“BGS SMELI FFG-11 FACTSHEET”

Commander Trifon Mitishev, CO of BGS “SMELI” FFG-11.

The following will make you familiar with the mission, capabilities and history of the ship.

1. MAIN CHARACTERISTICS AND COMLEMENT: Displacements (tons): 1493 standard ,1903 full load Dimensions (meters): 96,7 x 12,5 x 4,6 (feet) 317,3 x 42 x 13,7 Maximum speed (knots): 17 (without CODAG, 30 with CODAG) Range (miles) 1800 at 14 knots Endurance: 25 days (6000 nm) Complement 109 (10 officers) 2. DEPARTMENT STRUCTURE: The ships organization is divided into departments and services, under the command of the CO and XO, as follows: 1. Navigation department; 2. Anti-surface warfare (Artillery and missile weaponry) department; 3. Anti- warfare (Anti-submarine weaponry) department; 4. Communications department; 5. Propulsion and energetics department; 6. Radio-technical and hydro-acoustic sensors service; 7. Bosuns service. 3. MAIN TASK: The ship’s main task is the Anti-submarine warfare. Besides that, BGS “SMELI” can execute duties in the following additional tasks: 1.Anti-aircraft warfare; 2.Anti-surface warfare; 3.Patrol tasks; 4.Mine laying. 5.Control of shipping; 6.SAR operations and many others. 4. SHIP’S HISTORY, LAST TRAINING AND OPS CYCLE: For the first time the name “Smeli” was given to a Bulgarian ship in 1907. She was one of the six torpedo boats built in “Schneider & Co” shipyard in Toulon, in 1906. The second ship named “Smeli” was an escort ship constructed in 1955 in the former . The current ship with this name is the first ship of project 1159, NATO code “Koni”, built in Zelenovodks in the former Soviet Union. The Bulgarian flag was raised on 22nd of December 1989 and she was assigned to the First Patrol Ships Squadron in Varna naval base. We are proud of the fact that more than a hundred years there is a warship in our Fleet called “Smeli”, which translated from Bulgarian means “Brave”. After 1989, the “Smeli” has played a crucial role in carrying out the undertaken obligations by our Navy on its way to the integration in NATO and EU. She participated in a number of partnership and national exercises in Romania, Ukraine, Georgia, in the “Cooperative partner” exercises in 1995, 1997, 1999, 2005, and in all national exercises with international participation, such as the “Breeze” exercise. In 2001 the frigate “Smeli” participated in the first activation of the Naval task group for cooperation in the - “BLACKSEAFOR”, and in 2003 she was the Flagship of the third activation. Moreover “Smeli” took part in the “BLACKSEAFOR” activations in 2007, 2008 and 2009. After became a member of the Alliance in April 2004, for the first time in our recent naval history the frigate “Smeli” took active participation in the NATO-lead operation “Active Endeavour” in the Mediterranean Sea in 2004 and 2005. This year BGS “Smeli” took part in several national exercises with international participation and PASSEX exercises. The last three exercises were directly planned for the preparation of the ship for our current duties. 5. PROPULSION SYSTEM AND FUEL CONSUMPTION: Our main machinery consist of a combined diesel and gas turbine with 20 000 hp, two diesel engines, of 8000 hp each, all of which support three fixed pitch propellers. 6. WEAPONS AND SENSORS: ARTILLERY ARMAMENT: The main artillery armament of the ship is: 1.Two twin 76,2mm “AK-726” anti-aircraft and anti-surface capable guns with a firing range of up to 16 000 meters. 2.Two twin 30mm cannons AK-230 with a firing range of up to 5 000 meters. ANTI-SUBMARINE ARMAMENT: Our main purpose is the Anti-submarine warfare role. The A/S equipment includes two A/S rocket lauchers RBU-6000 and 12 “BB-1” depth charges, the characteristics of which are listed below: - “RBU-6000” - two A/S rocket launchers Firing range - 6000 meters Warhead weight - 31 kg. Maximum attack depth - 350 meters - “BB-1” 12 depth charges Maximum attack depth - 330 meters Warhead weight - 150 kg. MISSILE ARMAMENT: The missile armament of the ship is a SAM (SA-N-4), NATO classification “Gecko”, twin launcher system. Its has a semi-active radar, has homing of up to 12 km at 2,5 Mach and a height envelope of about 50 to 6000 meters. MINE ARMAMENT: The ship has the ability to carry and perform mine laying of up to 14 mines. COUNTERMEASURES: 1. Two “PK-16” chaff launchers. 2. Electronic countermeasures capabilities. 7. RADARS The ship has on board two navigational, one air/surface search, three fire control radars (Hawk Screech I-band, Drum Tilt H/I-band and a Pop Group F/H/I-band) and a passive radar system. 8. SONARS: Because of our ASW role the ship is equipped with hull-mounted “MG-322T” active search and attack medium frequency sonar, active and passive “MG-329M” VDS and a “MG-16” UWT. 9. COMMAND, CONTROL AND COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES: The communication systems on board consist of MHS, HF RATT, SATCOM Telephone and various HF, UHF, VHF, secure UHF/VHF radios that provide a wide range of frequencies and communication nets.