- Yes
- No
Hello everyone and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today I’m presenting a new French ship, the last of the fast escort vessels to be built: the Vendéen (F778).
The E52B 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 E52 class, the E52B 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 Vendéen is the last surviving example of the E52 class, and indeed of all the fast escort vessels ever built, thus concluding three classes of ships (the E50, E52, and E52B classes) and 17 ships that served for nearly 30 years and enabled France to rebuild a decent navy at the end of the war.
Laid down in 1955 and commissioned in 1960, the Vendéen had a fairly typical early career, patrolling the coasts of North Africa during the Algerian War to stop arms shipments to the country. However, it should be noted that during this period, the Vendéen ran aground on a reef due to an anchoring problem, subsequently requiring extensive refitting. It then sailed in various oceans on diverse missions, notably the Indian Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. In 1981, the Vendéen was converted into an experimental vessel, leading to the installation of various weapon systems on board, including an additional torpedo launcher. It was decommissioned in 1982 and sunk in 1995 during a naval bombardment exercise (it was one of the very last fast escorts ship afloat).
Like all Fast Escorts Ship, the Vendéen is named after a region or city, in this case, the Vendée, a region in western 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 m
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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
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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
- DUBV 24 sonar (in the 70s)
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Decoy and threat detection :
- ARBR 10 sonar detector
Weapons
Before 1981 :
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Guns :
- 2 x 2 57mm Mle 1951
- 2 x 20mm Oerlikon
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Torpedo :
- 4 x 3 Torpedo lauch tube for K2 or L3 torpedo
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Other :
- 1 x 305mm ASM mortar
After 1981 :
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Guns :
- 2 x 2 57mm Mle 1951
- 2 x 20mm Oerlikon
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Torpedo :
- 4 x 3 Torpedo lauch tube for K2 or L3 torpedo
- 1 x 550mm TLT (see note)
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Other :
- 1 x 305mm ASM mortar
Note: In 1981 the ship became an experimental vessel and, for the occasion, received a new 550mm torpedo launcher on its aft deck.
In-game, this ship would be a particularly interesting addition to the French tech tree, especially in its post-1981 configuration, offering a vessel distinct from the rest of its class due to its unique armament focused on the use of torpedoes. It would thus be a valuable addition to the French coastal tech tree.
