Wielingen class frigate. Former F911 Westdiep - now BGS Gordi (43)

Naval Ensign of Bulgaria

Naval Jack of Bulgaria

Coastguard Ensign of Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Navy (Bulgarian: Военноморски сили на България, Voennomorski sili na Balgariya) is the navy of Bulgaria and forms part of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. It has been largely overlooked in the reforms that Bulgaria had to go through in order to comply with NATO standards, mostly because of the great expense involved and the fact that naval assaults are not considered to be a great concern for the country's security. That is why three of the four combat submarines (excluding Slava) are now docked and have been out of operation for some time. Only the more modern frigates, corvettes and missile crafts are on active duty.

In order to meet at least some of the NATO requirements, in 2005 the Bulgarian government bought from Belgium a Wielingen-class frigate, the BNS Wandelaar (F-912) (built in 1977), and after being renamed to the BG Drazki the frigate serves as the flagship of the Bulgarian Navy. In 2006, following a decision of the Bulgarian Parliament, Drazki took part in the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), patrolling the territorial waters of Lebanon under German command. This was the first time ever the Bulgarian Navy took part in an international peacekeeping operation. The Bulgarian government plans to purchase a second Wielingen-class frigate and one Tripartite minehunter. According to PLAN 2015, Bulgaria should start producing its own classes of vessels, including small corvette-like helicopter carriers.

The Bulgarian Navy is centered in two main bases. One is near the city of Varna. The other is Atiya Naval Base, near the city of Burgas.

The Navy's only aircraft comprise 7 Mil Mi-14PL helicopters for anti-submarine patrol, search and rescue, and other naval support tasks.^[1]

[edit] Bulgarian Naval Forces

Project 1241.2E (Pauk-class) corvette "Reshitelni"

• 'Naval Headquarters' (Главен щаб на ВМС)
  • Varna Naval Base (ВМБ Варна)
    • HQ Varna NB
    • 1st Patrol Ships Division (1 Дивизион патрулни кораби)
    • 2nd Coastal Missile Division (2 брегови ракетен дивизион)
    • 8th Submarine Squadron (8 Дивизион подводна лодка)
    • 3rd Mine Counter-Measure Squadron (3 Дивизион минно-трални кораби)
    • 5th Mine Counter-Measure Squadron (5 Дивизион минно-трални кораби)
    • 18th Support Ships Squadron (18 Дивизион спомагателни кораби)
    • support units
    • depot
  • Burgas Naval Base (ВМБ Бургас)
    • HQ Atiya NB
    • 4th Patrol Ships Squadron (4 Дивизион патрулни кораби)
    • 6th Mine Counter-Measure Squadron (6 Дивизион минно-трални кораби)
    • 96th Support Ships Squadron (96 Дивизион спомагателни кораби)
    • depot
  • Independent Naval Helicopter Air Base "Chayka" (Отделна морска вертолетнa авиобаза "Чайка")
    • Independent Naval Helicopter Squadron (Отделна морска вертолетна ескадрила)
  • 63rd Seaborne Special Reconnaissance Force "Black Sea Sharks" (63ти Морски специален разузнавателен отряд "Черноморски акули")
  • Coastal Anti-Ship Missile Division (Брегови дивизион противокорабни ракети)
  • Coastal Artillery Battery (Брегова артилерийска батарея)
  • Naval Engineer Battalion (Инженерно-сапьорен батальон)
  • Communications Center (Радиокомуникационен възел)
  • Main Naval Depot (Складове на ВМС)
  • Armament Naval Depot (Складове за боеприпаси на ВМС)
  • Hydrographical and Lighthouse Service (Хидрографска и фарова служба)
  • Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy (Висше военно-морско училище "Никола Йонков Вапцаров")

[edit] Naval specialized research and analysis division

The NSRAD (Bulgarian: Военноморски специализиран отдел за проучвания и анализи) was a clandestine agency within the Navy, intended to conduct intelligence gathering and "unofficial" paramilitary operations. It was disbanded in January 2005 for reasons unknown, but probably related to recent accession of Bulgaria to NATO. All information about its organization and personnel remains sketchy at best. (see: Gamma unit, Omicron unit, Theta unit, Zeta unit). Virtually all operations, conducted by the division operatives, were false flag operations. No records about these operations could be found.

[edit] Omicron Unit

Omicron unit was the code name of the 2nd tactical unit/Operative section of the NSRAD.It was under command of lieutenant (later captain-lieutenant) Alexander Ryenski (Bulgarian: Александър Риенски). The name of the unit commander is most likely an alias.

[edit] Equipment

• three Wielingen class frigates ;
  • 41 "Дръзки" ("Daring")
  • 42 "Верни" ("Loyal")
  • 43 "Горди" ("Proud")
• one Koni class frigate;
  • 11 "Смели" ("Brave")
• two Pauk class ASW corvettes;
  • 13 "Решителни" ("Intrepid")
  • 14 "Бодри" ("Vital")
• one Tarantul class corvette;
  • 101 "Мълния" ("Lightning")
• one Tripartite class minehunter;
  • (ex-BNS Myosotis)
• three Osa class missile boats;
• one Romeo class submarine.
  • 84 "Слава" ("Glory")
• four Sonya class minesweepers;
• two Polnocny class landing ships;

[edit] Additional equipment

• P-15MC Termit missiles;
• Exocet missiles;
• RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles;
• Mi-14 Haze naval helicopters (At this time the Navy's only aircraft comprise 12 Mil Mi-14PL helicopters for anti-submarine patrol, search and rescue, and other naval support tasks located near Varna.^[2]
• SA-N-4 air defence missiles;
• SA-N-5 air defence missiles;

[edit] References

1. ^ Aviation Week & Space Technology, 20070115
2. ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.