- Yes
- No
Hello everyone and welcome to this new feature.
Today I’m presenting a new patrol boat from the P400 class, the Audacieuse.
The P400 class is a class of 400-ton patrol boats (hence their name) from the late 1980s, designed for coastal patrol and monitoring of French Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). Equipped with light armament and adequate detection systems, patrol boats of this class served France for many years, being gradually withdrawn from service during the 2000s. Some units were even sold to other countries, where some P400s are still in service.
The Audacieuse is the very first ship of this class and therefore lends its name to the class. Commissioned in 1986, the ship was initially tasked with monitoring the French EEZs in the Indian Ocean around Réunion Island, particularly to combat illegal fishing. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Audacieuse returned to France, replacing the gradually decommissioned Trident-class patrol boats, and was once again dedicated to patrolling French waters. In the early 2000s, the ship crossed the Atlantic, tasked with monitoring the coast of French Guiana, and more specifically the Kourou base, the launch site for French and European rockets. However, missions in French Guiana were not limited to surveillance near the launch site, combating drug trafficking, and illegal fishing. The Audacieuse notably intercepted a vessel carrying nearly 3 tons of drugs. In 2010, the ship made a final voyage, sailing up the Atlantic coast via the Antilles and other islands, back to France before being decommissioned and stored for scrapping.
The names of the ships in the P400 class are all adjectives describing a behavior; for this ship, it is audacity (a rather flattering name when other ships in the class have, for example, been named the Boudeuse: the sulky).
Characteristics
-
Length : 55 m
-
Width : 8 m
-
Draft : 2.54 m
-
Mass : 373 tons
This patrol boat is powered by two 3700hp SEMT Pielstick 200PAVGDS diesels linked to two fixed-blade propellers. This allows La Rieuse to reach a maximum speed of 24 knots and cover a distance of 4,000 nautical miles at 15 knots. On-board electricity is provided by three GE Poyaud Jeumond-Schneider generators.
The crew is made up of around thirty sailors and can take on additional passengers.
Equipment
-
Radar :
- Raccal Decca DRBN-38 surveillance radar
- Decca 1126 navigation radar
-
Sonar :
- Shallow water sonar
Weapons
- 40mm Boford (front turret)
- 20mm F2 (back turret)
An ANF1 machine gun can also be installed on each side of the ship for close protection.
The ship’s armament, although not extensive, remains sufficient for defense and patrol missions in territorial waters. This armament makes it very similar to some coastal fleet ships with the same role present in other trees, such as HMAS Fremantle.
Sources
- Patrouilleur type P 400 | Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants
- https://imagesdefense.gouv.fr/fr/travaux-d-entretien-sur-le-patrouilleur-p400-l-audacieuse.html
- Audacieuse
- La coque de l’ex-P400 L’Audacieuse quitte à son tour le cimetière marin de Landévennec | Mer et Marine
- L'Audacieuse P400 class Patrol Vessel French Navy Marine
- Marine Nationale