NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Commandant Rivière 1978

Ships

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

Technical data

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

Standard scale images

Graphics

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.