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Belgian Frigate Westdiep (F911)
''Gordi'' () is a Wielingen class frigate, ''Wielingen''-class frigate of the Bulgarian Navy with number 43. She was originally commissioned as ''Westdiep'' in the Belgian Navy. Construction and career ''Westdiep'' was launched on 8 December 1975 at the Cockerill Maintenance & Ingénierie, Cockerill Yards in Hoboken, Antwerp, Hoboken, and Ship naming and launching, christened by Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este, Princess Astrid of Belgium, on 20 January 1978. The patronage of the ''Westdiep'' was accepted by the city of Sint-Niklaas. ''Westdiep'' was the second ship in the Wielingen class frigate, ''Wielingen'' class. She had the pennant number F911. On 5 October 2007 ''Westdiep'', , was withdrawn from service. She was sold to the Bulgarian Navy together with her sister, Belgian frigate Wielingen (F910), ''Wielingen''. Another sistership, Belgian frigate Wandelaar (F912), ''Wandelaar'' has already been sold to Bulgaria. ''Westdiep'' entered service with th ...
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Naval Ensign Of Belgium
A navy, naval force, military maritime fleet, war navy, or maritime force is the military branch, branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral zone, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It includes anything conducted by surface Naval ship, ships, amphibious warfare, amphibious ships, submarines, and seaborne naval aviation, aviation, as well as ancillary support, communications, training, and other fields. The strategic offensive role of a navy is Power projection, projection of force into areas beyond a country's shores (for example, to protect Sea lane, sea-lanes, deter or confront piracy, ferry troops, or attack other navies, ports, or shore installations). The strategic defensive purpose of a navy is to frustrate seaborne projection-of-force by enemies. The strategic task of a navy also may incorporate nuclear deterrence by use of submarine-launche ...
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Belgian Navy
The Belgian Navy, officially the Naval Component (, ; , ; , ) of the Belgian Armed Forces, is the Navy, naval service of Belgium. History Early history The Belgian Navy was created as the ''Marine Royale'' () on 15 January 1831. This force has operated in various forms throughout Belgian history. When the country became independent after the Belgian Revolution of 1830, a Dutch squadron blocked the Scheldt estuary. To deal with this threat the Belgian Congress ordered two brigantines to be built, which bore the names ''Congrès'' and ''Les Quatre Journées''. After the French Army, led by Marshal of France, Marshal Count Étienne Maurice Gérard, Gérard, captured the citadel of Antwerp in 1832, the captured Dutch gun boats were pressed into Belgian service. In 1840 the Belgian government bought the schooner ''Louise Marie'' and in 1845 the brig ''Duc de Brabant''. ''Louise Marie'' participated in the Rio Nuñez Incident in 1849. In 1862, the Belgian government discarded its ...
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1975 Ships
It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 – Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman are found guilty of the Watergate cover-up. * January 2 ** The Federal Rules of Evidence are approved by the United States Congress. ** A bomb blast at Samastipur, Bihar, India, fatally wounds Lalit Narayan Mishra, Minister of Railways. * January 5 – Tasman Bridge disaster: The Tasman Bridge in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, is struck by the bulk ore carrier , causing a partial collapse resulting in 12 deaths. * January 15 – Alvor Agreement: Portugal announces that it will grant independence to Angola on November 11. * January 20 ** In Hanoi, North Vietnam, the Politburo approves the final military offensive against South Vietnam. ** Work is abandoned on the 1974 Anglo-French Channel Tunnel scheme. * Jan ...
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Warship International
A warship or combatant ship is a naval ship that is used for naval warfare. Usually they belong to the navy branch of the armed forces of a nation, though they have also been operated by individuals, cooperatives and corporations. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are typically faster and more maneuverable than merchant ships. Unlike a merchant ship, which carries cargo, a warship typically carries only weapons, ammunition and supplies for its crew. In wartime, the distinction between warships and merchant ships is often blurred. Until the 17th century it was common for merchant ships to be pressed into naval service, and not unusual for more than half of a fleet to be composed of merchant ships—there was not a large difference in construction, unlike the difference between a heavily armoured battleship and an ocean liner. Until the threat of piracy subsided in the 19th century, it was normal practice to arm larger merchant ships such as ...
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Belgian Frigate Wandelaar (F912)
''Drazki'' () is a of the Bulgarian Navy. Originally constructed for and operated by the Belgian Naval Component as ''Wandelaar'', the frigate was designed as a platform capable of multiple uses as an escort during the Cold War in the North Sea and English Channel. The vessel uses weapons and sensor technology from NATO counterparts, which was one of the reasons the ship was acquired by the Bulgarian Navy in 2004. The frigate is currently in active service. Design and description The Belgian government began studies in 1969 for a new type of escort that would meet the requirements of escort missions in the North Sea and English Channel during the Cold War. The design would also only be limited to weapon systems already in service with or under development by NATO navies. The design also emphasized seaworthiness, automation and watertight integrity. The weapons systems, with the exception of the Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile (SSM) were French. The radar and tactical data sys ...
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Belgian Frigate Wielingen (F910)
''Verni'' () is a Wielingen class frigate, ''Wielingen''-class frigate of the Bulgarian Navy. She was originally commissioned as ''Wielingen'' in the Belgian Navy. Construction and career

''Wielingen'' was launched on 30 March 1976 at the Boelwerf in Temse, and Ship naming and launching, christened by Queen Fabiola of Belgium, on 20 January 1978. The patronage of the ''Wielingen'' was accepted by the city of Malmedy. ''Wielingen'' was the first ship in the Wielingen class frigate, ''Wielingen'' class, and had the pennant number F910. The ship was sold to the Bulgarian Navy and left the Zeebrugge Naval Base in February 2009 under the Bulgarian flag. She was renamed ''Verni'', with the new pennant number 42. Wielingen-class frigates 1976 ships Wielingen-class frigates of the Bulgarian Navy Ships built in Belgium Frigates of the Cold War {{mil-ship-stub ...
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Pennant Number
In the Royal Navy and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth of Nations, ships are identified by pennant number (an internationalisation of ''pendant number'', which it was called before 1948). Historically, naval ships flew a flag that identified a flotilla or type of vessel. For example, the Royal Navy used a red burgee for torpedo boats and a pennant with an H for torpedo boat destroyers. Adding a number to the type-identifying flag uniquely identified each ship. In the current system, a letter prefix, called a ''flag superior'', identifies the type of ship, and numerical suffix, called a flag inferior, uniquely identifies an individual ship. Not all pennant numbers have a flag superior. Royal Navy systems The Royal Navy first used pennants to distinguish its ships in 1661 with a proclamation that all of his majesty's ships must fly a union pennant. This distinction was further strengthened by a proclamation in 1674 which forbade merchant vessels from flying any ...
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Sint-Niklaas
Sint-Niklaas (; , ) is a Belgium, Belgian City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities in Belgium, municipality located in the Flemish Region, Flemish Provinces of Belgium, province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Sint-Niklaas proper and the towns of Belsele, Nieuwkerken-Waas, and . Sint-Niklaas is the capital and major city of the Waasland region straddling the East Flanders and Antwerp (province), Antwerp provinces. The city is known for having the largest market square in Belgium. At one point this square also boasted the largest Christmas tree, and the largest easter egg in Europe. History Thirteenth-century origins Although some traces of pre-Roman activity have been found on the territory of Sint-Niklaas, the regional centre during Ancient Rome, Roman times was neighbouring Waasmunster, better located on the river Durme. Belsele was already mentioned in a 9th-century document. The history of Sint-Niklaas proper, however, starts in 1217, when t ...
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Princess Astrid Of Belgium, Archduchess Of Austria-Este
Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este (born 5 June 1962), is the second child and first daughter of King Albert II and Queen Paola, and the younger sister to the current Belgian monarch, King Philippe. She is married to Prince Lorenz of Belgium, head of the Austria-Este branch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, and is fifth in line of succession to the Belgian throne. Biography Princess Astrid was born one day before her father's 28th birthday at the Belvédère Château in Laeken, northern Brussels, and was named after her late paternal grandmother, Astrid of Sweden, King Leopold III's popular first wife, who had died in 1935 in a car accident aged 29. Princess Astrid's godparents were her uncle Fabrizio, Prince Ruffo di Calabria-Santapau, 7th Duke di Guardia Lombarda, and her aunt Hereditary Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg. Marriage and issue Princess Astrid married Archduke Lorenz of Austria-Este, subsequently head of the Archduc ...
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Ship Naming And Launching
Ceremonial ship launching involves the performing of ceremonies associated with the process of transferring a vessel to the water. It is a nautical tradition in many cultures, dating back millennia, to accompany the physical process with ceremonies which have been observed as public celebration and a solemn blessing, usually but not always, in association with the launch itself. Ship launching imposes stresses on the ship not met during normal operation and in addition to the size and weight of the vessel represents a considerable engineering challenge as well as a public spectacle. The process also involves many traditions intended to invite good luck, such as christening by breaking a sacrificial bottle of champagne over the bow as the ship is named aloud and launched. Methods There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching". The oldest, most familiar, and most widely used is the end-on la ...
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