When compared to neighbors France and Germany, Belgium is a relatively small nation. However, its geographical position is such that it provides critical access to the waterways of the English Channel via the all-important port city of Antwerp. This water access has always prompted the country to maintain some sort of blue water presence in the region providing a first-and-last line of defense from the sea and deterrence against a potential aggressor to its shipping.
The small Wielingen-class of fighting frigates was born as the first post-World War 2 Belgian Navy warship to be wholly constructed by the country (though its equipment came from various other parties). The types were classified frigates which characterized them as surface-going vessels outfitted with sensors, communications equipment, machinery, and weaponry suitable for force protection and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). For the Belgian Navy, this warship served in the escort ship and patrol roles. The decision to pursue a new design was made by the Belgian government in late 1970s with program approval being had in 1971. Formal design studies came in 1973. The Wielingen-class was to follow the outgoing Algerine-class which numbered eight for the Belgian Navy out of the 110 actually completed for it and other global naval forces.
The lead ship of the new class, Wielingen (F910), saw her keel laid down on March 5th, 1974 by builder Boelwerf and the hull was launched on March 30th, 1976. She was officially commissioned by ceremony on January 20th, 1978 and her sisters followed before the end of the year. The group included Westdiep (F911), Wandelaar (F912), and Westhinder (F913). Once in action, the class formed an important part of Belgian Navy capabilities during the latter stages of the Cold War.
Her machinery was a COmbined Diesel OR Gas (CODOG) system configuration that saw a single Rolls-Royce Olympus gas turbine of 28,000 horsepower coupled with 2 x Cockerill 240 CO diesels outputting at 6,000 horsepower. This arrangement drove power to two shafts with the gas turbine coming into play for high speed dashes while the diesels drove the vessel during normal cruise functions. Speeds could reach 28 knots and operational range was out to 5,190 miles.
Due to the multirole nature of frigate warships in modern navies, Wielingen was given an armament collection to help counter most any at-sea threat. The armament suite was led by 2 x MM-38 "Exocet" Anti-Ship (AS) twin missile launchers for surface targets and an Mk 29 RIM-7P"Sea Sparrow" Anti-Aircraft (AA) octuple missile launcher for inbound aerial targets. Over the forecastle was a conventional naval artillery gun - a 100mm (3.9") Creusot-Loire Mod 68 Dual-Purpose (DP) deck gun system - in a traversing turret. Anti-Submarine actions were handled by a single 375mm Cruesot-Loire Anti-Submarine-ROCket (ASROC) launcher firing Swedish Bofors-made rockets. Additional firepower against undersea threats was managed through 2 x 533mm (21") torpedo launchers for the ten ECAN L5 torpedoes carried. At one point, the 30mm "Goalkeeper" Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) was to figure into the armament suite of Wielingen-class but this initiative was ultimately abandoned.
To accomplish the many roles assigned to it, Wielingen carried a collection of sensors and processing systems which included a Hollandse Signaal Apparaten DA-05 surface search radar, a Hollandse Signaal Apparaten WM-25 fire control radar, a Vigy 105 series optronic director, the Kelvin-Hugues "Scout" navigation radar, the SEWACO IV tactical data system, the Argos 900 ESM, a pair of MK 36 SRBOC chaff launching devices, the SLQ-25 series "Nixie" Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) decoy suite, and the AN/SQS-510 model search/attack sonar fitted to the bow. These systems, combined with a well-trained and experienced crew along with the vessel's standard armament, made the Wielingen and her class formidable warships considering their relatively compact sizes.
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Offshore Bombardment
Offshore bombardment / attack of surface targets / areas primarily through onboard ballistic weaponry.
Land-Attack
Offshore strike of surface targets primarily through onboard missile / rocket weaponry.
Maritime Patrol
Active patroling of vital waterways and maritime areas; can also serve as local deterrence against airborne and seaborne threats.
Airspace Denial / Deterrence
Neutralization or deterrence of airborne elements through onboard ballistic of missile weaponry.
Fleet Support
Serving in support (either firepower or material) of the main surface fleet in Blue Water environments.
349.0 feet (106.38 meters) Length
39.8 feet (12.13 meters) Beam
18.4 feet (5.61 meters) Draught
2,200 tons Displacement
2 x Cockerill 240 CO diesel engines developing 6,000 horsepower with 1 x Rolls-Royce Olympus TM-3B gas turbine developing 28,000 horsepower driving 2 x Shafts in CODOG (COmbined Diesel Or Gas) configuration. Propulsion
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