Commandant Birot | |
History | |
---|---|
France | |
Name | Commandant Birot |
Namesake | Roger Birot |
Builder | Arsenal de Lorient, Lorient |
Laid down | 23 March 1981 |
Launched | 22 May 1982 |
Commissioned | 14 March 1984 |
Decommissioned | Expected, 2025 |
Homeport | Toulon [1] |
Identification |
|
Status | Active |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso |
Displacement | |
Length | |
Beam | 10.3 m (33 ft 10 in) |
Draught | 5.3 m (17 ft 5 in) |
Propulsion |
|
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 |
|
Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
Armament |
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Commandant Birot (F796) is a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy.
Armed by a crew of 90 sailors, these vessels have the reputation of being among the most difficult in bad weather. Their high windage makes them particularly sensitive to pitch and roll as soon as the sea is formed.
Their armament, consequent for a vessel of this tonnage, allows them to manage a large spectrum of missions. During the Cold War, they were primarily used to patrol the continental shelf of the Atlantic Ocean in search of Soviet Navy submarines. Due to the poor performance of the hull sonar, as soon as an echo appeared, the reinforcement of an ASM frigate was necessary to chase it using its towed variable depth sonar. [3]
Their role as patrollers now consists mainly of patrols and assistance missions, as well as participation in UN missions (blockades, flag checks) or similar marine policing tasks (fight against drugs, extraction of nationals, fisheries control, etc.). The mer-mer 38 or mer-mer 40 missiles have been landed, but they carry several machine guns and machine guns, more suited to their new missions.
Its construction cost was estimated at 270,000,000 French francs. [4]
Commandant Ducuing was laid down on 23 March 1981 at Arsenal de Lorient, Lorient. Launched on 22 May 1982 and commissioned on 14 March 1984.
On 13 January 2014, the ship was cited to the order of the division for having distinguished himself in the conduct and successful boarding of the Luna S, a vessel filled with cannabis arrested off the coast of Algeria. September 8 to 13, 2013. [5]
In May 2015, she participated in Operation Triton. [6] She collects 217 castaways on May 2. [7] She saved 297 migrants on May 20, 2015. [8]
On May 23, 2019, she participated, with the patroller Jean-François Deniau, in the seizure of 7.4 tonnes of cannabis as part of a joint operation between the Customs and the Navy off the coast of France. [9] In November / December 2019, it patrols the Black Sea and carries out military diplomacy and intelligence missions. [10]
In 2022, it was indicated that the ship would be equipped with the SMDM (navy mini-drone system) to enhance her surveillance capabilities. [11]
She is scheduled to be withdrawn from service in 2025 and be replaced by one of a new class of ocean-going Patrol Vessels (the Patrouilleurs Hauturiers). [12]
The D'Estienne d'Orves-class avisos, also known as the A69 type avisos, is a class of avisos, comparable in size to a light corvette, mainly designed for coastal anti-submarine defence, but are also available for high sea escort missions. 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. They were initially intended for use by the French Navy, but have been ordered by the South African Navy, Argentinian Navy and Turkish Navy.
The French Navy's modernization, as is the case with the Army and Air and Space Force, is pursued on the basis of successive 7-year Military Planning Laws. The latest LPM covers the 2024-2030 period and is tailored around four strategic priorities: the strengthening of deterrence assets; preparation for high-intensity warfare; protecting national interests in all French territories, shared spaces and key domains ; and finally, the strengthening of international partnerships.
The Force d'action navale is the 9,600-man and about 100-ship force of surface warships of the French Navy. As of August 2023, it is commanded by L’amiral Nicolas Vaujour.
The Maritime Gendarmerie is a component of the French National Gendarmerie under operational control of the chief of staff of the French Navy. It employs 1,157 personnel and operates around thirty patrol boats and high-speed motorboats distributed on the littoral waterways of France. Like their land-based colleagues the Gendarmes Maritime are military personnel carry out policing operations in addition to their primary role as a coast guard service. They also carry out provost duties within the French Navy.
The P400-class patrol vessels were small patrol boats of the French Navy. They were designed to accomplish police operations in the French exclusive economic zone (EEZ). They were built by the Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie, which specialise in small military craft. Two similar ships are in service in Gabon, the similar Macaé-class operates with the Brazilian Navy, and two ships were transferred from the French Navy to Kenyan and Gabon navies. The P400 class were originally designed in two versions: one armed with Exocet MM38 missiles, and another public service version with a smaller 16-man complement; eventually neither of these versions were commissioned as the French Navy chose an intermediate version.
Amyot d'Inville (F782) is a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy. She was transferred to the Turkish Navy as TCG Bartın (F-504).
Drogou is a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy. She was transferred to the Turkish Navy as TCG Bodrum (F-501).
Quartier-Maître Anquetil (F786) is a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy. She was transferred to the Turkish Navy as TCG Bandırma (F-502).
Second-Maître Le Bihan (F788) is a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy. She was transferred to the Turkish Navy as TCG Bafra (F-505).
D'Estienne d'Orves (F781) is the lead ship of the D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy. She was transferred to the Turkish Navy as TCG Beykoz (F-503).
Lieutenant de vaisseau Le Hénaff (F789) is a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy.
Lieutenant de vaisseau Lavallée (F790) is a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy. The ship's name pays tribute to the resistance fighter shot in deportation in 1944.
Commandant L'Herminier (F791) is a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy.
Premier-Maître L'Her (F792) is a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy.
Commandant Blaison (F793) is a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy.
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Commandant Ducuing (F795) is a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy. The vessel is home ported at Toulon.
Commandant Bouan (F797) is a D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso in the French Navy. The ship is homeported in Toulon.
The Patrouilleurs Outre-mer (POM), or Félix Éboué class, are a type of six high-sea patrol vessels of the French Navy. They are to be based at Nouméa, Tahiti and La Réunion, as replacement for the P400-class patrol vessels which are nearing the end of their career. The POM are far larger, with a 1,300-ton displacement fully loaded, and a wider range or capabilities. They are being commissioned with the Navy between 2023 and 2025.