Bulgarian frigate Drazki

Drazki (Bulgarian: Дръзки, lit. 'daring, intrepid') is a Wielingen-class frigate of the Bulgarian Navy. Originally constructed for the Belgian Navy as Wandelaar, the ship was acquired by the Bulgarian Navy in 2004. The frigate is currently in active service.

Drazki at Black Sea
History
Belgium
NameWandelaar
BuilderBoelwerf, Temse
Laid down21 June 1977
Launched3 October 1978
Out of serviceFebruary 2004
HomeportZeebrugge Naval Base
Motto"Fit via Vi"
FateSold to Bulgaria in February 2004
Bulgaria
NameDrazki
AcquiredFebruary 2004
Identification41
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeWielingen-class frigate
Displacement2,200 tonnes
Length106.38 m (349 ft 0 in)
Beam12.30 m (40 ft 4 in)
Draught5.60 m (18 ft 4 in)
Propulsion
  • Combined diesel or gas turbine
  • 2 × ABC type DZC diesel engines providing 4,200 hp (3,100 kW) each
  • 1 × Rolls-Royce Olympus T M - 3 B gas turbine providing 27,575 hp (20,563 kW)
  • 2 inverted screws with variable pitch
Speed28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph)
Range6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement14 officers, 71 NCOs and 74 sailors
Armament

Construction and career

In the Belgian Navy

Wandelaar was launched on 21 June 1977 at the Boelwerf in Temse, as the third ship in the Wielingen class. The frigate was later commissioned on 3 October 1978 with the pennant number F912, and later christened by Princess Marie-Esméralda of Belgium on the 27 October. It was named after the Wandelaar sand bank off the coast of Belgium, near Zeebrugge.

In the Bulgarian Navy

Wandelaar was sold to the Bulgarian Navy in 2004. It was refurbished and commissioned as Drazki with pennant number 41. In 2008 two other sister ships, Wielingen and Westdiep, were sold to Bulgaria.

See also

References
    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Drazki.


    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.