D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso

The aviso Lieutenant de vaisseau Lavallée
Class overview
Name	D'Estienne d'Orves class or A69 type
Operators	French Navy   Turkish Navy   Argentine Navy
Preceded by	Commandant Rivière class
Succeeded by	Floréal class La Fayette class Patrouilleurs Hauturiers (from 2026)
Subclasses	Drummond class Burak class
Completed	17
Active	10
Retired	7
General characteristics
Type	Aviso
Displacement	1,100  t (1,100 long tons) standard 1,270 t (1,250 long tons) full load
Length	80 m (262 ft 6 in) oa 76 m (249 ft 4 in) pp
Beam	10.3 m (33 ft 10 in)
Draught	5.3 m (17 ft 5 in) 3 m (9 ft 10 in) [1]
Propulsion	2 SEMT Pielstick 12 PC 2 V400 diesel engines 8,900  kW (12,000  bhp), 2 shafts
Speed	23.5 knots (43.5 km/h; 27.0 mph)
Range	4,500  nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement	90
Sensors and processing systems	1 Air/surface DRBV 51A sentry radar 1 DRBC 32E fire control radar 1 Decca 1226 navigation radar 1 DUBA 25 hull sonar (removed from French vessels when reclassified as OPVs) [2]
Electronic warfare & decoys	1 ARBR 16 radar interceptor 2 Dagaie decoy launchers 1 SLQ-25 Nixie countermeasure system
Armament	2 Exocet MM38 SSMs (removed from French ships when reclassified as OPVs) [2] 1 × 100 mm CADAM gun turret with Najir fire control system and CMS LYNCEA 2 × 20 mm modèle F2 guns 4 × 12.7 mm machine guns 4 × L3 or L5 type torpedoes in four fixed catapults (removed from French ships when reclassified as OPVs) [2] 1 × sextuple Bofors 375 mm rocket launcher (removed from French ships when reclassified as OPVs) [2]

The D'Estienne d'Orves-class avisos, also known as the A69 type avisos, is a class of French Navy avisos, comparable in size to a light corvette, mainly designed for coastal anti-submarine defence, but are also available for high sea escort missions, notably in support missions with the Strategic Oceanic Force (FOST). Built on a simple and robust design, they have an economical and reliable propulsion system which allows them to be used for overseas presence missions. In addition to service in France, they have been ordered by the South African Navy (not delivered), Argentinian Navy and Turkish Navy.

The class takes its name from the lead ship, named in honour of Honoré d'Estienne d'Orves, a French naval officer and member of the French Resistance.

Design and description

The D'Estienne d'Orves-class avisos were primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) in coastal areas and colonial coastal patrol. ^{[3] [4]} They were ordered as replacements for the E 50 and E 52 type escorteurs of the French Navy. The ships are built austerely and have a standard displacement of 1,100 tonnes (1,100 long tons ) and 1,270 tonnes (1,250 long tons) at full load. The avisos are 80 metres (262 ft 6 in) long overall and 76 metres (249 ft 4 in) between perpendiculars with a beam of 10.3 metres (33 ft 10 in) and a draught of 5.3 metres (17 ft 5 in). ^[4]

The avisos are propelled by two shafts turning controllable pitch propellers powered by two SEMT Pielstick 12 PC 2 V400 diesel engines rated at 8,900 kilowatts (12,000  bhp ). The two engines are located in a single engine room mounted next to each other and controlled from a room abaft the machinery room. The two diesel engine system was selected due to the preference of endurance over speed. The D'Estienne d'Orves class has a maximum speed of 23.5 knots (43.5 km/h; 27.0 mph) and a range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). All ships in the class are fitted with fin stabilisers except for Commandant Ducuing and Commandant Birot. ^{[3] [4]}

The class was intended to be constructed in two groups, the A 69 and A 70 types, with the latter type fitted with two Exocet MM38 surface-to-surface missiles (SSM) on either side of the funnel, but in the end, all ships of the class were fitted with the SSMs. The ships are armed with a 100 mm (3.9 in) CADAM gun turret with Najir fire control system and CMS LYNCEA, a pair of 20 mm (0.8 in) modèle F2 guns and four 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine guns. For ASW operations, the D'Estienne d'Orves class mounts four fixed catapults for L3 or L5 type torpedoes with no reloads carried and one remote-controlled sextuple 375 mm (14.8 in) rocket launcher, with 30 reloads carried in a magazine located beneath the aft deckhouse. ^[4]

The D'Estienne d'Orves class is equipped with one air/surface DRBV 51A sentry radar, one DRBC 32E fire control radar one Decca 1226 navigation radar and DUBA 25 hull-mounted sonar. The DUBA 25 is situated in a fixed dome with a retractable transducer, but is designed strictly for use in coastal waters. As countermeasures the avisos have one ARBR 16 radar interceptor, two Dagaie decoy launchers and one SLQ-25 Nixie countermeasure system, which was fitted in the mid-1980s. The ships have a complement of 90 and have space to accommodate 18 marines. ^{[4] [5]}

Modifications

Beyond the Nixie countermeasure system, the funnels aboard the avisos were heightened due to issues with the gases coming from them. Commandant L'Herminier had SEMT Pielstick 12 PA 6 BTC diesels with infrared suppression systems installed which led to delays into the vessel's entry into service. In 1993, Commandant Blaison and Enseigne de vaisseau Jacoubert had their rocket launchers removed and a Syracuse II satcom terminal installed. Plans were drawn up to give the two ships a hangar and flight deck for helicopters, but this was abandoned. ^[4]

From 2009, the remaining vessels in French service were reclassified as offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and, as a result, had their surface-to-surface missiles and heavy anti-submarine weapons removed. ^[2] The remaining vessels in the class are being incrementally withdrawn from service between 2024 and 2027. ^[6]

Replacement of these vessels in French service is currently planned from about 2026 by a new class of patrol vessels. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

Ships in the class

French Navy construction data [4]
Pennant no.	Name	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Status
F 781	D'Estienne d'Orves	Arsenal de Lorient, Lorient, France	1 September 1972	1 June 1973	10 September 1976	Decommissioned 1999, transferred to Turkey as TCG Beykoz (F-503)
F 782	Amyot d'Inville		1 September 1973	30 November 1974	13 October 1976	Decommissioned 1999, transferred to Turkey as TCG Bartın (F-504)
F 783	Drogou		1 October 1973	30 November 1974	30 September 1976	Decommissioned 2000, transferred to Turkey as TCG Bodrum (F-501); decommissioned from Turkish service 2022
F 784	Détroyat		15 December 1974	31 January 1976	4 May 1977	Decommissioned 1997, scrapped at Ghent, Belgium in 2015
F 785	Jean Moulin		15 January 1975	31 January 1976	11 May 1977	Decommissioned 1999, scrapped at Ghent, Belgium in 2015
F 786	Quartier-Maître Anquetil		1 August 1975	7 August 1976	4 February 1978	Decommissioned 2000, transferred to Turkey as TCG Bandırma (F-502)
F 787	Commandant de Pimodan		1 September 1975	7 August 1976	20 May 1978	Decommissioned 2000, transferred to Turkey as TCG Bozcaada (F-500)
F 788	Second-Maître Le Bihan		1 November 1976	13 August 1977	7 July 1979	Decommissioned 2002, transferred to Turkey as TCG Bafra (F-505)
F 789	Lieutenant de vaisseau Le Hénaff		March 1977	16 September 1978	13 February 1980	Decommissioned 2020 [10]
F 790	Lieutenant de vaisseau Lavallée		11 November 1977	29 May 1979	16 August 1980	Decommissioned 2018
F 791	Commandant L'Herminier		7 May 1979	7 March 1981	19 January 1986	Decommissioned 2018
F 792	Premier-Maître L'Her		15 December 1978	28 June 1980	5 December 1981	Decommissioned June 2024; [11] sunk as a target ship in December 2024 [12]
F 793	Commandant Blaison		15 November 1979	7 March 1981	28 April 1982	In service; retirement planned in 2027 [6]
F 794	Enseigne de vaisseau Jacoubet		April 1979	29 September 1981	23 October 1982	In service; retirement planned in 2026 [6]
F 795	Commandant Ducuing		1 October 1980	26 September 1981	17 March 1983	In service; retirement planned in 2025 [6]
F 796	Commandant Birot		23 March 1981	22 May 1982	14 March 1984	In service; retirement planned in 2025 [6]
F 797	Commandant Bouan (ex-Commandant Levasseur)		12 October 1981	23 May 1983	11 May 1984	In service; retirement planned in 2026 [6]

South African and Argentine navies

Main article: Drummond-class corvette

ARA Granville

The Argentine Navy also operated three D'Estienne d'Orves-class ships, locally known as the Drummond class. The first two ships, originally named Lieutenant de vaisseau Le Hénaff and Commandant L'Herminier while under construction for the French Navy, were originally acquired by the South African Navy in 1976. In the French Navy they were replaced by new ships with the same names. The two ships were renamed Good Hope and Transvaal, but due to UN sanctions against South Africa, they were not delivered and were bought by the Argentine Navy on 25 December 1978. They were renamed ARA Drummond and ARA Guerrico. A third ship of the class, ARA Granville, was ordered by Argentina and was delivered in 1981. ^[13] All vessels had been retired as of 2024. ^[14]

Turkish Navy

Main article: Burak-class corvette

In October 2000, Turkey acquired six Type A 69 avisos. They were acquired for the Turkish Navy for coastal patrol in order to release more capable Turkish ships for frontline duty. Five of the six vessels were refitted at Brest before transfer. ^[5]

Citations

1. Gardiner & Friedman 1983, p. 41.
2. "Patrouilleurs: Les avisos français sur tous les fronts" [Patrol ships: French Avisos on all fronts.]. asafrance.fr (in French). 26 January 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
3. Sharpe 1990, p. 191.
4. Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, p. 118.
5. Saunders 2009, p. 834.
6. Groizeleau, Vincent (6 May 2021). "La Marine nationale va rapidement désarmer ses derniers PHM" [The French Navy will quickly disarm its last PHM]. Mer et Marine (in French). Archived from the original on 2021-05-06. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
7. Groizeleau, Vincent (13 March 2023). "La Marine nationale n'obtiendrait que 7 nouveaux patrouilleurs hauturiers au lieu des 10 prévus". Mer et Marine.
8. Vavasseur, Xavier (25 June 2020). "French Navy Ageing PHMs And PSPs Patrol Vessels To Be Replaced With 10 New OPVs". navalnews.com. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
9. "Euronaval: First Details Of The Patrouilleurs Océanique (PO) Platform Unveiled". navalnews.com. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
10. Groizeleau, Vincent (24 August 2020). "Le Lieutenant de Vaisseau Le Henaff retiré du service" [Lieutenant de Vaisseau Le Henaff retired from service]. Mer et Marine (in French). Archived from the original on 2020-10-30. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
11. "L'aviso PM L'Her tire sa révérence après 43 années de navigation". Marine Nationale (in French). 28 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
12. "Premier Maître L'Her (F792) (+2024)".
13. Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, pp. 4, 118.
14. Germán Videla Solá, Mariano (2024-09-01). "La Armada Argentina retiró del servicio a la ARA Granville, la última de sus corbetas A-69". Zona Militar (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-10-24.

References

• Gardiner, Robert; Friedman, Norman, eds. (1983). Conway's All the world's fighting ships, 1947-1982. Annapolis, Md: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   9780870219238.
• Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   1-55750-132-7.
• Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 (112 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN   978-0-7106-2888-6.
• Sharpe, Richard, ed. (1990). Jane's Fighting Ships 1990–91 (93 ed.). Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group. ISBN   0-7106-0904-3.

External links

• globalsecurity.org
• Alabordache.com French Aviso in activity
• Alabordache.com French Aviso disarmed
• (in Spanish) Argentine Navy (ARA) official site – class specifications & pictures