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Mercure 1968

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Mercure	M765, 12.1980- P765		CMN, Cherbourg	1.1955	21.12.1957	12.1958	stricken 4.1991

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	365
Displacement full, t	400
Length, m	44.4
Breadth, m	8.30
Draught, m	4.00
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Mercedes-Benz diesels
Power, h. p.	4000
Max speed, kts	15
Fuel, t	diesel oil 48
Endurance, nm(kts)	3000(15)
Armament	1 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 24, mechanical, acoustic and magnetic sweeping gears
Electronic equipment	DRBN-32 radar
Complement	48

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Known as DBI, Mercure was to have been the first of a new class of French coastal minesweeper based on the ex-American MSCs of the Acacia class. She was ordered from CMN, Cherbourg, under MDAP.

The hull was of laminated wood assembled or glued under heavy pressure, with anti-magnetic longitudinal metal bonding. The navigation bridge was of light alloy. All propulsion and generating machinery was flexibly mounted for shock resistance, and during sweep operations the ship's engines could be operated from a small cabin just beneath the upper deck.

Modernizations

1980, as patrol: diesels were replaced by MGO2500 (2500hp, 6200(10)nm); - minesweeping gear

Naval service

Since 1981 Mercure served on fishery protection off the Atlantic Coast.

1968