French frigate De Grasse (D 612)

For other ships of the same name, see French ship De Grasse.
Career (France)
Name: De Grasse
Namesake: François Joseph Paul de Grasse
Builder: Arsenal de Lorient
Laid down: 1972
Launched: 30 November 1974
Commissioned: 25 October 1975
In service: 1 October 1977
Homeport: Brest
Fate: decommissioned 5 May 2013
General characteristics
Class and type:Tourville class frigate
Displacement:4580 tonnes (6100 tonnes fully loaded)
Length:152.75 m (501.1 ft)
Beam:15.80 m (51.8 ft)
Draught:6.60 m (21.7 ft)
Propulsion:2 Rateau steam turbines, double reduction

4 multitubular boilers
Fuel: Gazoil
Propellers : 2 fixed propellers

Power : 58000 hp (42 MW)
Speed:32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)
Range:1,900 nmi (3,500 km; 2,200 mi) at 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement:24 officers

160 non-commissioned officers

115 men
Sensors and
processing systems:		1 DRBV 51B surface sentry radar

1 DRBV 26A air sentry radar 1 DRBC 32D targeting radar 2 DRBN 34 navigation radars 1 DUBV 23 hull sonar 1 ETBF DSBV 62C sonar 1 DSBX 1 tugged sonar

1 Syva torpedo alert system
Electronic warfare
and decoys:		1 ARBB 32 jammer

1 ARBR 16 radar interceptor 2 Syllex decoy launchers bubble belt SENIT 3 SEAO/OPSMER HF, UHF, VHF and SHF liaison systems Syracuse 2 Inmarsat

Link 11
Armament:Anti-ship;
  • 6 × Exocet MM38 anti-ship missiles

Anti-submarine;

  • 2 × L5 torpedo launchers, 10 torpedoes on board (L5 mod 4)

Guns;

  • 2 × 100 mm turrets (1968 model)
  • 2 × 20 mm cannons
  • 4 × 12.7 mm machine guns

CIWS;

  • 1 × Crotale EDIR CIWS anti-air missiles (8 missiles on launcher, 16 in magazine)
Aircraft carried:2 × Lynx WG13 anti-ship submarine

The De Grasse is a F67 type large high-sea frigate (warship) of the French Marine Nationale specialised in anti-submarine warfare, though she also has anti-air and anti-surface capabilities. She is named after the 18th Century admiral count François Joseph Paul de Grasse.

Between 1994 and 1996, the De Grasse and her sister Tourville were refitted with the modern SLAMS anti-submarine system, an active Very Low Frequencies sonar.

In April 2006, the De Grasse lost her towed sonar array during an exercise in heavy sea. The incident was reported by the Canard Enchaîné; an investigation was launched to ascertain responsibilities for the loss of the 3 million euro worth sonar array. Meanwhile, the spare sonar of the decommissioned Duguay-Trouin was fitted on the De Grasse.

The De Grasse was decommissioned on 5 May 2013 and is now moored in the Penfeld.

Gallery

De Grasse (centre left) in a 5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea. In four descending columns, from left to right: ITS Maestrale (F 570), De Grasse (D 612); USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), Charles De Gaulle (R 91), Surcouf (F 711); USS Port Royal (CG-73), HMS Ocean (L 12), USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), HNLMS Van Amstel (F 831); and ITS Luigi Durand de la Penne (D 560).

Sources and references