Congolais-class, BNC P908 Ourthe - more lightly armed, but more nimble

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The P908 Ourthe was one of the later vessels of the Congolais-class vedetten, small, fast river patrol craft designed for shallow waterways. Built at Theodor Hitzler shipyard in Regensburg, Germany, she was laid down on 27 March 1954, launched 23 October 1954, and commissioned 27 October 1954. Her design emphasized high speed and shallow draft for inland river patrols, and she carried a crew of seven.

Like her sister ships, the Ourthe was lightly armed with two 12.7 mm Browning M2 HMGs, one fore and one aft. She could travel 2,300 nautical miles at 10 knots and reached speeds up to 19 knots. Her radar equipment included a DECCA 707, used from 1954 to 1964.

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Lower-Congo in 1960, Twin 12.7 mm Browning M2 HMG mounts on fore and aft positions

History

Service History of P908 Ourthe

After commissioning, Ourthe served with the Belgian Force Navale until 1964. She was then loaned to the Corps Royal des Cadets de Marine (CRCM), Liège section, where she bore the number L 39 from 1964 to 1974. In 1974, she returned to the Force Navale, redesignated V 8, and was based at Kallo Naval Base, patrolling Belgian rivers and performing training duties.

From 1956 onward, three Congolais-class vedettes — the Ourthe, Rupel, and Dender — were deployed to Congo, operating from the Marinebasis Banana at the mouth of the Congo River. They were transported by Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB) and later returned to Belgium. The Congolais-class differed from the Leie-class in several ways: the deck had less camber, raising the stern 25 cm higher; the wheelhouse windows were taller; and the aft crew compartment had round portholes instead of rectangular windows. Access from the cockpit to the upper deck was via a ladder. Engines used intercooling, while the underwater hull remained identical to the Leie-class. In 1958, the Semois was also sent to Congo.

During her Congo deployment, Ourthe carried out patrols, convoy escorts, and liaison missions, providing Belgian forces with effective riverine mobility. Her shallow draft allowed her to navigate complex river networks efficiently, while her small crew allowed for rapid operations and maintenance.

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Repainted and in Liege

From 1974 to 1983, while back in Belgium, Ourthe was used under a loan system by the CRCM section Antwerp alongside Rupel. The ships were painted dark blue to differentiate them from the Belgian Navy’s fleet. The Force Navale maintained operational control, and a dedicated petty officer mechanic often accompanied each patrol.

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1977 in Bruges as V8

After 1983, Ourthe was sold to private owners in the Netherlands and Guernsey under different names and numbers, including V 8, DAZZLING BEAUTY, and operated by firms in Hansweert, Dordrecht, and Southampton. She remains an important example of postwar Belgian riverine patrol craft.

Specifications

Displacement: 25 tons
Length overall: 24.25 m
Length between P/P: 23.0 m
Beam: 3.8 m
Draught: 0.9 m
Range: 2,300 nm at 10 knots
Speed: 19 knots
Propulsion: 2 × MWM RHS 418 A 8-cyl diesels (220 hp each), 2 shafts
Radar: DECCA 707 (1954–1964)
Crew: 1 petty officer + 6 sailors
Radio call sign: ORJH

Armament Layouts

Variant Weapons Placement Notes
Dual HMG 2 × 12.7 mm Browning M2 HMG Fore & aft Original and sole documented configuration.

Place in War Thunder

The Ourthe would fit the lower tiers of a BeNeLux naval tree or a French subtree, representing postwar riverine patrol craft. With her dual twin HMG configuration, she could serve as an early patrol boat variant suitable for mid rank I.

Like her sister ships, the Ourthe highlights Belgian Cold War naval operations on rivers and in overseas deployments, such as Congo, making her a unique addition for historical naval enthusiasts.

Sources

Sources
  • Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed — Inventaris Onroerend Erfgoed
  • Coulier, F. (2008–2009). Het Belgisch maritiem Rijnsmaldeel I–IV, Neptunus
  • Anrys H., De Decker de Brandeken J.-M., Eygenraam P. (1992). De Zeemacht
  • Van Ginderen L. & Delgoffe C. Fotoboek Belgische Zeemacht 1946–1996
  • MAS Antwerp archives (for Leie-class and Congolais-class data)
  • Jane’s Fighting Ships (1950s–1960s editions)
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+1 never realised how many ship classes Belgium had

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