- Yes
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Hello everyone and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today I’m presenting a new ship from the E52 class, the Agenais (F774).
The E52 class is part of a large series of fast escort vessels built by France just after World War II to rebuild its navy, which had been decimated by Allied bombing and scuttling. Derived from the E50 class, the E52 class is characterized by a good top speed, armament enabling it to engage all types of targets, and the integration of technologies proven during World War II, such as navigation, surveillance, and fire control radars. Sonar was also added to these ships to allow them to detect and combat submarines, which represented the new major threat to warships.
The Agenais is one of the last ships of its class to have entered service, and this is reflected in its design. Indeed, while the first E52-class ships featured the same open bridge as the E50s, the Agenais boasted an enclosed and widened bridge, significantly improving crew living conditions and allowing the ship to operate in much harsher weather.
Construction of the ship began in 1955 in Lorient, and it was commissioned in 1958. Assigned to the Toulon naval base, the Agenais initially patrolled the North African coast, intercepting ships transporting weapons to Algeria during the country’s war of independence. It then remained in the Mediterranean, notably participating in the search for the Minerve (a French submarine that had suffered a diving accident). In 1970, it was modernized with a new sonar, thus improving its anti-submarine warfare capabilities before entering the Naval Equipment Practical Study Center in 1978, a branch of the navy responsible for testing various ship equipment. It successively lost one, then two, of its aft turrets to make way for various systems, notably a towed sonar. Decommissioned in 1985 after nearly 30 years of service, the last of the fast escort vessels, like many French ships of the era, was converted into a target for naval weapons testing and was subsequently sunk by an Exocet missile.
Like all the Fast Escort Vessels, the Agenais was named after a region or city, in this case, the city of Agen, in southwestern France.
Characteristics
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Length : 99.8 m
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Width : 10.30 m
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Drafat : 4.30
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Mass : 1702 tons
The ship is powered by two asymmetrical Indret stamped boilers, which gives it a total power of 20,000 hp allowing it to reach 27 knots in maximum speed. 4 diesel alternators complement the engine for electrical production
The crew was originally composed of 198 sailors but was later revised to 170.
Equipment
Before 1978 :
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Radar :
- DRBV 22A surveillance radar
- DRBN 32 navigation radar
- DRBC 31 fire control radar
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Sonar :
- DUBA 1 sonar
- DUBV 1 sonar
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Decoy and threat detection :
- ARBR 10 sonar detector
After 1978 :
-
Radar :
- DRBV 22A surveillance radar
- DRBN 32 navigation radar
- DRBC 31 fire control radar
-
Sonar :
- DUBA 1 sonar
- DUBV 1 sonar
- SOREL (light towed sonar)
-
Decoy and threat detection :
- ARBR 10 sonar detector
After 1980 :
-
Radar :
- DRBV 22A surveillance radar
- DRBN 32 navigation radar
- DRBC 31 fire control radar
-
Sonar :
- DUBA 1 sonar
- DUBV 1 sonar
- ETBF (low frequence sonar)
-
Decoy and threat detection :
- ARBR 10 sonar detector
Weapons
Before 1978 :
-
Guns :
- 3 x 2 57mm Mle 1951
- 2 x 20mm Oerlikon
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Torpedo :
- 4 x 3 550mm Torpedo launch tube (12 K2 or L3 ready + 12 in hold)
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Other :
- 1 x 375mm rocket launcher Mle 1954
After 1978 :
-
Guns :
- 2 x 2 57mm Mle 1951
- 2 x 20mm Oerlikon
-
Torpedo :
- 4 x 3 550mm Torpedo launch tube (12 K2 or L3 ready + 12 in hold)
-
Other :
- 1 x 375mm rocket launcher Mle 1954
After 1980 :
-
Guns :
- 1 x 2 57mm Mle 1951
- 2 x 20mm Oerlikon
-
Torpedo :
- 4 x 3 550mm Torpedo launch tube (12 K2 or L3 ready + 12 in hold)
-
Other :
- 1 x 375mm rocket launcher Mle 1954
In the game, this ship would bring a unique element to the French tech tree due to its singular armament and the modifications it has received throughout its career, evolving with new equipment and technologies. It would thus complement the French coastal tech tree in an interesting way.
Sources
- ESCORTEURS RAPIDES E50 et E52 : - L’AGENAIS – L’ALSACIEN – LE BASQUE – LE BEARNAIS - LE BORDELAIS – LE BOURGUIGNON – LE BRESTOIS - LE BRETON - LE CHAMPENOIS – LE CORSE – LE GASCON - LE LORRAIN - LE NORMAND – LE PICARD – LE… | Service historique de la Défense
- https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/visite-de-navires-escorteurs.html
- https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/arrivee-de-l-escorteur-rapide-agenais.html
- Escorteur rapide L’Agenais
- Le Normand class Frigate Escorteur Rapide French Navy Marine
- * L'AGENAIS (1958/1985)
- + Liste des Escorteurs de la Royale +
- Escorteur Rapide L'Agenais - Photo