home

fighting ships of the world

FRENCH NAVY (FRANCE)

ESCORTS

D'ESTIENNE D'ORVES corvettes (1976 - 1986)

D'Estienne d'Orves 1980

Lieutenant de vaisseau Le Hénaff 2010

Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
D'Estienne d'Orves F781   Arsenal de Lorient 1.9.1972 1.6.1973 10.9.1976 retired 6.1999, to Turkey 5.2002 (Beycoz)
Amyot d'Inville F782   Arsenal de Lorient 1.9.1973 30.11.1974 13.10.1976 retired 7.1999, to Turkey 5.2002 (Bartın)
Drogou F783   Arsenal de Lorient 1.10.1973 30.11.1974 30.9.1976 retired 7.2000, to Turkey 10.2001 (Bodrum)
Détroyat F784   Arsenal de Lorient 15.12.1974 31.1.1976 4.5.1977 retired 7.1997, BU 2006
Jean Moulin F785   Arsenal de Lorient 15.1.1975 31.1.1976 11.5.1977 retired 5.1999, BU 2014
Quartier-Maître Anquetil F786   Arsenal de Lorient 1.8.1975 7.8.1976 15.6.1979 retired 6.2000, to Turkey 12.2001 (Bandırma)
Commandant de Pimodan F787   Arsenal de Lorient 1.9.1975 7.8.1976 20.5.1978 retired 7.2000, to Turkey 7.2001 (Bozcaada)
Second-Maître Le Bihan F788   Arsenal de Lorient 1.11.1976 13.8.1977 11.7.1979 retired 6.2000, to Turkey 6.2002 (Bafra)
Lieutenant de vaisseau Le Hénaff F789   Arsenal de Lorient 21.3.1977 16.9.1978 13.2.1980 in service (2019)
Lieutenant de vaisseau Lavallée F790   Arsenal de Lorient 11.11.1977 29.5.1979 9.10.1980 stricken 7.2018
Commandant l'Herminier F791   Arsenal de Lorient 29.5.1979 7.3.1981 19.1.1986 stricken 7.2018
Premier-Maître L'Her F792   Arsenal de Lorient 15.12.1978 28.6.1980 5.12.1981 in service (2019)
Commandant Blaison F793   Arsenal de Lorient 15.11.1979 7.3.1981 28.4.1982 in service (2019)
Enseigne de vaisseau Jacoubet F794   Arsenal de Lorient 11.4.1979 26.9.1981 23.10.1982 in service (2019)
Commandant Ducuing F795   Arsenal de Lorient 1.10.1980 26.9.1981 17.3.1983 in service (2019)
Commandant Birot F796   Arsenal de Lorient 23.3.1981 22.5.1982 14.3.1984 in service (2019)
Commandant Bouan (ex-Commandant Levasseur) F797   Arsenal de Lorient 12.10.1981 23.3.1983 31.10.1984 in service (2019)
  

Displacement standard, t

1100

Displacement full, t

1250

Length, m

76.0 pp 80.0 oa

Breadth, m

10.3

Draught, m

5.30

No of shafts

2

Machinery

2 SEMT-Pielstick 12PC2 V400 diesels

F791: 2 SEMT-Pielstick 12PA6 BTC diesels

Power, h. p.

12000

F791: 14400

Max speed, kts

23.5

Fuel, t

diesel oil

Endurance, nm(kts)

4500(15)

Armament

F781, 783, 786, 787: 2 x 1 MM38 Exocet SSM (2 MM38), 1 x 1 - 100/55 Mod. 1968, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10 Mod. 23, 4 - 533/550 torpedo catapults (4), 1 x 4 - 375 Mod. 1972 F1 ASWRL

F782, 784, 785, 788-791: 1 x 1 - 100/55 Mod. 1968, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10 Mod. 23, 4 - 533/550 torpedo catapults (4), 1 x 4 - 375 Mod. 1972 F1 ASWRL

F792-797: 4 x 1 MM40 Exocet SSM (4 MM40), 1 x 1 - 100/55 Mod. 1968, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10 Mod. 23, 4 - 533/550 torpedo catapults (4), 1 x 4 - 375 Mod. 1972 F1 ASWRL

Military load 18 commandos

Electronic equipment

DRBN-32, DRBV-51A, DRBC-32E radars, DUBA-25 sonar, ARBR-16 ECM suite

Complement

105

Project history: Ordered as replacements for the 1950s-built escorteurs of the E 50 and E 52 series, the avisos of the A 69 class illustrate the changes in French maritime philosophy which had taken place by the late 1960s. They are austere vessels designed for coastal (not ocean) ASW and for patrol on colonial stations. There is additional berthing for a troop detachment of one officer and seventeen men.

     The aviso role demanded a dual-purpose gun, good endurance and manoeuvrability. Since endurance was a more important consideration than speed, a 2-shaft diesel installation was adopted, producing a maximum speed of about 23.5kts. The two diesels are mounted side by side in a single engine room, and are controlled from an acoustically insulated and air-conditioned machinery control room immediately abaft the engine room. The Commandant l'Herminier has SEMT-Pielstick 12 PA 6 BTC diesels with infrared suppression features; protracted trials delayed her entry into operational service. All ships of the class are fitted with fin stabilisers except for Ducuing and Birot, which have a 'dynamic' stabilisation system. Early ships of the class experienced problems with funnel gases, and the funnel was heightened from the Jean Moulin onwards; this modification was subsequently extended to all ships of the class.

    ASW capabilities are strictly limited. The austere high-frequency DUBA-25, the transducer for which is retractable but housed in a fixed dome, is designed for acquisition and attack in coastal waters down to 220m. The magazine for the 375mm RL was beneath the after deckhouse and contained thirty reloads, the rounds being hoisted by a hydraulic lift. The RL was remote-controlled from the operations centre. Inside the deckhouse itself are four catapults for ASW torpedoes angled at 30 degrees to the centreline on a forward bearing; no reloads are carried. It was intended to provide a hangar and flight deck for a Dauphin helicopter in Blaison and Jacoubet but the scheme was abandoned.

    Originally the class was to have been divided into two sub-groups, designated A 69 and A 70 respectively. Ships belonging to the latter sub-group would have been fitted with Exocet SSMs. In the event bed-plates for Exocet were fitted in all ships, and the missiles are always carried by ships deploying overseas. Fire control for the single 100mm is provided by a DRBC-32E monopulse radar served by a semi-analogue, semi-digital computer.

Modernizations: 1986-1995, all: - 1 x 1 - 100/55; + 1 x 1 - 100/55 Mod. 1968 CADAM, (2 - 4) x 1 - 12.7/90, 2x Dagaie decoy RL, SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo decoy

late 1980s, Détroyat; 1995-1997, Amyot d'Inville, Lieutenant de vaisseau Lavallée, Commandant l'Herminier: + 2 x 1 MM38 Exocet SSM (2 MM38)

1993, Commandant Blaison, Enseigne de vaisseau Jacoubet; 1994, Premier-Maître L'Her; 1996, Commandant Ducuing; 1997, Commandant Birot; 1999, Commandant Bouan: - 1 x 4 - 375 ASWRL; + satcom system

1995-1997, Quartier-Maître Anquetil, Premier-Maître L'Her, Commandant Blaison, Enseigne de vaisseau Jacoubet, Commandant Ducuing, Commandant Birot, Commandant Bouan: + 1 x 2 Simbad SAM (~16 Mistral)

2004-2005, all: - 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 2 x 1 - 20/90 F2, Panda DMA-B e/o detector

2009, all survived: - 2 x 1 MM38 Exocet SSM, 4 - 550 torpedo catapults, 2x Dagaie decoy RL

2010s, some: + Sea Cobra IR e/o detector

Naval service: No significant events.

Détroyat 1979

Premier-Maître L'Her 2002

© Ivan Gogin, 2016-19