Durance class PR, Durance (A629)

Mathll · June 16, 2026, 9:50pm

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Hello everyone and welcome to this new suggestion.

Today, I’m introducing a new class of ships in the French fleet: the Durance class. To begin, here is the first ship of this class, the Durance (A629).

In the 1970s, the French fleet had several replenishment oilers tasked with supplying fuel and provisions to warships. These vessels were essential to the smooth operation of the French Navy. However, they were aging, as they were ships designed before the start of World War II. To replace them, France ordered five new ships whose design was inspired by American replenishment oilers of the time. Laid down in 1973 at the Brest arsenal and launched in 1975, the Durance was the first ship of the eponymous class to enter service with the French forces. The ship replaced La Saône, launched in 1937, and represented a significant improvement in the French fleet’s support capabilities. Indeed, the vessel was far better equipped than its predecessor and possessed enhanced self-defense capabilities, notably through the integration of a torpedo decoy system, enabling it to counter certain threats of its time.

During its career, the ship participated in numerous deployments, accompanying the two French carrier strike groups centered around the aircraft carriers Foch and Clemenceau, as well as the Jeanne d’Arc, an iconic vessel of the French Navy that for several decades trained officer cadets. Through these missions, the Durance sailed almost all the world’s oceans and made port calls in numerous allied countries, both for representational missions and to resupply before supporting ships of the French fleet.

However, the ship’s career under the French flag was relatively short. Indeed, in 1999, the Durance was decommissioned and then sold to the Argentine Navy. It was then renamed ARA Patagonia and remains in service today. This shortened career explains why it never benefited from certain modernizations that other ships of its class received, particularly in the area of air defense. The ships that remained in service with the French Navy were thus equipped with Simbad anti-aircraft systems designed to enhance their protection.

Like all ships of this class, the Durance is named after a French river. In this case, it pays homage to the Durance, a river in southeastern France approximately 320 kilometers long.

Characteristics

Length : 157.20 m

Width : 21.20 m

Draft : 10.80 m

Mass :

Empty : 7600 tons
Full : 17800 tons

The ship is powered by two SEMT Pielstick diesel engines, giving it a total power output of 20,800 hp. This allows it to reach a top speed of 19 knots and a range of 9,000 nautical miles at 15 knots. Its crew consists of 112 sailors.
When fully loaded, the ship can carry several thousand tons of fuel for other vessels, for aircraft and helicopters deployed from these ships, as well as several hundred tons of water, provisions, and ammunition.

Equipment

The ship’s electronic equipment is surprising, to say the least. While navigation radars are expected for a vessel of this era and size, the presence of anti-torpedo and anti-radar jammers is more unexpected.

2 x DRBN-34 navigation radar
1 x SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo jammer
1 x BSM maritime jammer

In addition, the ship carries a combat helicopter in its aft hangar and can deploy it from the designated flight deck. The embarked helicopters were Alouette IIIs. These aircraft are anti-submarine warfare helicopters that can be equipped with appropriate weaponry (torpedoes, sonobuoys).

Weapons

In terms of armament, the Durance has enough to defend itself, but not much more. It has light machine guns for self-defense, as well as two slightly larger cannons capable of engaging smaller vessels.

2 x 40mm L60 Bofors (one forward turret and one turret above the helicopter hangar)
6 x 12.7mm machine guns

This ship is obviously not to be added to the game right away, however in the event that similar ships were to be added, it would be an interesting addition to the French tree, providing a supply ship capable of defending itself against light threats.

Pictures

Video

ravitaillement de frégate Duguay trouin par le PR Durance .La Durance en pleine tempête

Sources