Ensign of the Belgian Navy

The Naval Component, formerly the Belgian Navy, is the naval service of Belgium. Image File history File links Naval_Ensign_of_Belgium. ... Image File history File links Naval_Ensign_of_Belgium. ... The multinational Combined Task Force One Five Zero (CTF-150) The British Grand Fleet, the supreme naval force of World War I A rare occurrence of a 5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea. ...

An officer of the Belgian Naval Component

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History

Early history

One of the first gunboats of the Marine Royale

The Belgian Navy was created as the Marine Royale in 1831. This force has operated in various forms throughout Belgian history. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A gunboat is literally a boat carrying one or more guns. ...

When after the Belgian Revolution, the country became independent in 1830, a Dutch squadron blocked the Scheldt estuarium. 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 Etienne 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. In 1865, the Belgian government discarded its navy and pursued a minimalistic naval policy. This meant that at the outbreak of World War I, Belgium had no navy. This article is about the historical Belgian Revolution of the 1830s. ... The Scheldt (Dutch: Schelde, French Escaut) is a 350 km[1] long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands. ... For other meanings, see Estuary (disambiguation) Rio de la Plata estuary An estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. ... Description In sailing, a brigantine is a vessel with two masts, at least one of which is square rigged. ... Baton of a modern Marshal of France The Marshal of France (French: Maréchal de France) is a military distinction in contemporary France, not a military rank. ... Painting of Étienne Maurice, comte Gérard, marshal of France by Jacques-Louis David Étienne Maurice Gérard (April 4, 1773 - April 17, 1852), French general, was born at Damvilliers (Meuse). ... For other uses, see Antwerp (disambiguation). ... Two-masted fishing schooner A schooner (IPA: ) is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts. ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Brigantine. ... 1865 (MDCCCLXV) is a common year starting on Sunday. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ...

The War caused this policy to change and in 1917 a Corps of Destroyers and Sailors was created. The Belgian naval personnel served onboard French mine sweepers and provided the artillerymen for Belgian merchant ships. The Treaty of Versailles allocated Belgium 11 torpedo boats and 26 mine sweepers. Because of budgetary reasons, Belgium again abolished its navy. In 1939, against the looming threat of a new war with Germany, Belgium once again resurrected its navy as the Naval Corps. This new navy lasted barely a year until the German invasion of May 1940. This article is about the Treaty of Versailles of June 28 1919, which ended World War I. For other uses, see Treaty of Versailles (disambiguation) . The Treaty of Versailles (1919) was a peace treaty which officially ended World War I between the Allied and Associated Powers and Germany. ...

During World War II many members of this naval corps, together with Belgian fishermen and merchant sailors escaped to England with the explicit wish of fighting the German occupiers. The Royal Navy took advantage of this opportunity to enlist the Belgians into separate groups of more or less entirely Belgian-manned ships. From 1940 to 1946, the Belgian Section of the British Royal Navy manned two corvettes, (Buttercup and Godetia), a squadron of MMS mine sweepers and three patrol boats (Phrontis, Electra and Kernot). In 1946, Britain generously donated the ships (along with its crews) to Belgium to become the backbone of the new Belgian Navy. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Post-Cold War

In the beginning of the nineties, the end of the Cold War caused the Belgian government to restructure the Belgian Armed Forces in order to cope with the changed threats. This meant cutbacks and crimping the Armed Forces. With regards to the Belgian navy these cutbacks meant that one Wielingen class frigate was stricken and that three Tripartite class minehunters were sold to France. In 2002, the government decided to impose a "single structure" on the armed forces in which the independent Belgian Navy ceased to exist. The former Navy became the Belgium Naval Component (COMOPSNAV) of the Armed Forces; it is also called the Marine.^[1] The Céphée The Tripartite class minehunter is a type of minesweeper used by the navies of Belgium, France and the Netherlands, as well as Pakistan and Indonesia. ...

On July 20, 2005, the Belgian government decided to buy two of the remaining six Dutch M-class frigates to replace the two remaining frigates of the Wielingen class (Wielingen and Westdiep) currently still in service with the Belgian Navy, which in turn might be sold to Bulgaria. On December 21, 2005, the Dutch government sold the Karel Doorman (F827) and Willem Van Der Zaan (F829) to Belgium. The two ships were be sold for about 250 million Euros. This two M-class frigates are expected to enter service with the Belgian Navy between 2007-2008, in which they will be renamed Leopold I and Louise-Marie before entering service. The Karel Doorman class is a class of eight multi-purpose frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy. ... The Wielingen class is a class of four multifunctional frigates of the Belgian Navy. ...

In October 2005, the Wielingen class frigate Wandelaar was officially handed over to the Bulgarian Navy, which christened it as the Drazki. The country's government is right about to put an order for a second ship of the Wandelaar class together with a minesweeper, both second hand.

The current Commander of the Naval Component is Commodore Jean-Paul Robyns. Commodore is a military rank used in some navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a Captain, but is less than that of a Flag Officer. ...

Mission

In times of crisis and war the Belgian Navy will manage, with the support of its allies, the crises rising from the infringements to the principles of International law and/or from the Humans right and exercise the Belgian sovereignty in the maritime zones where the Navy is qualified, defend the lines maritime of communication, main roads and allied, and protect the ports against any air, surface or underwater attack.

In times of peace the Belgian Navy has the following roles:

• To ensure the presence of Belgium at sea.
• To give a support for our diplomacy and our foreign trade.
• Technical and military collaboration with the allied countries.
• Participation in humane actions.
• Contribute to the nation in the maritime zones for which Belgium is responsible:
  • Contribution to oceanographical search.
  • Control of fishing
  • Contribution to the control of pollution at sea.
  • Participation in the plan of assistance in territorial waters
  • Support for the customs and police operations
  • Detection of wrecks of boats.
  • Participation in rescues at sea.
  • Contribution to the training of the commercial naval officers
  • Control of territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone.
  • If necessary, opening of the centre of hyperbare medicine to the population.
  • Destruction of explosive devices at sea
• Preparation with the tasks to be carried out in times of crisis and war.
• Contribution to dissuasion at sea by the means of permanent allied squadrons.

Flag Officers

There are currently four officers of flag rank in the Naval Component: A Flag Officer is a naval officer of a high rank entitling him to fly a personal flag, especially on his flagship. ...

• Vice Admiral Michel Hellemans, Assistant Chief of Staff (ACOS) Intelligence and Security
• Vice Admiral Pierre Warnauts, Chief of Protocol to the Court
• Rear Admiral Jacques Rosiers, Ir., Aide to the King, ACOS Strategy, Policy Director for the EU & NATO and National Armaments Director
• Commodore Jean-Paul Robyns, Commander of the Naval Component

Vice Admiral is a naval rank of three star level, equivalent to Lieutenant General in seniority. ... Vice Admiral is a naval rank of three star level, equivalent to Lieutenant General in seniority. ... Successive Belgian kings are 1831-1865: Léopold I (34) 1865-1909: Léopold II (44) 1909-1934: Albert I (25) 1934-1951: Léopold III (16) 1944-1950: Charles, reigned as Prince Regent 1951-1993: Baudouin I (42) Since 1993: Albert II (13) None of these were King of... The term Rear Admiral originated from the days of Naval Sailing Squadrons, and can trace its origins to the British Royal Navy. ... Look up engineer in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... An aide-de-camp (French: camp assistant) is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state. ... Successive Belgian kings are 1831-1865: Léopold I (34) 1865-1909: Léopold II (44) 1909-1934: Albert I (25) 1934-1951: Léopold III (16) 1944-1950: Charles, reigned as Prince Regent 1951-1993: Baudouin I (42) Since 1993: Albert II (13) None of these were King of... This article is about the military alliance. ... Commodore is a military rank used in some navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a Captain, but is less than that of a Flag Officer. ...

Current Fleet List

Frigates

F930 Leopold I

Karel Doorman class Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Karel Doorman class is a class of eight multi-purpose frigates of the Royal Netherlands Navy. ...

• F930 Leopold I (ex-HNLMS Karel Doorman)
• F931 Louise-Marie (ex-HNLMS Willem van der Zaan, operational in March 2008)

The F930 Leopold I is a Karel Doorman class frigate of the Naval Component of the Belgian Armed Forces. ... HNLMS Karel Doorman (F827) is the first ship of the Karel Doorman class of multi-purpose frigates (also known as M-fregat class). ...

Mine Hunters

M917 Crocus

Tripartite class Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Céphée The Tripartite class minehunter is a type of minesweeper used by the navies of Belgium, France and the Netherlands, as well as Pakistan and Indonesia. ...

• M915 Aster
• M916 Bellis
• M917 Crocus
• M921 Lobelia
• M923 Narcis
• M924 Primula

M915 Aster is a Tripartite class minehunter of the Belgian Naval Component, launched on December 16, 1985 at the Mercantile-Belyard shipyard in Rupelmonde and christened by Queen Paola of Belgium. ... M916 Bellis M916 Bellis is a Tripartite class minehunter of the Belgian Naval Component, launched on August 13, 1986 at the Mercantile-Belyard shipyard in Rupelmonde and christened by Ellen Goffinet-Rosman, the wife of the then Mayor of Arlon, on September 18, 1986. ... M917 Crocus M917 Crocus is a Tripartite class minehunter of the Belgian Naval Component, launched on September 3, 1986 at the Mercantile-Belyard shipyard in Rupelmonde and christened by Mrs. ... M921 Lobelia is a Tripartite class minehunter of the Belgian Naval Component, launched on February 3, 1988 at the Mercantile-Belyard shipyard in Rupelmonde and christened by Mrs. ... M923 Narcis is a Tripartite class minehunter of the Belgian Naval Component, launched on March 30, 1990 at the Mercantile-Belyard shipyard in Rupelmonde and christened by Mrs. ... M924 Primula is a Tripartite class minehunter of the Belgian Naval Component, launched on December 20, 1990 at the Mercantile-Belyard shipyard in Rupelmonde and christened by Mrs. ...

Support Vessels

• A960 Godetia, Command and Logistic support ship
• A950 Valcke, Ready Duty Ship
• A962 Belgica, Oceanografic Research Vessel
• A963 Stern, Ready Duty Ship
• A996 Albatros, Ready Duty Ship

A962 Belgica

A960 Godetia is a command and logistical support ship of the Belgian Naval Component, launched on December 7, 1965 at the Boelwerf in Temse, and christened by Mrs. ... Belgica was and is the name of two Belgian research vessels, with a name derived ultimately from the Latin Gallia Belgica. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Patrol Boat

• P902 Liberation, a former river patrol boat built in 1954, now used during the Summer months at different locations for public relations

Auxiliary Vessels

• A958 Zenobe Gramme, Sailing Ship
• A995 Spich (2003-), Rigid Inflatable Boat
• A998 Werl (2003-), Rigid Inflatable Boat
• A983 Quatuor (2006-), Royal Yacht

Former Fleet List

The former ships were once part of the Belgian Navy:

• Wielingen class frigates
  • F910 Wielingen, Wielingen class frigate (decommissioned Summer 2007)
  • F911 Westdiep, Wielingen class frigate (decommissioned 5 October 2007)
  • F912 Wandelaar, Wielingen class frigate (decommissioned and sold to Bulgaria 2005)
  • F913 Westhinder, Wielingen class frigate (decommissioned 1993, scrapped)
• Tripartite minehunter
  • M918 Dianthus, Tripartite minehunter (sold to France 1993)
  • M919 Fuchsia, Tripartite minehunter (sold to France 1993)
  • M920 Iris, Tripartite minehunter (sold to France 1993)
  • M922 Myosotis, Tripartite minehunter (to be sold)
• Algerine class minesweeper
  • M900 Adrien de Gerlache (ex HMS Liberty, acquired 1949 - decommissioned 1969)
  • M901 Georges Lecointe (i) (ex HMS Cadmus, acquired 1950 - decommissioned 1959)
  • M901 Georges Lecointe (ii) (ex HMCS Wallaceburg, acquired 1959 - decommissioned 1969)
  • M902 Van Haverbeke (i) (ex HMS Ready - acquired 1951 - decommissioned 1960)
  • M903 Dufour (i) (ex HMS Fancy - acquired 1951 - decommissioned 1959)
  • M903 Dufour (ii) (ex HMCS Winnipeg - acquired 1959 - decommissioned 1966)
  • M904 De Brouwer (i) (ex HMS Spanker - acquired 1953 - decommissioned 1966)
  • M905 De Moor (ex HMS Rosario - acquired 1953 - decommissioned 1966)
• MSO class minesweeper (Aggressive class)
  • M902 Van Haverbeke (ii) (ex USN MSO522 - acquired 1960 - decommissioned)
  • M906 Breydel (ex USN AM504, ex USN MSO504, acquired 1956 - decommissioned 1993)
  • M907 Artevelde (ex USN AM503, ex USN MSO503, acquired 1955 - decommissioned 1985)
• MSC class coastal minesweeper (akin to US Navy Minesweeper Coastal
  • M910 Diest (sold to Taiwan 1969)
  • M911 Eeklo (sold to Taiwan 1969)
  • M912 Lier (sold to Taiwan 1969)
  • M913 Maaseik (sold to Taiwan 1969)
  • M914 Roeselare (sold to Norway 1966)
  • M915 Arlon (sold to Norway 1966)
  • M916 Bastogne (sold to Norway 1966)
  • M917 Charleroi (sold to Taiwan 1969)
  • M918 Sint-Niklaas (sold to Taiwan 1969)
  • M919 Sint-Truiden (sold to Greece 1969)
  • M920 Diksmuide (sold to Taiwan 1969)
  • M921 Herve (sold to Greece 1969)
  • M922 Malmedy (sold to Greece 1969)
  • M923 Blankenberge (sold to Greece 1969)
  • M924 Laroche (sold to Greece 1969)
  • M926 Mechelen (converted to research ship - decommissioned)
  • M927 Spa (converted to munition transport and renumbered A963 - decommissioned)
  • M928 Stavelot (decommissioned 1987)
  • M929 Heist (decommissioned 1992)
  • M930 Rochefort (decommissioned 1992)
  • M931 Knokke (decommissioned 1976)
  • M932 Nieuwpoort (decommissioned 1991)
  • M933 Koksijde (decommissioned 1991)
  • M934 Verviers (ex USN MSC259 - converted to minehunter 1972 - decommissioned 1988)
  • M935 Veurne (ex USN MSC260 - converted to minehunter 1972 - decommissioned 1987)
• MSI class inshore minesweepers
  • M470 Temse (sold to South Korea 1970)
  • M471 Hasselt (transferred to Belgian Sea Cadet Corps in 1993)
  • M472 Kortrijk (decommissioned 1989)
  • M473 Lokeren (decommissioned 1987)
  • M474 Turnhout (decommissioned 1991)
  • M475 Tongeren (decommissioned 1991)
  • M476 Merksem (decommissioned 1992)
  • M477 Oudenaarde (decommissioned 1989)
  • M478 Herstal (decommissioned 1991)
  • M479 Huy (decommissioned 1990)
  • M480 Seraing (decommissioned 1990)
  • M481 Tournai (sold to South Korea 1970)
  • M482 Visé (decommissioned 1991)
  • M483 Ougrée (decommissioned 1992)
  • M484 Dinant (decommissioned 1992)
  • M485 Andenne (decommissioned 1991)
• Auxiliary ships
  • AP907 Kamina (decommissioned 1967)

The Wielingen class is a class of four multifunctional frigates of the Belgian Navy. ... The Wielingen class is a class of four multifunctional frigates of the Belgian Navy. ... The Wielingen class is a class of four multifunctional frigates of the Belgian Navy. ... The Wielingen class is a class of four multifunctional frigates of the Belgian Navy. ... The Céphée The Tripartite class minehunter is a type of minesweeper used by the navies of Belgium, France and the Netherlands, as well as Pakistan and Indonesia. ... The Algerine class was a class of minesweepers of the Royal Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy. ... This article needs copyediting (checking for proper English spelling, grammar, usage, etc. ... HMFS Kiro (MSC 206), formerly known as the USS Warbler (AMS/MSC-206), was laid down on 15 October 1953 at Bellingham, Wash. ...

Footnote

1. ^ The former term 'Zeemacht' in Dutch, 'Force Navale' in French, is in both languages once again referred to by the term 'Marine' which does not indicate an independent force.

External links

• official website of the Naval Component
• http://zm-fn.blogspot.com/, non-official blog of pictures of our old ships, in French.