Floréal

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Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.

Today, I’m introducing you to a French ship, the Floréal (F730), a ship of the same name as its class.

The Floréal is a French surveillance frigate, the lead ship of the class of the same name, designed in the 1980s to meet the needs of presence and sovereignty in overseas exclusive economic zones (EEZs). Ordered in 1989, it was built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire and was commissioned on May 27, 1992. Unlike high-end combat frigates, the Floréal class was designed with a low-cost approach, with limited weapons systems but great autonomy, simplified maintenance, and construction according to civilian standards for certain parts. The ship has a helipad and can embark a Panther or Alouette III helicopter, which extends its range for surveillance and rescue missions. Its name, Floréal, is inspired by the month of flowering in the French Republican calendar (April-May).

The frigate Floréal (F730) has been assigned to the Indian Ocean maritime zone since its commissioning, with Réunion Island as its base port. It carries out a variety of missions: maritime patrols, the fight against illegal fishing, assistance to populations, sea rescue, and regional cooperation. Although not designed for intensive naval combat, it is equipped with a 100 mm cannon, 20 mm machine guns, and advanced surveillance capabilities for its missions. The Floréal has participated in numerous civil and military operations, including inter-allied exercises, medical evacuations, and maritime control in the southern Indian Ocean. As a cost-effective, multi-purpose vessel, it embodies the French approach to permanent strategic presence in overseas territories. Still in active service, the Floréal represents a pillar of French sovereignty in the Indian Ocean.

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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

Juin 2013 - FS Floréal tire un missile Exocet MM38
[Atalante] Bilan NARCOPS de la frégate de surveillance Floréal
Le Floréal au coeur de la lutte contre la piraterie
Frégate FLORÉAL dans les 40 èmes juin 2016
FS FLOREAL IN TAAF

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2

+1 for sure in the future

1 Like
3

I support both versions of the ship, as we already have Strela-2Ms in-game, so the SIMBAD-RC mount with Mistral missiles would be totally fine. Not sure about Exocet ASMs though. Might be a while before those fit. +1

1 Like