F70ASM Frigate class, Primauguet (D644)

Mathll · May 27, 2026, 4:52am

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Hello everyone and welcome to this new suggestion.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to a ship of the F70 class: the Primauguet (D644).

Laid down in the early 1980s at the Lorient naval shipyard, the Primauguet was launched in 1984 before entering active service in 1986. The sixth unit of the Georges Leygues class, it was designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, in line with the strategic needs of the Cold War, while also incorporating lessons learned from previous units.

Upon entering service, the Primauguet was integrated into the French Navy’s surface forces and participated in numerous deployments in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. It regularly participated in exercises with allied navies, particularly within the framework of NATO, strengthening its operational capabilities and coordination with partner forces.

In the early 1990s, the ship was deployed to the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War. There, it carried out escort, maritime surveillance, and trade control missions, contributing to the security of a strategic area for international trade.

Throughout its career, the Primauguet was particularly active in international presence and cooperation missions. It undertook numerous deployments to West Africa, with regular port calls in countries such as Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Gabon, participating in joint exercises and training activities with local navies. It was also deployed several times to the Indian Ocean, with port calls in Djibouti, Réunion, and the United Arab Emirates.

In the 2000s, the Primauguet participated in maritime security operations, notably in the fight against terrorism and illicit trafficking. It is thus involved in missions in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, contributing to the surveillance of maritime routes and the protection of French and international interests.

It was notably involved in the rescue of the crew of the roll-on/roll-off ship Modern Express off the French coast in 2016.
Like other ships of its class, the Primauguet underwent modernizations throughout its career to maintain its operational capabilities. It retains, in particular, strong anti-submarine warfare capabilities thanks to its specialized equipment and its embarked helicopter, while adapting to increasingly diverse missions.

After nearly thirty years of service, the Primauguet was decommissioned in 2019, being one of the last remaining Georges Leygues-class ships still in operation at that time.

Finally, the ship takes its name from Hervé de Portzmoguer, also known as Primauguet, a 16th-century French pirate and privateer who lost his life defending the port of Brest from the English during the Battle of St. Matthew.

Characteristics

Length : 139 m
Width : 15 m
Draft : 5.5 m
Mass : 4,500 tons

The vessel is powered by a 26,000 hp Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbine engine, complemented by two 5,000 hp SEMT Pielstick 16PA6 diesel engines. This allows it to reach a speed of 30 knots with the gas engines and 15 knots with the diesel engines. Its range is 8,000 nautical miles at a speed of 15 knots.

The crew consists of 240 sailors.

Equipment

Radar :
- DRBV 15A global surveillance radar
- DRBV 26A air search radar
- DRBC 33A fire control radar
- DRBN 34 navigation radar
IRST :
- DIBV 2A IRST
Sonar :
- DUBV 24C hull sonar
- DUBV 43B/C depth sonar
- DSBV 61 towed sonar
Decoys and threat detection :
- ARBB 36 jammer
- ARBR 16 radar interceptor (RWR)
- SQL 25 NIXIZ torpedo decoy
- 2 x DAGAIE decoy lancher
- 4 x Irvin Aerospace decoy launcher

Weapons

Guns :
- 1 x 100mm Mle 1968 DCN/GIAT
- 2 x 20mm F2 GIAT
Torpedos :
- 2 x Torpedo tude (L5 torpedo or Mu90)
Missiles :
- 4 or 8 x MM40 Exocet missiles
- 1 x Crotale EDIR (8 missiles)
- 2 x SIMBAD CIWS (2 x 2 Mistral missiles)

In addition to these weapons, the ship can carry a combat helicopter in its hangar and deploy it via the helipad at the stern. The model used is the Linx Mk4 until its decommissioning, then the NH90 until the ship’s decommissioning.

In game this ship would be the most powerfully armed French ship in terms of anti-submarine and anti-ship combat before the arrival of new generation ships with discreet coatings. This ship would therefore be a very interesting addition to the French tree, bringing a powerfully armed combat ship when adding similar ships in the game

Pictures

Video

French Navy Destroyer FS Primauguet (D644) Entering the River Tyne 2nd February 2013
La frégate Primauguet
La frégate Primauguet
Le Primauguet prêt pour de nouvelles missions (France 3 Bretagne)
Primauguet

Sources