BALNY frigate (1970)
Commandant Rivière 1963
Commandant Rivière 1980
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Victor Schoelcher | F725 | Arsenal de Lorient | 10.1957 | 11.10.1958 | 15.10.1962 | to Uruguay 12.1988 (General Artiga) | |
| Commandant Bory | F726 | Arsenal de Lorient | 5.1958 | 11.10.1958 | 5.3.1964 | stricken 12.1996 | |
| Amiral Charner | F727 | Arsenal de Lorient | 11.1958 | 12.3.1960 | 14.12.1962 | to Uruguay 1.1991 (Montevideo) | |
| Doudart de Lagrée | F728 | Arsenal de Lorient | 3.1960 | 15.4.1961 | 1.5.1963 | stricken 7.1992 | |
| Balny | F729 | Arsenal de Lorient | 3.1960 | 17.3.1962 | 1.2.1970 | stricken 7.1994 | |
| Commandant Rivière | F733 | Arsenal de Lorient | 4.1957 | 11.10.1958 | 4.12.1962 | stricken 7.1992 | |
| Commandant Bourdais | F740 | Arsenal de Lorient | 4.1959 | 15.4.1961 | 10.3.1963 | stricken 4.1990, to Uruguay (Uruguay) | |
| Protet | F748 | Arsenal de Lorient | 9.1961 | 7.12.1962 | 1.5.1964 | stricken 6.1992 | |
| Enseigne de vaisseau Henry | F749 | Arsenal de Lorient | 9.1962 | 14.12.1963 | 1.1.1965 | stricken 8.1996 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
F725-728, 733, 740, 748, 749: 1750 F729: 1650 |
|
Displacement full, t |
F725-728, 733, 740, 748, 749: 2230 F729: 1950 |
|
Length, m |
98.0 pp 103.0 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
11.5 |
|
Draught, m |
4.30 |
|
No of shafts |
F725-728, 733, 740, 748, 749: 2 F729: 1 |
|
Machinery |
F725, 727, 728, 733, 740, 748, 749: 4 SEMT-Pielstick diesels F726: Sigma free-piston gas generators, 2 gas turbines F729: CODAG: 1 Turbomeca M38 gas turbine + 2 AGO V16 diesels |
|
Power, h. p. |
F725-728, 733, 740, 748, 749: 16000 F729: 11500+7200=18700 |
|
Max speed, kts |
F725, 727, 728, 733, 740, 748, 749: 25 F729: 26 |
|
Fuel, t |
F725, 727, 728, 733, 740, 748, 749: diesel oil |
|
Endurance, nm(kts) |
F725-728, 733, 740, 748, 749: 7500(16) F729: 8000(12) |
|
Armament |
3 x 1 - 100/55 Mod 1953, 2 x 1 - 30/70 Hispano-Suiza KAD, 2 x 3 - 550 TT, 1 x 4 - 305 ASWRL |
| Military load | 2 LCP, 80 marines |
|
Electronic equipment |
DRBV-22A, DRBC-32A, DRBV-50 radars, DUBA-3, SQS-17 sonars |
|
Complement |
166 |
Project history: The Commandant Rivière was a dual-purpose design intended to perform the traditional role of a colonial aviso in peacetime and the NATO role of convoy escort in wartime. At first christened escorteurs d'union française these ships were redesignated avisos escorteurs in 1959. The first of the class was ordered in 1955, followed by six units in 1956 and the final pair in 1957.
Three 100mm guns were fitted, with the provision that the third could be replaced by a helicopter deck. The DRBC-32A FC director was located above the after two mountings. Two single 30mm AA of a new pattern were fitted amidships. The 305mm ASW mortar in 'B' position reloaded from a small glacis forward of the mountings, and could fire a special shore bombardment round. Two triple banks of ASW torpedo tubes were fitted, but in contrast to the E 50/52 series there was no provision for reloading. There was accommodation either for a flag officer and staff, or for an eighty-man commando team, and two 9m LCPs each with a capacity of twenty-five men were carried on davits.
Because of the requirement for long range and fuel economy, a two-shaft diesel installation was adopted. Commandant Bory was initially fitted with Sigma free-piston generators driving gas turbines, but these were removed in 1974-75 and replaced by the standard diesel installation. Balny trialled an even more radical CODAG propulsion plant in which a Turbomeca M38 gas turbine (a modified Atar-8 aero-engine downrated from 15000hp to 11500hp) was combined with two 3600bhp AGO VI6 diesels for cruising. The gas turbine and the diesels could be clutched together to drive the single shaft, which was fitted with a 3.6m diameter controllable-pitch propeller. The compactness of the installation enabled her to carry 100t more fuel than her sisters.
Modernizations: 1973, Amiral Charner, Commandant Bourdais, Enseigne de vasseau Henry: + helicopter platform
1975, Amiral Charner, Commandant Bourdais, Enseigne de vasseau Henry: - helicopter platform
1975, Commandant Bory: machinery was replaced by standard diesels as on others ships of the class
1975-1979, Victor Schoelcher, Protet, Enseigne de vasseau Henry: - 1 x 1 - 100/55 ('X'), DRBV-50, DRBC-32A radars; + 4 x 1 MM38 Exocet SSM (4 MM38), DRBN-32, DRBC-32C radars
1975-1979, Commandant Bory, Amiral Charner, Doudart de Lagrée, Commandant Rivière, Commandant Bourdais: - 1 x 1 - 100/55 ('X'), 2 x 1 - 30/70, DRBV-50, DRBC-32A radars; + 4 x 1 MM38 Exocet SSM (4 MM38), 2 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 3, DRBN-32, DRBC-32C radars
1985, Commandant Rivière: two 20x1m caissons were added to the sides aft at upper deck level; - 2 x 1 - 100/55, DRBC-32C radar, SQS-17 sonar; + 1 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 3, DUBV-24, DUBV-43 VDS sonars
Naval service: No significant events.
Commandant Rivière 1978
© Ivan Gogin, 2015