Willingen-type frigates ( Dutch: Wielingenklasse ) - a series of frigates with guided missile weapons manufactured in Belgium, which include four frigates (currently there are three frigates in the Bulgarian Navy ). A series of frigates, like the lead ship of the series, are named after the banks of Villingen.
| Villingen frigates | |
|---|---|
| Wielingenklasse | |
 Frigate "Westiep" of the Belgian Navy | |
| Project | |
| A country |
|
| Manufacturers |
|
| Operators |
|
| Prior type | Elgerin minesweepers |
| Subsequent type | Karel Dorman frigates |
| Years in operation |  Belgium : 1976–2007 Bulgaria : 2005 – present |
| Built | four |
| In the ranks | 3 |
| Scrapped | one |
| Main characteristics | |
| Displacement | 2200 t |
| Length | 106.38 m |
| Width | 12.3 m |
| Draft | 5,6 m |
| Engines | 2 ABC type DZC diesel engines, Rolls Royce Olympus TM-3B gas turbine |
| Power | 31775 h.p. |
| Speed | 28 knots |
| Crew | 159 people |
| Armament | |
| Navigational weapons | Kelvin-Hugues 1007 Reconnaissance Navigation Radar |
| Radar weapons | radars Hollandse Signaal Apparaten DA-05 and WM-25, sonar AN / SQS-510 sonar |
| Electronic weapons | two EOMS IR / Video security cameras |
| Artillery | 100 mm / 55 Model 68 |
| Missile weapons | 8 anti-aircraft missiles RIM-7 Sea Sparrow , 4 anti-ship missiles Exocet |
| Anti-submarine weapons | Bofors bomb |
| Mine torpedo armament | 2 torpedo tubes Ecan Type l5 (10 torpedoes) |
History
Orders for the construction of four frigates for the needs of the Belgian Navy came from the Belgian government on December 22, 1970 . The frigates were originally built as escort ships, earlier in the Belgian Navy the role of these ships was played by British minesweepers of the Algerin type (the last of these minesweepers was withdrawn from the fleet in 1969).
The development of the project has been carried out since 1964 with the help of consultants from the Netherlands Navy. In 1971, the Belgian shipyard “Bolverf” and “Cockerill” joined the development. The construction of ships began in 1974, and soon four frigates joined the Navy: Villingen, Vestdep, Vandelaar and Vesthinder.
The last of the frigates, the Westhinder, during the exercises to combat submarines off the coast of Norway, was seriously damaged and was decommissioned in 1993. The three remaining ships were transferred to the Bulgarian fleet: in 2004, Vandelaar entered it under the name “ Daring ” ( Bulgarian. Drizki ), and Vilingen and Vestdep were sold in 2008 to the Bulgarians, receiving the corresponding names “Faithful” ( Bulgarian. Return ) and "Proud" ( Bulgarian. Gordy ).