Floréal class, Ventôse (F733)

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Hello everyone and welcome to this new suggestion.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to a Floréal-class ship: the Ventôse (F733).

Laid down by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire in the late 1980s, the Ventôse was launched in 1992 before entering active service with the French Navy in 1993. The fourth unit of the Floréal class, it is designed to carry out missions of presence, surveillance, and protection of French interests in distant maritime areas, particularly in overseas territories.

Upon entering service, the Ventôse was assigned to the Antilles-Guiana region and joined its home port of Fort-de-France. From this strategic position in the heart of the Caribbean, the ship operates over a vast area including the Lesser Antilles, the Caribbean Sea, and the approaches to French Guiana. It carries out a variety of missions, ranging from monitoring exclusive economic zones to combating illicit trafficking, particularly drug trafficking, which is widespread in the region.

The Ventôse plays a major role in counter-narcotics operations. Regularly deployed on interministerial and international missions, it participates in the interception of suspicious vessels, often in coordination with air assets and other partner navies, notably within the framework of regional cooperation agreements. These operations result in the seizure of significant quantities of drugs.

In parallel, the ship participates in numerous joint exercises with foreign navies, particularly those of the United States, Caribbean countries, and South American nations. These exercises strengthen regional cooperation and improve coordination in the face of common threats, whether security-related or environmental.

The Ventôse is also regularly mobilized for relief and assistance missions following natural disasters, which are frequent in the Caribbean region. During major hurricanes, it can be deployed to deliver humanitarian aid, evacuate populations, or support local infrastructure.

Like the other ships of its class, the Ventôse underwent a modernization in 2015 during which its MM38 Exocet missiles were removed due to their obsolescence.

More recently, the ship has maintained a near-permanent presence in the Antilles-Guiana region. It actively participates in maritime surveillance, the protection of natural resources, the fight against illegal activities, and representing France in this strategic region.

Finally, like all ships of the Floréal class, the Ventôse takes its name from the French Republican calendar, established after the Revolution. The month of Ventôse corresponds to a period from late February to early March, generally associated with winds.

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Characteristics

  • Length : 93.5 m

  • Width : 14 m

  • Mass : 2950 tons

The ship is powered by 4 Pielstick 6 P.A.6 diesel engines of 6,470 kW each and has 2 propellers with adjustable blades. 3 electric generators of 590 kW each complete the ship’s energy system. This allows it to reach a speed of 20 knots maximum and to travel nearly 10,000 nautical miles at 15 knots without refueling. In addition, the ship can be refueled at sea.A bow thruster is also present at the front of the ship for port entry and exit maneuvers.

The crew is made up of around a hundred people, including personnel from the 36F squadron for the commissioning of the on-board helicopter.

Equipments

  • Radar :

    • DRBV-21 : Surveillance radar
    • RACAL DECCA : Navigation and approach radar

  • Decoys :

    • Daguay Decoy Launcher

  • Helicopter :
    A helicopter is present in the ship’s aft hold and can be deployed on the helipad provided for this purpose. The aircraft on board was an Alouette III until the Panthers were put into service, which replaced them. This helicopter can carry weapons in order to carry out patrols and defend boats (warning shots have been fired against pirate boats).

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Weapons
  • Before 2015 :
    • 1 x 100 mm/55 (3.9") Model 1968 CAMDAM canon (front gun)
    • 2 x 20mm canon (a cannon mounted on each side)
    • 2 x MM38 Exocet missiles (A missile launcher to each side)

In 2015, the ships underwent an evolution, making them more capable of carrying out their surveillance and counter-piracy missions but consequently making them less suitable for combat.

  • Afer 2015 :

    • 1 x 100 mm/55 (3.9") Model 1968 CAMDAM canon (front gun)
    • 2 x 20mm canon (a cannon mounted on each side)

  • Additional armament :

    • Sambad System (a Sambad system launching short-range Mistral missiles can be installed above the helicopter hangar to defend the ship from aerial threats)

In game this Frigate would be a very interesting addition to the French Navy, bringing a more modern ship than what is already in game but having a relatively simple armament (if we omit the exocet missiles) which would make the ship easily balanced.

Pictures

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Video

En Dominique, les marins de la frégate Ventôse mobilisés.
FAA : la frégate Ventôse intercepte un Go Fast
MATELOT TOSTI - Un suisse dans la marine française - Frégate Ventôse - 11 février 2001

Sources
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cool French ship. The French navy historically (cold war) was technologically ahead but did get early bird illness. I hope with the mods dropping ships like this they know something we don’t and we might see some anti-ship missile action sooner then later.

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