Floréal-class frigate
 Frigate Vendémiaire of the French Navy | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Floréal class |
| Builders: | Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Saint-Nazaire |
| Operators: |
 French Navy Royal Moroccan Navy |
| Preceded by: | D'Estienne d'Orves class |
| Succeeded by: | La Fayette-class |
| In commission: | 27 May 1992 |
| Completed: |
6 (France) 2 (Morocco) |
| Active: |
France |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Frigate |
| Displacement: | 2,600 tons standard, 2,950 tons full load |
| Length: | 93.5 m (307 ft) |
| Beam: | 14 m (46 ft) |
| Draught: | 4.3 m (14 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 4 diesel SEMT Pielstick 6PA6 L280 Auxiliaries : 1 Ulstein 200 kW beam propulsor |
| Speed: | 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Range: | 10,000 nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph), 13,000 nmi (24,000 km; 15,000 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Complement: | 88 (total): 11 officers 36 non-commissioned officers (11 men for the helicopter) |
| Sensors and processing systems: | Radar:
Navigation
|
| Electronic warfare and decoys: | ARBG-1A Saïgon 2 Dagaie decoy systems |
| Armament: | Anti-ship;
Guns;
Anti-aircraft;
|
| Aircraft carried: | 1 × Panther anti-submarine helicopter |
The Floréal class is a type of light "surveillance frigates" designed for the needs of the French Navy after the end of the Cold War, ordered in 1989. They use construction standards of commercial ships. The ships are named after months of the Republican Calendar.
Definition of the requirements
After the end of the Cold War, it was felt that the risks of a large-scale military confrontation had all but disappeared. The Marine Nationale had to face new missions, while its escort avisos from the 80s were ageing, and also badly adapted to low-risk zones.
The concept of "sentry frigate" emerged from the will of the French government to protect its Exclusive Economic Zone (12 million km²), as defined in the Montego Bay treaties. Another need was to address matters of humanitarian aid, diplomacy, or naval law enforcement. To address these missions, an onboard helicopter is clearly the optimal solution, providing versatile, swift and long-range capabilities to deliver support, ferry or rescue.
These constraints defined the need for a ship which would be small; extremely stable to allow use of a heavy helicopter in all weather; small crew, while retaining capacities to accommodate navy commandos; light armament; economic and long-range propulsion system.
In keeping with the requirements, all the ships save one are based overseas in French territories. Prairial is based at Papeete, Tahiti; Floréal and Nivôse at La Reunion; Vendémiare at Noumea; Ventôse at Fort de France, Martinique, French Antilles. Germinal is based at Toulon, France.
Construction
To make the ship more economical, civilian construction methods were used at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint Nazaire. The ships use the SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea) regulations, which require the hull to have eleven watertight compartments. The rules of the classification society Det Norske Veritas are used for energy production and safety. The ships were built in series, each with six pre-fabricated parts weighing up to 570 tonnes that were assembled and welded in a dry dock. (The construction method was later used for the La Fayette-class class). The first trials at sea were carried out in 1991 with an entirely civilian crew, while the Marine Nationale was only present as an observer.
Equipment
The armament was ordered from the DCN Lorient, a traditional naval provider for the French Navy. The Floréal class, though designed to operate in low-risk areas, carry their own armament (they are not dependent on their helicopter).
The most visible piece of armament is the standard 100 mm multipurpose gun turret, which is a feature of most modern French warships. It is installed in one block, with the magazine shelter and the targeting computer. All Floreal frigates are fitted with two Exocet missile launchers, a Dagaie decoy launcher system, two 20 mm Mod F2 cannons, as well as a complete range of detection and counter-measure electronics.
The helicopter is a naval Panther, carrying no armament itself.
Royal Moroccan Navy
The Royal Moroccan Navy (Marine Royale) operates two Floreal-class frigates. The two frigates are named after the late Kings Mohammed V and Hassan II. The two frigates are accompanied by a total of 3 Panther helicopters.
Also, the two units are armed with Oto Melara 76 mm instead of the French 100 mm naval guns with which French units are commonly armed.
Variant
STX France revealed a modernized variant of the Floréal class that it is offering to the Philippine Navy.[1][2]
See also
Gallery
-
Frigate Germinal at Cherbourg
-
Frigate Floréal, stationed at Bora-Bora lagoon
-
The frigate Prairial leaving Papeete for a long mission in South America
-
Frigate Ventôse
-
Moroccan Navy Mohammed V
-
Frigate Vendémiaire alongside at Nouméa
References
- ↑ "STX France lève le voile sur Defendseas". meretmarine (in French). 30 October 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2015. (subscription required)
- ↑ "STX France se relance dans le militaire". meretmarine (in French). 27 October 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2015. (subscription required)
External links
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