy of Republic of Bulgaria and forms part of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. It has been largely overlooked in the reforms that Bulgaria had to go through in order to comply with NATO standards, mostly because of the great expense involved and the fact that naval assaults...
the same year. Wielingen and Westdiep were sold to Bulgaria in 2008.
Ships
- Wielingen
- Built: Boelwerf, TemseTemseTemse is a municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Elversele, Steendorp, Temse proper and Tielrode. On January 1, 2006 Temse had a total population of 26,287...
- Launched: 30 March 1976
- Commissioned: 20 January 1978
- Decommissioned: 2006
- Fate: Sold to BulgariaBulgarian NavyThe Bulgarian Navy is the navy of Republic of Bulgaria and forms part of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. It has been largely overlooked in the reforms that Bulgaria had to go through in order to comply with NATO standards, mostly because of the great expense involved and the fact that naval assaults...
in 2008, refurbished and commissioned as Verni (Верни - Faithful) (42)
- Built: Boelwerf, Temse
- Westdiep
- Built: CockerillCockerill Maintenance & IngénierieCockerill Maintenance & Ingénierie is a mechanical engineering group headquartered in Seraing, Belgium, producing machinery for steel plants, industrial heat recovery equipment and boiler, and shunting locomotives and military equipment ....
, HobokenHobokenHoboken may refer to:*Hoboken, New Jersey, United States*Hoboken, Antwerp, a district of Antwerp, Belgium*Hoboken, Georgia, United States*Hoboken, Alabama, United States*"Hoboken", a song on Operation Ivy's 1988 album Hectic-See also:...
, Antwerp - Launched: 8 December 1975
- Commissioned: 20 January 1978
- Decommissioned: 5 October 2007
- Fate: Sold to Bulgaria in 2008, refurbished and commissioned as Gordi (Горди - Proud) (43)
- Built: Cockerill
- Wandelaar
- Built: Boelwerf, Temse)
- Launched: 21 June 1977
- Commissioned: 3 October 1978
- Fate: Sold to Bulgaria in 2004, refurbished and commissioned as Drazki (Дръзки - Daring) (41)
- Westhinder
- Built: Cockerill, Hoboken, Antwerp
- Launched: 30 March 1976
- Commissioned: 20 January 1978
- Decommissioned: 1993
- Fate: Scrapped