Equatoguinean frigate Wele Nzas

History
Equatorial Guinea
Name| Wele Nzas
Namesake| Wele-Nzas Province
Builder|

* MTG Dolphin Shipyard, Varna, Bulgaria
* Astilleros de Guinea Ecuatorial S.A., Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Laid down| 21 May 2012
Launched| 26 February 2013
Commissioned| 3 June 2014
Identification| Pennant number: F073
Status| In active service
General characteristics
Type| Multi-mission frigate
Displacement| 2,500 tonnes (2,500 long tons)
Length| 107 m (351 ft 1 in)
Beam| 14 m (45 ft 11 in)
Draft| 3.7 m (12 ft)
Propulsion|

* 4 × Caterpillar C280 diesel engines
* 2 × shafts

Speed| 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range| 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi)
Sensors and
processing systems|

* Positiv-U air/surface search radar
* Delta-M fire control radar w/ Cascade self-defense system
* ESM antenna
* SATCOM antenna
* 2 × navigation radars
* 2 opto-electronic FCS

Armament|

* 2 × 76.2 mm AK-176 guns
* 2 × 30 mm AK-630M autocannons
* 2 × 140 mm MS-227 22-barreled rocket launchers

Aircraft carried| 1 × helicopter
Aviation facilities| Flight deck

Wele Nzas (F073) is a Ukrainian-designed, Bulgarian-built multi-mission frigate of the Navy of Equatorial Guinea.[1] The frigate serves as flagship of the navy and was commissioned in 2014.

## Design and description

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Wele Nzas has a length of 107 m (351 ft 1 in), a beam of 14 m (45 ft 11 in) and draft of 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in).[2] The frigate has estimated displacement of 2,500 tonnes (2,500 long tons) and is powered by four Caterpillar C280 diesel engines connected to two screws.[3] She has a top speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) and range of 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi).[2]

The ship is armed with two 76.2 mm AK-176 naval guns, each on fore and aft of the ship, two 30 mm AK-630M autocannons located in either side of the funnel, and two MS-227 140 mm 22-barreled rocket launchers in front of the bridge.[3][4] In addition, the ship could be fitted with guided missiles on the midship.[4]

Her sensors and electronic systems consisted of Positiv-U air/surface search radar with radome, Delta-M fire control radar integrated with Cascade self-defense system, two navigation radars, two opto-electronic target designation and fire control systems, satellite communication antenna and ESM antenna.[3][4]

Wele Nzas also has a raised helicopter flight deck amidships and carries some boats launched by davits.[2]

## Construction and career

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The ship was designed by Asaba Design Center in Mykolaiv, Ukraine.[4] Her keel was laid on 21 May 2012 at MTG Dolphin Shipyard in Varna, Bulgaria.[3][4] The ship was launched on 26 February 2013 as the salvage and rescue vessel Savior (IMO: 9664500) under Project SV 02. She was procured from Bulgaria using proxy entities in Panama and the Comoros.[3] The ship was then fitted with weaponry in a 210 m (690 ft) navy-owned floating dock at Malabo harbor, Equatorial Guinea[3] by the Astilleros de Guinea Ecuatorial S.A. (ASABA GE) with the help of Ukrainian technicians.[4] Armament and combat systems used on the ship was probably sourced by Impulse 2, a Ukrainian company.[3]

Wele Nzas was commissioned on 3 June 2014 in a ceremony at Malabo harbor by the President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. The president declared the frigate as the flagship of Equatorial Guinenan Navy.[2] The ship was named after the Province of Wele-Nzas.[3] She served as deterrent against threats of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.[5]

## References

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1. ^ "Hyundai Offers Glimpse of Upcoming Philippine Navy Frigates". quwa.org. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
2. ^ a b c d "Equatorial Guinea commissions new frigate". defenceweb.co.za. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Equatorial Guinea inducts new frigate". Janes.com. 19 June 2014. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
4. ^ a b c d e f "Фрегат Wele Nzas". shipbuilding.mk.ua (in Ukrainian). 8 November 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
5. ^ "Africa's Newest Navy". natoassociation.ca. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2022.

## External links

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* News footage of Wele Nzas commissioning ceremony by Africa 24 news channel
* Wele Nzas satellite view – WarSearcher.com