The La Fayette-class of frigates – which are also known as the FL-3000 (Frégate Légère de 3,000 tonnes) or the FLF (Frégate Légère Furtive) – are general purpose frigates that incorporate stealth concepts in their design.
They were designed in the early 1990s to replace the existing D'Estienne d'Orves-class, and were intended to perform humanitarian operations or low-intensity operations in support of land forces. Five were built for the French Navy between 1992 and 2001 – La Fayette (F710), Surcouf (F711), Courbet (F712), Aconit (F713), and Guépratte (F714) – and fifteen more have been built and now serve in foreign navies.
The ship’s characteristics are:
They were designed in the early 1990s to replace the existing D'Estienne d'Orves-class, and were intended to perform humanitarian operations or low-intensity operations in support of land forces. Five were built for the French Navy between 1992 and 2001 – La Fayette (F710), Surcouf (F711), Courbet (F712), Aconit (F713), and Guépratte (F714) – and fifteen more have been built and now serve in foreign navies.
The ship’s characteristics are:
- Displacement: 3,600 tonnes( fully loaded)
- Dimensions:
- Length: 410ft (125m)
- Beam: 51ft (15.4m)
- Draught: 13ft (4.1m)
- Propulsion: 4 x SEMT Pielstick 12PA6V280 STC2 diesel engines driving 2 shafts
- Speed: 25 knots
- Range: 4,000 nautical miles at 15 knots
- Complement: 141
- Sensors and processing systems: 1 × DRBN34 navigation radar; 1 × DRBN34 landing radar; 1 × Air/Surface DRBV 15C sentry radar; 1 × firing control radar for the 100 mm gun; 1 × CN2 firing control radar; 1 × Saïgon ARBG 1 radio interceptor; 1 × ARBR 21 radar interceptor; 2 × Dagaie Mk2 AMGL-1C chaff launchers; 1 × AN/SLQ-25 Nixie tugged noise maker; 1 × Prairie-Masker noise reduction system; 1 × Integrated Shipboard Communication System ISCS (SNTI 120 ch.); 1 × SEAO/OPSMER Naval command support system; 1 × Syracuse II satellite transmission system; 1 × Inmarsat navigation system
- Armament: 1 × 100mm TR automatic gun; 8 × Exocet MM40 block II anti-ship missiles; 2 × 20mm modèle F2 guns; 1 × Crotale CN2 CIWS
- Aircraft: 1 × NH90 (or similar) helicopter
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Did you feel as if you were being watched as you were taking these photographs? Or do you think they said, "Oh, it's Cordery again!"
ReplyDeletePS: Nice photos Bond, I hope you remembered to use the dry-suit this time, your tailors bill was extortionate ;)
Geordie an Exiled FoG,
DeleteI've taken photos of warships in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Denmark, and Russia. I've never been stopped from doing so, although I was shouted at by a sentry in Sockholm for trying to photograph a nineteenth century cannon! She even waved her rifle about ... for which she was shouted at by an NCO!
All the best,
Bob
PS. By pure coincidence, I went to the dry-cleaner this morning to have my tuxedo cleaned!