French frigate Guépratte
{{Short description|French frigate}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2008}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=FS Guepratte 1.jpg |Ship caption= }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=France |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|France|naval}} |Ship name=Guépratte |Ship namesake=Admiral Émile Paul Amable Guépratte |Ship ordered= |Ship awarded= |Ship builder= |Ship original cost= |Ship yard number= |Ship way number= |Ship laid down=1 October 1998 |Ship launched=3 March 1999 |Ship sponsor= |Ship christened= |Ship completed= |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned=27 October 2001 |Ship recommissioned= |Ship decommissioned= |Ship maiden voyage= |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship renamed= |Ship reclassified= |Ship refit= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship homeport=Toulon |Ship identification= |Ship motto= |Ship nickname= |Ship honours= |Ship captured= |Ship fate= |Ship status={{ship in active service}} |Ship notes= |Ship badge= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class={{sclass|La Fayette|frigate}} |Ship tonnage= |Ship displacement=3200 tonnes, 3600 tonnes fully loaded |Ship length={{convert|125|m|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|15.4|m|abbr=on}} |Ship height= |Ship draught={{convert|4.8|m|abbr=on}} |Ship power= |Ship propulsion=4 diesel SEMT Pielstick 12PA6V280 STC2, 21000 hp (15 400 kW) |Ship speed={{convert|25|kn|km/h|0}} |Ship range={{convert|7000|nmi|km |
| 3}} at {{convert|15|kn|km/h|0}}, 9000 at {{convert|12|kn|km/h|0}}
|Ship endurance= |Ship troops= |Ship complement=164+{{Cite web|url=https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/lafayette/ |title=La Fayette Class Frigate|date=3 May 2001|website=Naval Technology}} |Ship sensors=*1 × Air/Surface DRBV 15C sentry radar
|Ship EW=*1 × Saïgon ARBG 1 radio interceptor
|Ship armament=
|Ship armour=On sensitive areas (munition magazine and control centre) |Ship armor= |Ship aircraft= 1 × helicopter (Panther or NH90) |Ship aircraft facilities= |Ship notes= }} |
Guépratte is a general purpose {{sclass|La Fayette|frigate}} of the French Marine Nationale. She is the second French vessel named after the 19–20th century admiral Émile Paul Amable Guépratte. The ship was commissioned in 2001 and is currently in service. She is scheduled to remain in service until 2031.{{Cite web|url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/marine-nationale-les-programmes-qui-vont-faconner-la-future-flotte-francaise|title=Marine nationale : les programmes qui vont façonner la future flotte française|date=1 February 2021|website=Mer et Marine |language=fr}}
Service history
She is the only frigate of the La Fayette class whose complement includes women, with 25 female crewmen on board. In January 2016, the first female commander of a frigate in the Marine Nationale was appointed to command Guépratte.{{cite web |url=http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2016/january-2016-navy-naval-forces-defense-industry-technology-maritime-security-global-news/3511-french-navy-appointed-the-first-female-officer-to-command-a-frigate.html |title=French Navy Appointed the First Female Officer to Command a Frigate |website=navy-recognition.com |date=29 January 2016 |access-date=26 March 2016}}
In 2016, Guépratte deployed as part of the Jeanne d'Arc battle group which included the amphibious assault ship {{ship|French ship|Tonnerre|L9014|2}}.{{cite news |url=http://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/les-vhm-de-larmee-de-terre-deployes-pour-la-premiere-fois-sur-bpc |title=Les VHM de l'armée de Terre déployés pour la première fois sur BPC |work=meretmarine |language=fr |date=9 March 2016 |access-date=26 March 2015}}
In early 2022, Guépratte was deployed in the Indian Ocean but was expected to return to France in May after being relieved by her sister ship {{ship|French frigate|Surcouf||2}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/la-fregate-surcouf-part-pour-un-deploiement-de-longue-duree-dans-le-gap |title=La frégate Surcouf part pour un déploiement de longue durée dans le GAP |work=Mer et Marine |language=fr |date=21 April 2022 |access-date=29 April 2022 |url-access=subscription}} Guépratte was again in the Arabian Sea in late 2022, operating with Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, when it seized large quantities of hashish and heroin from a fishing vessel.{{cite web |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/01/french-warship-seizes-illegal-drugs-in-north-arabian-sea/ |title=French Warship Seizes Illegal Drugs In North Arabian Sea |work=NavalNews |language=en |date=4 January 2023 |access-date=4 January 2023}} In early 2023, it was believed that Guépratte was involved in the boarding and seizure of an Iranian vessel reported to be carrying thousands of assault rifles and anti-tank missiles destined for Yemen.{{cite web |url=https://navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2023/february/12782-france-navy-s-la-fayette-class-frigate-seizes-thousands-of-iranian-rifles.html |work=Navy Recognition |title=France Navy's La Fayette class frigate seizes thousands of Iranian rifles |date=2 February 2023 |access-date=2 February 2023}} The frigate returned to her home port at Toulon in March 2023.{{cite web |url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/actualites/ffeau-flf-guepratte-retour-toulon-trois-mois-mission-ocean-indien |website=Ministère des Armées |title=FFEAU – La FLF Guépratte de retour à Toulon après trois mois de mission en océan Indien |date=20 March 2023 |access-date=22 March 2023}}
In 2024, Guépratte was tasked to escort the helicopter assault ship Tonnerre on a prolonged deployment circumventing South America and also visiting North America.{{cite web |url=https://www.opex360.com/2024/02/08/marine-nationale-la-mission-jeanne-darc-2024-va-mettre-le-cap-vers-les-ameriques/ |title=Marine nationale : La mission Jeanne d’Arc 2024 va mettre le cap vers les Amériques |work=zone militaire |language=fr |last=Lagneau |first=Laurent |date=8 February 2024 |access-date=10 February 2024}}
Unlike other frigates of her class, it is not planned that she will incorporate a hull-mounted sonar system as part of her future sensor fit and therefore her potential anti-submarine capability is limited to that which might be provided by her shipborne helicopter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/euronaval-2020/2020/10/euronaval-naval-group-starts-upgrade-work-on-la-fayette-class-frigates/|title = Euronaval: Naval Group Starts Upgrade Work on la Fayette-class frigates|date = 23 October 2020}} Guépratte is scheduled to undergo a modest structural and technical upgrade (with the elderly Crotale SAM to be removed from the vessel) and, given somewhat reduced general purpose capability, was to have been re-assigned to offshore patrol duties prior to her planned withdrawal from service in 2031.{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/renovation-des-la-fayette-la-premiere-livree-la-seconde-entre-en-chantier |title=Rénovation des La Fayette : la première frégate livrée, la seconde en chantier |work=Mer et Marine |language=fr |last=Groizealeau |first=Vincent |date=21 October 2021 |access-date=26 November 2021 |url-access=subscription}} However, subsequently it was decided to retain the ship in the frigate role despite her not having received a mid-life upgrade.{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/le-reclassement-de-certaines-la-fayette-en-patrouilleurs-n-est-plus-a-l-ordre-du-jour |title=Le reclassement de certaines La Fayette en patrouilleurs n’est plus à l’ordre du jour |work=Mer et Marine |language=fr |last=Groizealeau |first=Vincent |date=17 April 2024 |access-date=17 April 2024 |url-access=subscription}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{La Fayette class frigate}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guepratte (F 714)}}