F67 Frigate Duguay Trouin (D611)

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Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion!

Today, I invite you to discover a new ship in the F67 class, the Duguay-Trouin (D611).

The Duguay-Trouin is the second ship in the Tourville class, a series of anti-submarine frigates designed for the French Navy in the 1970s. This class, named F67, had as its primary mission anti-submarine warfare (ASW), a vital role during the Cold War, when the oceans were crisscrossed by numerous Soviet and American submarines.

These ships were developed to replace the first ASW frigates built just after World War II, such as the famous Aconit, which had enabled France to relaunch its war fleet. The objective was to design a new generation of more efficient vessels, capable of operating in coordination with French naval forces and nuclear submarines.

Assigned to the Atlantic Force, the Duguay-Trouin was initially employed in missions protecting French nuclear submarines based in Brest. She also participated in the surveillance of strategic maritime areas, particularly in the North Atlantic.

Subsequently, she was regularly integrated into the Jeanne d’Arc group, renowned for its around-the-world training campaigns. This group included the helicopter carrier Jeanne d’Arc and an escort frigate—a role the Duguay-Trouin performed on several occasions. These deployments allowed her to sail all over the world and represent France in numerous foreign ports.

Unlike her sister ships, the Tourville (D610) and De Grasse (D612), the Duguay-Trouin never underwent an upgrade of her anti-submarine warfare systems in the 1990s. As a result, she was the first of the series to be decommissioned, leaving active service in 1999 after nearly a quarter of a century of loyal service.

The ship takes its name from René Duguay-Trouin (1673-1736), a famous privateer and officer in the French Navy during the reign of Louis XIV. Known for his numerous captures against the English and Dutch fleets, she embodied audacity, naval mastery, and a spirit of adventure. Naming a modern warship after him was a way to perpetuate this tradition of French maritime excellence.

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Characteristics

  • Length : 152.75 m

  • Width : 15.80 m

  • Draft : 6.60 m

  • Mass : 6,100 tons

The ship is powered by 2 Rateau steam turbines and 4 boilers, giving the Duguay Trouin a power of 58,000 hp allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 32 knots and a range of 4,500 nautical miles at 18 knots. The ship’s electrical power comes from 2 turbo alternators and 2 diesel alternators.

The crew is made up of 299 sailors.

Equipment

  • Radar :

    • DRBV 51B sea surveillance radar
    • DRVB 26A air surveillance radar
    • DRBC 32D fire control radar
    • 2 x DRBN 34 navigation radar

  • Sonar :

    • DUBV 23 hull sonar
    • ETBF DSBV 62 C sonar
    • DSBX 1 towed sonar

  • Decoys and threat detections:

    • Syva torpedo alert system
    • AARBB 32 jammer
    • ARBR 16 radar interceptor (RWR)
    • 2 x Syllex decoys launcher

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Weapons

Before 1980

  • Guns :

    • 2 x 100mm Mle 1968 canon
    • 2 x 20mm autocanon
    • 4 x 12.7mm machine gun

  • Torpedo :

    • 2 x torpedo launcher (up to 10 L5 torpedo in hold)
    • 1 x Malafon launcher (removed during late 1980s)

  • Missiles :

    • 6 x MM38 Exocet missile launcher

After 1980

  • Guns :

    • 2 x 100mm Mle 1968 canon
    • 2 x 20mm autocanon
    • 4 x 12.7mm machine gun

  • Torpedo :

    • 2 x torpedo launcher (up to 10 L5 torpedo in hold)
    • 1 x Malafon launcher (removed during late 1980s)

  • Missiles :

    • 6 x MM38 Exocet missile launcher
    • 1 x Crotale EDIR missile launcher (8 missiles + 18 in hold)

After 1990

  • Guns :

    • 2 x 100mm Mle 1968 canon
    • 2 x 20mm autocanon
    • 4 x 12.7mm machine gun

  • Torpedo :

    • 2 x torpedo launcher (up to 10 L5 torpedo in hold)

  • Missiles :

    • 6 x MM38 Exocet missile launcher
    • 1 x Crotale EDIR missile launcher (8 missiles + 18 in hold)

The Malafon launcher allows the launch of a “glider” directed by the ship and initially propelled by a powder charge (maximum speed of 800 km/h allowing a maximum range of 13 kilometers). This glider carries a 553 mm L4 torpedo which it releases at the desired moment in order to hit a target more precisely. The firing coordinates and the release distance are provided by the launcher ship’s sonar.

In addition to these weapons, the ship carries two Linx Mk4 anti-submarine helicopters from the 34F flotilla equipped with active dipping sonar and Mk46 torpedoes (12 torpedoes stored on the ship).

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This ship would be an interesting addition, to say the least, bringing a modern combat ship with powerful combat capabilities. Thus, it would be a very interesting addition to the French offshore tree.

Pictures

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Sources