Wielingen-class, BNC F911 Westdiep - Sharp Fencer

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The BNS Westdiep (F911), with its motto “ALTUM EST REGNUM MEUM” (“the open sea is my kingdom”), was a Wielingen-class frigate that served in the Belgian Navy from its commissioning in 1978 until its decommissioning in 2007. It was one of four ships built in the Wielingen-class, designed to replace the aging Algerine-class escort ships. After being launched in 1975 and commissioned in 1978, the Westdiep carried its motto proudly as it played a significant role in Belgium’s naval operations over the next few decades, embodying the spirit of the open sea in its various missions.

TL;DR: A Belgian Frigate with mostly Franco-USA-Dutch equipment (100 mm gun, Exocet, Seasparrow and torpedoes)

F-911-Westdiep-02
F-911-Westdiep-021470×816 194 KB

History

History

The Wielingen-class consisted of relatively small frigates, made possible in part by the absence of a hangar and a helicopter deck. However, the ships were well-armed. They were equipped with Exocet cruise missiles and a 100mm cannon. For air defense, the ships carried NATO Sea Sparrow missiles, and for anti-submarine warfare, the Wielingen-class frigates were equipped with depth charge mortars.

Contruction

The Wielingen-class frigates were Belgium’s first large warships built after World War II. They were designed to replace the six aging “Algerine” escorts from the WWII era, which were approaching the end of their operational lifespan. Preliminary studies began in 1964 with the goal of creating a warship capable of protecting merchant vessels from submarines and aircraft in the “southwestern approaches” near Flushing. Four Wielingen frigates were planned, with construction set to begin in April 1974 under the technical guidance of the Royal Netherlands Navy, at the Boel and Cockerill shipyards. The flagship, Wielingen, was launched on March 30th, 1976, and christened by Queen Fabiola of Belgium in a public ceremony on January 20th , 1976, at the Cockerill shipyards.

F-911-Westdiep-crest

Crest of the Westdiep.

Crew

There are 159 crew members: The Commanding Officer, the Executive Officer, 12 Officers, 74 Non-Commissioned Officers, 53 Volunteers, and 18 Conscripts (mandatory military service was applicable at the time).

They were divided into 3 departments:

Department “Internal Service”: deck, diving, administration, supply, and medical services.
Department “Technical”: mechanics, electricity, and electronics.
Department “Operations”: communications, radar, sonar, and artillery.

Regarding the name

The Wielingen and Westdiep are two navigable channels located between the Flemish Banks. The Westdiep channel lies off the western coast of Belgium.

Early Service and Key Operations

The Westdiep participated in several important international missions during its service. One of its early notable deployments was in the early 1990s, when the ship took part in Operation Sharp Fence (1993), which aimed to enforce United Nations sanctions during the Yugoslav Wars. The frigate was stationed in the Adriatic Sea, where it conducted inspections of merchant vessels suspected of violating the embargo.

In the early 2000s, the Westdiep was again deployed in support of international peacekeeping efforts, this time participating in Operation Southern Breeze III (2003). This mission was part of the international response to the Iraq crisis, and the Westdiep was involved in exercises and port visits across the Mediterranean, including stops in Egypt, Greece, Italy, and Israel.

Decommissioning and Transfer to Bulgaria

After nearly 30 years of service in the Belgian Navy, the Westdiep was decommissioned in October 2007. As part of Belgium’s naval modernization program, the ship, along with other vessels of the Wielingen-class, was sold to the Bulgarian Navy in 2008. Renamed Gordi and given the pennant number 43, the ship continued to serve in the Bulgarian fleet for several years.
The Wielingen-class was replaced in 2007 by two Dutch-made M-class Karel-Doorman frigates.

Specifications

Dimensions: Lenght/Beam/Draught: 106,4 m / 12,3 m / 5,6 m
Displacement: 2247 tons
Propulsion: CODOG-propulsion,
2 x Cockerill CO 240 V12 diesel engines, 4,500 kW (6,000 bhp)
1 x Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbine, 21,000 kW (28,000 shp)
Speed: 28 knots (52 km/h)

Crew: 159

Armament
Gun 1 x 1 100mm Mle 68 Creusot-Loire dual purpose gun
Point-defence 5 x 1 12.7mm M2 Browning machine guns
SAM 1 x 8 200 mm RIM-7 Sea Sparrow surface to air missile launcher
ASM 2 x 2 348 mm MM38 Exocet surface to surface missile launchers
Depth Charges 1 x 6 375 mm Creusot-Loire depth charge launcher
Torpedoes 2 x 10 533 mm ECAN Type L5 torpedoes
EW/DLS DR-2000 intercept - 2Mk 36 SRBOC chaff (VI x 2)
Sensors
Surveillance radar Hollandse Signaal Apparaten DA-05 (E/F band)
Targeting radar Hollandse Signaal Apparaten WM-25
IR/Optical targeting Yes, 2 x 1 EOMS IR/Video optical targeting cameras
Sonar AN/SQS-510
Navigation radar Kelvin Hughes type 1007/SCOUT1

Place in War Thunder

The Westdiep would a fully-unique Belgian Frigate class representing the Belgian navy at almost top-tier Coastal. In the current state of Coastal fleet it would most likely be a rank 6 ship with one good gun and very decent long-range torpedoes.

Regarding nations

BeNeLux

As the BeNeLux subtree for France has now been confirmed, France has the highest chance of recieving Belgian equipment. However an independent BeNeLux would also be very possible. For further info please go to: BeNeLux (Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg) Coastal Fleet.

Pictures

Pictures

F-911-Westdiep-06
F-911-Westdiep-05

F-911-Westdiep-02
F-911-Westdiep-021470×816 194 KB

F-911-Westdiep-04
F-911-Westdiep-09
F-911-Westdiep-08

Sources

Sources
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