Georges Leygues-class frigate
{{Short description|Class of destroyers in the French Navy}}
{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=FS Montcalm 1.jpg |Ship caption={{ship|French frigate|Montcalm|D642|2}} }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name=Georges Leygues class |Builders=Arsenal de Brest |Operators={{navy|France}} |Class before={{sclass|Tourville|frigate|4}} |Class after=Aquitaine class (anti-submarine variant) |Subclasses= |Cost= |Built range=1974–1988 |In service range= |In commission range=1979 – 2022 |Total ships completed=7 |Total ships retired=7 }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= (as built) |Ship type=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 helicopters |Ship aircraft facilities=Double hangar |Ship notes= }} |
The Georges Leygues class (Type C70 AS or Type F70 AS) consisted of seven guided-missile destroyers built for the French Navy during the Cold War. They were multi-role ships due to their Exocet and Crotale missile armament, making them especially suitable for the defence of strategic positions, show of force operations, or as high seas escorts. The design was initially officially known as a "corvette" with the designation C70, but were internationally labelled an "anti-submarine destroyer" (hence the "D" in the hull numbers).{{cite book|first=Bernard|last=Ireland|year=1984|author-link=Bernard Ireland|title=Navies of the West|publisher=Ian Allan|place=London|page=26|isbn=0-71-101339-X}} Subsequently, the French referred to the ships as "frigates" with the designation F70.{{cite web|url=http://www.actunautique.com/article-retrait-definitif-du-service-pour-la-fregate-georges-leygues-123083187.html |title=Retrait définitif du service pour la frégate Georges Leygues |publisher=ActuNautique.com |language=fr |date=24 March 2014 |access-date=19 November 2014}}
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}}
The superstructures were built to optimise resistance to the blast from nuclear explosions. The last three ships of the class had their bridges raised one deck to overcome problems experienced by the first four in bad weather, as well as being equipped with DSBV 61 passive linear towed array sonar and several other upgraded systems.{{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 }}
File:FS_Latouche_Treville_(D_646).jpg, UK, 21 September 2009.]]
Ships in class
class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;" | |
colspan=7|Georges Leygues-class frigates | |
---|---|
Name
!Pennant number !Builder !Laid down !Launched !Commissioned !Decommissioned | |
align=center|{{ship|French frigate|Georges Leygues | 2}}
|align=center| D 640 |align=center rowspan=7 colspan=1| Arsenal de Brest |align=center| 16 September 1974 |align=center| 17 December 1976 |align=center| 10 December 1979 |
align=center|{{ship|French frigate|Dupleix | 2}}
|align=center| D 641 |align=center| 17 October 1975 |align=center| 2 December 1978 |align=center| 13 June 1981 |align=center| July 2015 |
align=center|{{ship|French frigate|Montcalm | 2}}
|align=center| D 642 |align=center| 5 December 1975 |align=center| 31 May 1980 |align=center| 28 May 1982 |
align=center|{{ship|French frigate|Jean de Vienne | 2}}
|align=center| D 643 |align=center| 26 October 1979 |align=center| 17 November 1981 |align=center| 25 May 1984 |align=center| 9 January 2019 |
align=center|{{ship|French frigate|Primauguet | 2}}
|align=center| D 644 |align=center| 17 November 1981 |align=center| 17 March 1984 |align=center| 5 November 1986 |align=center| 1 April 2019 |
align=center|{{ship|French frigate|La Motte-Picquet | 2}}
|align=center| D 645 |align=center| 12 February 1982 |align=center| 6 February 1985 |align=center| 18 February 1988 |
align=center|{{ship|French frigate|Latouche-Tréville | 2}}
|align=center| D 646 |align=center| 15 February 1984 |align=center| 19 March 1988 |align=center| 16 July 1990 |
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
- [http://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/decouverte/equipements/batiments_de_combat/fregates/asm_type_f70 ASM type F70 – Marine nationale official site] {{in lang|fr}}
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{{Georges Leygues class frigate}}
{{French Navy Vehicle}}