Belgian ship Godetia (A960)
.jpg) The A960 Godetia | |
| Career (Belgium) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | Godetia |
| Builder: | Boelwerf, Temse |
| Launched: | 7 December 1965 |
| Commissioned: | 1966 |
| Homeport: | Zeebrugge Naval Base |
| Motto: | "More majorum" |
| Nickname: | HMS Godetia |
| Fate: | Active in service as of 2012 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 1,700 tons standard, 2,500 tons fully loaded |
| Length: | 91.30 m (299.5 ft) |
| Beam: | 14.00 m (45.93 ft) |
| Draught: | 3.50 m (11.5 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 4 × Caterpillar 3512 diesel engines, developing 6,000 bhp (4,500 kW) on 2 shafts |
| Speed: | 19 knots (35 km/h) |
| Range: | 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h) |
| Complement: | 95 (total); 8 officers, 29 NCO's and 55 sailors |
| Armament: | 4 × .50 machine guns |
| Armour: | None known |
| Aircraft carried: | 1 helicopter |
| Aviation facilities: | A telescopic hangar is fitted to the ship, capable of carrying 1 helicopter. |
Godetia (A960) 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. Moyersoen. The patronage of the A960 Godetia was accepted by the city of Ostend. She was the first of two support ships.
The Godetia is currently commanded by Corvette Captain Luc Desanghere.[1]
History
The Godetia is the successor of the HMS Godetia (K226), a British Flower-class corvette which was manned by Belgian sailors during World War II.
She has undergone several changes during her long career: fitted with royal apartments, mounting of aft twin 40 mm guns and buildup of helo platform with 3 big rollers for spare magnetic cables, mounting of the 3 rollers and buildup of an helo hangar, mounting of fore twin 40 mm for one single, mounting of this one for .50 machine guns, electronics and navigation aids optimized.
Missions
The Godetia has several missions: fishery protection, humanitarian aid, support and supply ship for minesweepers, and acting as a command ship in turn for NATO mine countermeasure operations, show the flag and traveling embassy.
Still commissioned, she is scheduled to be maintained on duty until 2020. This will make her one of the oldest warships in activity.
Picture gallery
-
BNS Godetia entering Portsmouth Naval Base, UK, 09 July 2010.
-
BNS Godetia entering Portsmouth Naval Base, UK, 09 July 2010.
References
- ↑ "New commander for BNS Godetia". The Belgian Ministry of Defence. 2008-02-07. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
External links
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||