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Hello everyone and welcome to this new presentation.
Today, I’m introducing a new ship from the A69 class, the D’Estienne d’Orves (F781).
The A69-class offshore patrol vessels are a class of French ships designed in the 1970s to replace the second generation of patrol boats and escort vessels built after World War II, notably the E50, E52, and E52B classes.
These new ships were created to meet the growing need for versatile and robust patrol vessels capable of operating in both coastal areas and on the high seas. The class is characterized by a sleek and compact design, combined with modern armament for its size, enabling it to counter a variety of threats: surface, air, and even underwater. The A69-class ships served in the French Navy for several decades, earning a reputation for reliability and endurance. Some ships of this class are still in service today, a testament to their robust design and adaptability.
The D’Estienne d’Orves was the very first ship of the A69 class and gave its name to the entire series. Laid down in 1972 at the Lorient Naval Dockyard, it entered service in 1976. At the time, it represented a major technological advancement for the French Navy, thanks to its modern onboard systems and robust construction. Assigned to the Toulon Naval Base, the D’Estienne d’Orves spent most of its career there. It was deployed numerous times during its operational life, notably for missions in the Indian Ocean and for operations in which France was directly involved, such as Operation Daguet during the Gulf War in 1991.
In the early 1990s, the ship was transferred to the naval base in Brest, Brittany, where it continued its service until its decommissioning in 1999. Shortly thereafter, in the early 2000s, it was sold to the Turkish Navy, which converted it into a patrol frigate. Among the modifications, the most notable was the replacement of the 100 mm main gun with a 76 mm gun, better suited to its new role. Remarkably, the ship is still in service today, approaching 50 years of operational life, despite a fire in the engine room in the 2010s – a testament to its robustness and the quality of its construction.
The ship is named after Honoré d’Estienne d’Orves, a French naval officer and hero of the French Resistance during the Second World War. Captured and executed by the occupying forces in 1941, he became a symbol of courage, loyalty, and sacrifice. Naming this ship after him was a way for the French Navy to honor his memory and perpetuate the values he embodied.
Characteristics
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Length : 80 m
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Width : 10.3 m
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Draft : 5.3 m
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Mass : 1250 tons
The vessel is powered by 2 SEMT Pielstick 12PC2V400 diesel engines giving a total power of 12,000 horsepower, 2 propeller shafts are present and each has a propeller with four adjustable blades. The power system is completed by 3 diesel generators capable of generating 840 kW of power. Its maximum speed is 24 knots and its range allows it to cover 5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots. Its crew varies between 90 and 100 sailors.
Equipment
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Radar :
- DRBV 51A Surveillance radar
- DRBC 32E Fire control radar
- DECCA 1226 Navigation radar
- ARBR 16 : Radar interceptor (RWR)
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Sonar :
- DUBA 25 hull-mounted sonar
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Decoys :
- 2 x Dagaie decoy launcher
- SLQ-25 Nixie towed torpedo decoy
Weapons
Before 1976 :
* 1 x 100mm (front gun)
* 2 x Oerlikon 20mm anti-aircraft gun mounts (one on each side)
* 4 x L3 or L5 torpedo (two fixed tubes on each side)
* 1 x 375mm x 6 anti-submarine rocket launcher (turret on rear platform)
* 4 x 12.7 machine gun (two gun slings at the front above the gangway and two on the rear platform)
After 1976 :
* 1 x 100mm (front gun)
* 2 x Oerlikon 20mm anti-aircraft gun mounts (one on each side)
* 2 x MM38 Exocet (one on each side)
* 4 x L3 or L5 torpedo (two fixed tubes on each side)
* 1 x 375mm x 6 anti-submarine rocket launcher (turret on rear platform)
* 4 x 12.7 machine gun (two gun slings at the front above the gangway and two on the rear platform)
Unlike some of the A69-class ships which were modified (removal of Exocet missiles) in 2009, the D’Estienne D’Orves was never modified because it had already been sold by that time.
Pictures
Sources
- ImagesDéfense - Aviso A-69 type D’Estienne D’Orves.
- Plongée dans les archives : 1976, l’aviso D’Estienne d’Orves en essais | Mer et Marine
- Avisos A69
- Classe Estienne d’Orves (Type A69) - Frégate
- * D’ESTIENNE D’ORVES (1976/1999)
- D’Estienne d’Orves class Corvette Aviso French Navy Marine
- ImagesDéfense - Prise de commandement à bord de l’aviso d’Estienne d’Orves.