NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Détroyat 1979

Ships

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)

Technical data

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

Standard scale images

Graphics

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.