| History | |
|---|---|
 Equatorial Guinea | |
| Name | Wele Nzas |
| Namesake | Wele-Nzas Province |
| Builder |
|
| 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 |
|
| Speed | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) |
| Range | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Armament | |
| 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.
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]
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]
