Westgat-class tugboat

Former HNLMS Westgat as Albatros
Class overview
Name	Westgat class
Builders	Rijkswerf Willemsoord, Den Helder
Operators	Royal Netherlands Navy  Belgian Navy
Succeeded by	Linge class
Built	1967–1968
Completed	2
General characteristics [1]
Type	Tugboat
Displacement	206 t (203 long tons)
Length	27.2 m (89 ft 3 in)
Beam	7 m (23 ft 0 in)
Draft	2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
Propulsion	1 propeller 720 hp (540 kW) Bolnes diesel engine
Speed	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Crew	9

The Westgat class^[a] was a ship class of two tugboats that were built in the Netherlands for the Royal Netherlands Navy.^[2] One of the vessels was later sold to the Belgian Navy.

Design and construction

The tugboats of the Westgat class were constructed at the Rijkswerf in Willemsoord.^[1] Both tugboats were commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1968.^[2]

While the tugboats of the Westgat class were unarmed, they could be equipped with two 20 mm guns.^[1] In addition, both tugboats were equipped with firefighting and salvage installations.^[2]

Ships in class

Westgat class construction data^[1]

Pennant no.	Name	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Fate
A 872	Westgat	Rijkswerf Willemsoord, Den Helder, Netherlands	3 April 1967	22 August 1967	10 January 1968	1997[3]	Transferred to the Belgian Navy and renamed Albatros (A996)[3][4]
A 873	Wielingen		22 August 1967	6 January 1968	31 May 1968		Sold in 1992 and renamed Pieter[5][6][7]

Notes

1. The class was also known in Dutch as Wielingen type.^[1]

Citations

1. van Amstel (1991), p. 110.
2. Woudstra (1982), p. 200.
3. "Sleepboot Westgat onder Britse vlag". Maritiem Den Helder (in Dutch). 21 August 2022.
4. "A 872 WESTGAT (Onbekend)". Binnenvaart.eu (in Dutch).
5. "A 873 WIELINGEN (8865652)". Binnenvaart.eu (in Dutch).
6. "Ex Wielingen A873". Wamandai (in Dutch).
7. "A 873 Wielingen". Onze Marine Vloot (in Dutch).

References

• van Amstel, W.H.E. (1991). De schepen van de Koninklijke Marine vanaf 1945 (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 90-6013-997-6.
• Woudstra, F.G.A. (1982). Onze Koninklijke Marine (in Dutch). Alkmaar: De Alk. ISBN 90-6013-915-1.