French frigate Montcalm
{{other ships|French ship Montcalm}}
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{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=FS Montcalm 1.jpg |Ship caption= }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country=France |Ship flag={{shipboxflag|France|naval}} |Ship name=Montcalm |Ship namesake=Louis de Montcalm de Saint Véran |Ship ordered= |Ship builder=Arsenal de Brest, France |Ship laid down=5 December 1975 |Ship launched=31 May 1980 |Ship acquired= |Ship commissioned=28 May 1982 |Ship decommissioned=3 July 2017 |Ship in service= |Ship out of service= |Ship struck= |Ship reinstated= |Ship honours= |Ship status=Awaiting disposal |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption=(as built) |Ship class={{sclass|Georges Leygues|frigate}} |Ship displacement=*{{cvt|3550|t|LT|0|lk=on}}
|
| 4580|t|LT|0|abbr=on}} full load
|Ship length= {{convert|139|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} |Ship beam= {{convert|14|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship draught= {{convert|5.7|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship power= |Ship propulsion=*2 shafts; CODOG
|Ship speed={{convert|30|kn|lk=in}} |Ship range={{cvt|9500|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|17|kn}} |Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*4 x single MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles
|Ship aircraft=2 × Westland Lynx anti-ship helicopters |Ship aircraft facilities=Double hangar }} |
Montcalm was one of seven F70 type guided-missile frigates built for the French Marine Nationale during the 1970s. Completed in 1982, she served during the Cold War.
Design and description
The Georges Leygues-class ships were designed as anti-submarine (ASW) escorts for the fleet.{{sfn|Jordan|1995|p=114}} They had an overall length of {{convert|139|m|ft|0}}, a beam of {{cvt|14|m|ftin}} and a draught of {{cvt|5.7|m|ftin}}. The ships had a standard displacement of {{convert|3830|t|LT|lk=on}} and {{convert|4500|-|4580|t|LT}} at full load. The Georges Leyguess' propulsion machinery used a CODOG configuration with one SEMT-Pielstick 16PA6-V280 diesel engine and a Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbine were coupled to each of the two propeller shafts. The diesels were used for speeds under {{convert|21|kn|lk=in}} and the gas turbines for sprints up to {{convert|30|kn}}. The diesels were rated at a total of {{convert|12800|PS|bhp kW|lk=on}} and the turbines at a total of {{cvt|46200|shp|PS kW}}.{{sfn|Moore|1981|p=164}} The combination give the ships a range of {{convert|9500|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|17|kn}}. The frigates had a complement of 216 sailors.{{sfn|Jordan|1995|p=114}}
The primary anti-ship weapon of the Georges Leyguess consisted of four single box launchers for MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles, located aft of the funnel with two launchers on each broadside. The frigates were designed with a single French 100 mm naval gun dual-purpose gun in a single-gun turret forward of the superstructure. They were also equipped with two {{cvt|20|mm|1}} guns. The ships were fitted with a octuple Crotale anti-aircraft missile launcher with 26 reloads located on the aft superstructure. The anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapons of the Georges Leygues-class ships consisted of two torpedo launchers , one on each side of the ship. Each ship carried ten torpedoes. The ships were designed to carry helicopters, a pair of Westland Lynx ASW helicopters in a double hangar at the stern.{{sfn|Jordan|1995|p=114}}{{sfn|Moore|1981|p=164}}
They were completed with a DRBV 51C search radar, a DRBC 32E fire-control radar and a DRBV 26 early-warning radar. For anti-submarine warfare, they were equipped with a DUBV 23B hull-mounted sonar and DUBV 43B towed variable depth sonar. For electronic defence, the vessels mounted two Syllex chaff launchers. The SENIT 4 tactical data system coordinated sensor data.{{sfn|Jordan|1995|p=114}}{{sfn|Moore|1981|p=164}}
Construction and career
Montcalm was involved in operations off Libya during the 2011 Libyan Civil War. The vessel was used to evacuate French and British citizens from the nation after fighting closed the airports.{{cite web |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/libya-irish-1601564-Aug2014/ |title='Crisis team' set up to help Irish in Libya, as French and British leave on naval ship |last=Brophy |first=Daragh |work=thejournal.ie |date=1 August 2014 |access-date=17 March 2021 }} Montcalm was decommissioned on 3 July 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/la-fregate-montcalm-tire-sa-reverence |title=La frégate Montcalm a tiré sa révérence |work=Meretmarine.com |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |language=French |date=7 July 2017 |access-date=17 March 2021 }} The hull was then stripped and brought to Brégaillon to await final disposal.{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/lex-montcalm-en-attente-bregaillon |title=L'ex-Montcalm en attente à Brégaillon |work=meretmarine.com |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |language=French |date=30 March 2018 |access-date=17 March 2021 }}
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book|author1-last=Jordan|author1-first=John|editor1-last=Chumbley|editor1-first=Stephen |title=Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995 |year=1995|publisher=Naval Institute Press |location= Annapolis, Maryland | isbn=1-55750-132-7|name-list-style=amp|chapter=France |pages=95–131}}
- {{cite book |editor1-last=Moore |editor1-first=John |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1981–82 |date=1981 |publisher=Jane's Publishing |location=London |isbn=0-531-03977-3}}
- {{cite book |editor1-last=Saunders |editor1-first=Stephen |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 2004–2005 |date=2004 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |location=Coulsdon, UK |isbn=0-7106-2623-1}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Montcalm (D642)}}
{{Georges Leygues class frigate}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Montcalm}}