Wielingen class

Overview

Wielingen class

Two Belgian navy Wielingen class frigates side by side in port.
Source: Luis Diaz-Bedia Astor - © GNU Attribution Share Alike license

Origin

Belgium

Type

Frigate

Entered service

1978

Status

In service

Development

1964 - Early 1970’s

Developer

Belgium

Production

1974 - 1978

Producer

Belgium - Boelwerf shipyard in Temse
Belgium - Cockerill shipyard in Antwerp

Number produced

Designations

Type 900 (early design project)
Type E71
F910 class (lead pennant number)
Drazki class (Bulgarian service)

Notable users

Belgium
Bulgaria

Details

Facts Wielingen class

General

Origin

Belgium

Type

Frigate

Complement

159, including 14 officers

Dimensions

Displacement

2.200 - 2.350 t full load

1.850 t standard

Length

106.4 m

Beam

12.3 m

Draft

5.4 m at sonar dome

3.9 m keel

Propulsion

Arrangement

CODOG

Machinery

1x Rolls Royce Olympus TM-3B gas turbine

2x ABC Type DZC diesel

Power output

1x 27.500 hp

2x 4.200 hp (5.800 hp reported as well)

Propulsion

2 shafts, controllable pitch propellers

Mobility

Speed

28 kt using gas turbine

21 kt max with both diesels

14 kt max on one diesel

Range

6.000 nm at 16 kt

Sensors

Search radar

1x HSA DA-05

Fire control radar

1x HSA WM-25

Sonar

1x AN/SQS-510

Optronics

2x EOMS IR

Navigation radar

1x Kelvin-Hughes Type 1007 Scout

Guns

Dual purpose

1x 100mm Creusot-Loire

Self-defense

6x 12.7mm M2HB

SSM

Anti-ship

2x2 MM38 Exocet

SAM

Point defense

1x8 Mk 29 launcher for RIM-7 Sea Sparrow

ASW

ASW mortar

1x6 375mm Bofors M/50

Torpedo

2x1 533mm tube for L5 Mod 4

10 torpedoes carried

Media

Wielingen class

Right side view of a Wielingen class frigate in Bulgarian service in 2009.

Source: US Navy

Wielingen class

Wielingen class frigate in Bulgarian service firing a 375mm Bofors anti-submarine rocket.

Source: Ministry of Defence of Bulgaria

Wielingen class

Left side view of a Wielingen class frigate in Bulgarian service in 2009.

Source: Dmytro Sergienko

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Subcomponents

Note: incomplete list

100mm Creusot-Loire

1x 100mm Creusot Loire dual purpose naval gun.

MM38 Exocet

2x2 launchers for MM38 subsonic anti-ship missile.

Mk 29 IBPDMS

1x8 Mk 29 octuple launcher for RIM-7 Sea Sparrow.

Bofors M/50

1x Creusot-Loire Modèle 54 sextuple launcher for Bofors 375mm anti-submarine depth charges.

12.7mm M2HB

Up to 6x 12.7mm M2HB heavy machine gun.