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Hello everyone and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I’m presenting a rather unusual French vessel: the patrol boat Albatros (P681).
The Albatros’s history is unique compared to that of most warships. Originally built as a fishing boat, it was laid down in 1966 by the Caen Shipyards and launched the same year under the name Névé. Nearly twenty years later, in 1983, the ship was acquired by the French Navy, which decided to convert it into an offshore patrol vessel. The goal was to create a ship capable of monitoring the vast, remote areas of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) – regions that are economically vital to France, but extremely difficult to patrol due to the extreme weather conditions and geographical isolation. After undergoing modifications to adapt it to its new missions, the Albatros entered service as a patrol and surveillance vessel, operating primarily in the southern Indian Ocean.
Based at Pointe des Galets on Réunion Island, the Albatros carried out its missions in one of the world’s most demanding maritime environments. Its role included fisheries surveillance, maritime monitoring, and combating illegal activities such as poaching and smuggling within France’s exclusive economic zones. One of the most significant episodes in the ship’s history occurred in 1986, when the Albatros became one of the few French patrol vessels to sink another ship with its gunfire. During an operation against the smuggling vessel Southern Raider, the Albatros targeted the ship and successfully hit it with its 40mm gun, causing it to sink.
Throughout its long career, the Albatros participated in numerous anti-smuggling operations, drug trafficking interceptions, and maritime policing missions, playing a central role in maintaining French authority in the Indian Ocean. After more than thirty years of service under the French flag, the Albatros was decommissioned in 2015. It was replaced by the Astrolabe, a modern vessel specifically designed for operations in the Southern and Polar regions, better suited to the demanding missions previously undertaken by its predecessor.
Despite its unassuming appearance, the Albatros (P681) remains an iconic vessel in the history of the French Navy, a testament to adaptability, endurance, and determination. From its conversion from a civilian vessel to a naval patrol boat to its successful operations in some of the world’s roughest seas, the Albatros exemplifies the ingenuity and resilience of the French maritime forces.
Characteristics
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Length : 85 m
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Width : 13.50 m
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Draft : 6 m
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Mass : 1,940 tons
The vessel is powered by two 1,120 kW SACM-Wärtsilä UD33 V12 S4 diesel generators and two 810 kW MCC electric motors, providing a total of 2,200 hp of engine power and 960 kW of electrical power, enabling it to reach a top speed of 15 knots. Its cruising range is 25,000 nautical miles at a speed of 9 knots.
Its crew consists of 50 sailors.
Equipment
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Radar :
- 2 x Decca 1226 navigation radar (before 2002)
- 2 x DRBN 38 navigation radar (after 2002)
- Inmarsat
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Decoy and threat detection :
- ARUR 10B radar detector : RWR (before 2002)
- ARBR 16 radar detector : RWR (after 2002)
This ship, not having a combat or defensive vocation, therefore does not have sophisticated detection or defense equipment. Its equipment is therefore essentially to navigate in the southern waters without danger of collision.
Weapons
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40mm Bofors canon
The 40mm Bofors gun, well known to players, is placed at the front of the ship, allowing it to engage numerous targets and defend itself against lightly armed aggressors. -
2 x 12.7mm machine gun
12.7mm machine gun mounts can be installed on either side of the bridge on the mid-deck to defend the ship from close-quarter threats.
In game this ship would be an interesting addition to the French tree, bringing a large ship as a patrol boat that would end up low in Br due to its lack of armament, bringing diversity to the French tree as well as an iconic ship of the French forces of the late 20th century.
Pictures
Video
Patrouilleur Austral Albatros, les 40ièmes Rugissants, 1993
Patrouilleur Austral ALBATROS, remorquage du Batral CHAMPLAIN, 1993
Tirs 40 mm Bofors sur le patrouilleur Albatros
Sources
- ALBATROS patrol vessel (1967 / 1984)
- Albatros
- Caractéristiques
- * ALBATROS (1984/2015)
- Microsoft Word - Fin de l’Albatros pour La Baille VF
- Albatros : De l’ancien chalutier de Terre Neuve au mythique patrouilleur austral | Mer et Marine
- L’ancien patrouilleur austral Albatros a fait son dernier voyage | Mer et Marine