Georges Leygues-class frigate

Last updated
FS Montcalm 1.jpg
Class overview
NameGeorges Leygues class
BuildersBrest arsenal
OperatorsCivil and Naval Ensign of France.svg  French Navy
Preceded by Tourville class
Succeeded by Aquitaine class (anti-submarine variant)
Built1974–1988
In commission10 December 1979 – 1 July 2022
Completed7
Retired7
General characteristics
Type Frigate
Displacement
  • 3,550 t (3,494 long tons)
  • 4,500 t (4,429 long tons) full load
Length139 m (456 ft 0 in)
Beam14 m (45 ft 11 in)
Draught5.7 m (18 ft 8 in)
Propulsion
  • CODOG
  • 2 × Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines, 26,000 hp (19,388 kW) each
  • 2 × SEMT Pielstick 16PA6-V280 diesel engines, 5,200 hp (3,878 kW) each
Speed30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range7,400 nmi (13,700 km; 8,500 mi)
Complement235
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × Westland Lynx anti-ship helicopters (retired 2020); [2] From 2020: AS565 Panther or Alouette III (on remaining vessel D646)

The Georges Leygues class (Type C70 AS or Type F70 AS) was a class of anti-submarine destroyers of the French Navy. [3] They were multi-role ships due to their Exocet and Crotale missile armament, making them especially suitable for the defence of strategic positions, show of force operations, or as high seas escorts. The design was initially officially known as a "corvette" with the designation C70, but were internationally labelled an "anti-submarine destroyer" (hence the "D" in the hull numbers). [4] Subsequently, the French referred to the ships as "frigates" with the designation F70. [5]

Contents

Design

The superstructures were built to optimise resistance to the blast from nuclear explosions. The last three ships of the class had their bridges raised one deck to overcome problems experienced by the first four in bad weather, as well as being equipped with DSBV 61 passive linear towed array sonar and several other upgraded systems. [6]

The Georges Leygues-class frigate Latouche-Treville departing Portsmouth Naval Base, UK, 21 September 2009. FS Latouche Treville (D 646).jpg
The Georges Leygues-class frigate Latouche-Tréville departing Portsmouth Naval Base, UK, 21 September 2009.

Ships in class

Georges Leygues-class frigates
NamePennant numberBuilderLaid downLaunchedCommissionedDecommissioned
Georges Leygues D 640Arsenal de Brest16 September 197417 December 197610 December 197921 March 2014 [5]
Dupleix D 64117 October 19752 December 197813 June 1981July 2015
Montcalm D 6425 December 197531 May 198028 May 19823 July 2017 [7]
Jean de Vienne D 64326 October 197917 November 198125 May 19849 January 2019
Primauguet D 64417 November 198117 March 19845 November 19861 April 2019
La Motte-Picquet D 64512 February 19826 February 198518 February 198813 October 2020 [8]
Latouche-Tréville D 64615 February 198419 March 198816 July 19901 July 2022 [9]

See also

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References

  1. "Georges Leygues class anti-submarine destroyer Type F70 ASW Anti-submarine Frigate Frégates anti-sous-marins FASM D640 D641 D642 D643 D644 D645 D646 DUBV-43 DSBV-61 Marine Nationale French Navy DCNS datasheet pictures photos video specifications". navyrecognition.com. Retrieved 15 June 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. Grolleau, Henri-Pierre (5 July 2019). "French Navy brings forward Lynx retirement". Janes.com. Retrieved 15 June 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. Avery, Derek (1987). Modern Warships. London: Collins. pp. 80–81. ISBN   0-00-458855-X.
  4. Ireland, Bernard (1984). Navies of the West. London: Ian Allan. p. 26. ISBN   0-71-101339-X.
  5. 1 2 "Retrait définitif du service pour la frégate Georges Leygues" (in French). ActuNautique.com. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  6. Miller, David; Miller, Chris (1986). Modern Naval Combat . USA: Salamandar Books. pp.  100–101. ISBN   0-517-61350-6.
  7. Groizeleau, Vincent (2017-07-07). "La frégate Montcalm a tiré sa révérence". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  8. "La Motte-Picquet : dernière cérémonie des couleurs à Brest" . Mer et Marine (in French). 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. Groizeleau, Vincent (5 July 2022). "Fin du Latouche-Tréville : la Marine nationale tourne la page des frégates du type F70". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 6 July 2022.