Suffren-class frigate

Class overview
Name: Suffren class
Operators:  French Navy
Succeeded by: Horizon-class frigate
Built: 1962–1967
In commission: 1967–2008
Completed: 2
Laid up: 2
General characteristics
Type: Frigate
Displacement:
Length: 158 m (518 ft 4 in)
Beam: 15.50 m (50 ft 10 in)
Draught: 7.25 m (23 ft 9 in)
Propulsion:
  • 4 × boilers
  • 4 × steam turbines
  • 72,500 hp (54,063 kW)
  • 2 × propellers
Speed: 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried:		 1 × EDL 700, 1 × EDO, 1 × 10-seat EFRC, 1 × 10-seat EFR
Complement: 360 men, including 23 officers.
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • DRBI23 tridimensional sentry radar
  • DRBV15 surface or low-altitude sentry radar
  • DRBC33 multi-system targeting radar
  • DRBN34
  • DRBR51
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
  • 2 × "Sagaie" decoy launchers
  • SLQ-25 Nixie towed decoy
  • ARBR33 jammer
  • ARBR17 detector
Armament:
  • 48 × Masurca surface-air missiles (DRBR51-guided)
  • 4 × MM38 Exocet missiles
  • 10 × L5 anti-submarine torpedoes
  • 2 × 100 mm turrets
  • 4 × 20 mm cannons
  • 4 × 12.7 mm machine guns
Notes: Ships in class include: Suffren and Duquesne

The Suffren class anti-air frigates were first-rank destroyers of the French Navy, designed to protect a fleet against air threats, surface ships, submarines, and, to a lesser extent, provide firepower against land objectives. They were the first French ships to be built specifically as guided missile frigates.

Design

The two ships were designed as escorts for the Clemenceau-class aircraft carriers and are similar in concept to the British Type 82 destroyer. The French class designation is FLE 60. The primary weapon is the Masurca surface to air missiles which are launched from a twin launcher on the quarter deck. 48 missiles were carried. Fire control was via the DRBI 23 3D radar housed in a massive radome. Anti-submarine weapons include a Malafon anti-submarine missile system (13 missiles carried) and torpedo catapults. Exocet missiles were fitted in 1977-79 replacing the Malafon.

Both ships were modernised with the fitting of new electronics in the early 1990s, with Suffren the first to undergo the process between in 1989-90, followed by Duquesne between 1990-91.

Ships

The two ships of the class were both named after French admirals. Three ships were initially planned with more in a follow-on group, but budgetary constraints caused by building the nuclear deterrent submarines caused the programme to be terminated at two ships.

Ship Number Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned
Suffren D602 Arsenal de Brest 21 December 1962 15 May 1965 20 July 1967 2 April 2001
Duquesne D603 Arsenal de Lorient November 1964 12 February 1966 1 April 1970 2007

References

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