- Yes
- No
Hello everyone, and welcome to this new proposal.
Today, I present to you the latest ship of the Estiennes d’Ovres class (also called the A69-class aviso), the Commandant Bouan.
The Commandant Bouan (F797) is a Type A69 aviso, belonging to the Estienne d’Orves class, designed in the 1970s to carry out offshore patrol, coastal escort, and anti-submarine warfare missions in coastal areas. Ordered by the French Navy in the context of the Cold War, it was built by the DCN shipyards in Lorient and commissioned into active service in 1984. The Estienne d’Orves class was designed as a response to the Soviet submarine threat and the need for a large, simple, and robust fleet capable of rapid intervention in the French maritime approaches. The ship is named after Lieutenant Philippe Bouan, a naval officer and resistance fighter who died for France in 1941.
The Commander Bouan has served the French Navy for over 40 years, primarily engaged in maritime surveillance, nuclear deterrence support, and international cooperation missions. Based in Toulon, it has long operated in the Mediterranean, participating in presence operations, assistance, counter-illicit trafficking, and joint exercises with partner navies. Originally equipped with hull-mounted sonar and anti-submarine torpedoes, its role evolved in the 2000s to patrol and state action missions at sea, with its ASW warfare equipment having been partially removed. Since March 2024, the ship has held the record for the largest drug seizure by a French vessel, with more than 10 tons intercepted.
This vessel is one of the last 6 A69 type aviso in service in the navy out of the 17 put into service, its decommissioning is not yet planned but should happen in the next few years to make way for the new class of offshore patrol vessel
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 3,000 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 2009 :
- 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)
In 2009, the Estiennes D’Orves-class ships were reclassified as ocean-going patrol vessels and therefore had to reduce their armament (anti ship and anti submarine weapons were removed).
- After 2009 :
- 1 x 100mm (front gun)
- 2 x Oerlikon 20mm anti-aircraft gun mounts (one on each side)
- 1 x Sambad weapon system (double Mistral launcher place where the 375mm was installed)
- 4 x 12.7 machine gun (two gun slings at the front above the gangway and two on the rear platform)
In-game, this ship would be a very interesting addition to the French tree. It would provide a light patrol boat with reasonable firepower. Furthermore, this ship would be rather easy to balance (if we omit the Exocet missiles). Finally, it can be added in two forms: one intended for anti-ship combat (pre-2009 version) and a more multi-role version (post-2009 version).
