Cassard-class frigate
{{Short description|French Navy ship class (1988–2021)}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
}} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image =FS Jean Bart 1.jpg | Ship caption = Jean Bart }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name = Cassard class | Builders = Arsenal de Lorient (DCAN) | Operators = {{navy|France|name=Marine Nationale}} | Class before = | Class after = Aquitaine class (air-defence variant) | Subclasses = | Cost = | Built range = 1982–1991 | In service range = 1988–2021 | In commission range = | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = | Total ships completed = 2 | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = 2 | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Frigate | Ship displacement = 4,500 tons, 5,000 full load | Ship length = {{convert|139|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|14|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|6.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = *4 × SEMT Pielstick 18PA6-V280 BTC diesel engines
| Ship speed = {{convert|29.5|kn|lk=in}} | Ship range = {{convert|8,000|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|17|kn|abbr=on}} | Ship endurance = | Ship complement = 250 | Ship crew = | Ship time to activate = | Ship sensors = *Thomson-CSF ARBR 17B radar warning
| Ship EW = Thomson-CSF ARBB-33 jammer | Ship armament = *Anti-air;
| Ship armour = | Ship aircraft = 1 × Eurocopter AS 565 Panther anti-submarine helicopter | Ship aircraft facilities = | Ship notes = }} |
The Cassard class (Type F70 AA) was a class of two anti-air warfare destroyers of the French Navy introduced in the latter 1980s/early 1990s. The class was an air defence variant of the {{sclass|Georges Leygues|frigate|4}}. The two classes have a different armament and propulsion system mounted on an identical hull.{{cite book |title=Modern Naval Combat |last1=Miller |first1=David |first2=Chris |last2=Miller |year=1986 |publisher=Salamandar Books |location=USA |isbn=0-517-61350-6 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/modernnavalcomba0000mill/page/100 100–101] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/modernnavalcomba0000mill/page/100 }} Their primary role was to provide air cover for a fleet, an aeronaval group, a convoy & a littoral point. Their secondary role was to manage air assets coordination & aircraft control for the force, especially through Link 16.They can also be used for research, identification or presence missions. Both ships were assigned to the Force d'Action Navale.Gardiner and Chumbly, p. 115 The lead ship of the class, Cassard, was retired in 2019 followed by the retirement of Jean Bart in 2021.
The experience gained during the design and construction of the Cassard type was used for the design of the {{sclass|La Fayette|frigate|4}}.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
Design
The Cassard-class frigate was initially designed to replace the four {{sclass2|T 47|destroyer|0}} anti-air warfare vessels in service at the time. Initially procured with four ships in the class, (the third and fourth hulls authorized for construction in 1983), the class was cut back to two vessels after the United States chose to terminate the production of the Standard SM-1MR missile. The prolonged design period led to the plans being redrawn several times.
The class shared a common hull design with the Georges Leygues class. The superstructure was composed of a lightweight aluminum alloy that is resistant to fire and corrosion. However the adoption of a similar propulsion system was abandoned early on. The hot exhaust from the Olympus turbines found on the Georges Leygues class was thought to be incompatible with the numerous arrays required in the new design. The ships were crewed by 244 personnel but could accommodate 251.
The class carried one anti-submarine helicopter on a deck placed aft with a hangar provided for storage. Originally supplied with a Eurocopter AS 565 Panther, they were later replaced with the Westland Lynx. The SAMAHE 210 helicopter handling system is adaptable to different types of undercarriages on helicopters and had munitions trucks to position weapon loadouts to assist the arming of the helicopters.
=Propulsion=
The Cassard class were powered by four SEMT Pielstick 18 PA6V 280 BTC diesels creating a sustained {{convert|43200|hp|kW|abbr=on|order=flip|lk=on}} driving two shafts.Saunders, p.230 This provided the ships a maximum speed of {{convert|29.5|kn|lk=in}} and a range of {{convert|8000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|17|kn}}. The SEMT Pielstick diesels are capable of double super-charging. The engines were placed upon flexible mountings reducing the noise signature of the ship.
=Armament=
The Cassard frigates were armed with one Mk 13 launcher for the 40 Standard SM-1MR anti-air missiles. The missiles have semi-active radar homing out to {{convert|46|km|abbr=on}} at Mach 2 with a ceiling limit of {{convert|18288|m|abbr=on}}. The Mk 13 single arm launchers and SPG 51 tracker/illuminators were taken off the T 47 destroyers {{ship|French destroyer|Bouvet|D 624|2}} and {{ship|French destroyer|Kersaint|D 622|2}} and refurbished.
The Cassards were also provided with two Sadral sextuple launchers for 39 Mistral CIWS anti-air missiles. The Mistrals have infrared homing out to {{convert|4|km|abbr=on}} and have a {{convert|3|kg|abbr=on}} warhead. They are anti-sea skimmer missiles and are able to engage incoming targets down to {{convert|10|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level.
For anti-ship weaponry, the class was provided with eight MM40 Exocet anti-ship missiles. The MM40 Exocet missiles are sea-skimmers with a warhead of {{convert|165|kg|abbr=on}} and have a range of {{convert|70|km|abbr=on}} at Mach 0.9. The frigates also had two fixed torpedo tubes for ten L5 mod 4 torpedoes. These torpedoes have active and passive homing with a range of {{convert|9.5|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|35|kn|abbr=on}}. They carry a {{convert|150|kg|abbr=on}} warhead and can travel to a depth of {{convert|550|m|abbr=on}}.
The Cassard class was armed with a Creusot-Loire Compact {{cvt|100|mm|in}}/55 Mod 68 DP gun. The gun can fire 80 rounds per minute out to {{convert|17|km|abbr=on}} in an anti-surface role and {{convert|8|km|abbr=on}} against aerial targets. Initially the class was designed to have a second 100 mm main gun on the quarterdeck, however during the design phase the guns were removed and replaced with the helicopter hangar and two Sadral launchers. The vessels were also supplied with two {{cvt|20|mm}} F2 anti-aircraft guns and four {{cvt|12.7|mm}} machine guns.
=Electronics =
{{Prose|section|date=November 2024}}
- 1 DRBV26C sentry radar
- 1 Thales SMART-S MK2 (replacing DRBJ11B) {{cite web |url = http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=780|title = French Navy Frigate, Aircraft Carrier to be fitted with new Thales SMART-S Mk2 radar in 2013 |publisher = Navy Recognition |access-date= 12 December 2012 }}
- 1 DIBV2A infra-red alert system
- 2 DRBN34 navigation and landing radar
- 1 DUBV 24C hull sonar
- Syracuse II satellite communication system
- 1 ARBR 17 radar detector
- 1 SAIGON radio emission detector
- 1 ARBB 33 jammer
- 2 SAGAIE NG decoy launchers
- 2 DAGAIE decoy launchers
Ships in class
They were decommissioned in conjunction with the introduction of the FREDA air defence frigates in 2021–2022.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
Gallery
File:Cassard 3.jpg|Fire team of Cassard
File:Cassard 6.jpg|Frigate Cassard
File:Surcouf-Courbet-Jean Bart.jpg|Jean Bart beside the frigates Surcouf and Courbet
See also
References
=Citations=
{{reflist}}
=Sources=
- Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. {{ISBN|1-55750-132-7}}.
- Saunders, Stephen (ed.). Jane's Fighting Ships, 2004-2005 (107 ed.). Surrey: Jane's Information Group. {{ISBN|0-7106-2623-1}}.
External links
{{Commons category|Cassard class destroyers}}
- [http://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/decouverte/equipements/batiments_de_combat/fregates/antiaeriennes_type_f70_aa/cassard_d_614 Antiaériennes type F70 AA - Marine nationale official site] (In French)
{{Cassard class frigate}}
{{French Navy Vehicle}}