PAG, La Combattante (P735)

Mathll · May 16, 2026, 9:40pm

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Hello everyone and welcome to this new feature.

Today I’m presenting the last of the La Confiance-class patrol vessels for the French Antilles and French Guiana, La Combattante (P735).

The Combattante has a rather unique history, directly linked to a major event that marked the French Antilles. Originally, the La Confiance class was intended to comprise only two units: La Confiance and La Résolue. At that time, the program was called PLG (Patrouilleur Léger Guyane – Light Patrol Boat Guyana), as these vessels were primarily designed to operate in French Guiana. Their main mission was to ensure maritime surveillance, fisheries enforcement, and combat trafficking in this strategic area.

However, in 2017, the devastating passage of Hurricane Irma through the Antilles profoundly disrupted this plan. The considerable destruction and the scale of the humanitarian crisis necessitated a massive intervention by French forces, particularly the French Navy. This operation highlighted certain limitations of the naval resources deployed in the region, both in terms of numbers and their capacity to respond to major crises.

It is in this context that the General Staff decided to permanently reinforce the naval presence in the French West Indies by ordering a third unit from the Socarenam company, which had already built the first two ships. This new unit, named La Combattante, also led to an evolution of the program, which was renamed PAG (Patrouilleur Antilles-Guyane – Antilles-Guyane Patrol Vessel) to better reflect its expanded area of operation.

Laid down in 2018, La Combattante entered service in 2019. Technically identical to its sister ships, it is based in Fort-de-France, where it strengthens maritime surveillance capabilities in the French West Indies.

Since entering active service, the ship has carried out a variety of missions focused on maritime sovereignty. These include fisheries enforcement in French exclusive economic zones, active participation in the fight against illicit trafficking, and regular interventions to assist vessels in distress or civilian populations. The Combattante has distinguished itself in the fight against drug trafficking, carrying out several significant seizures, sometimes in cooperation with foreign navies. Among these was a notable interception on the high seas that resulted in the seizure of approximately 3.5 tons of narcotics aboard a fishing vessel.

In 2023, the ship also participated in the Jeanne d’Arc mission, a flagship training campaign for French Navy officer cadets, thus confirming its versatility and its integration into training missions.

Today, the Combattante remains in service, based in Fort-de-France, and constitutes a key element of the French naval presence in the Antilles-Guiana region. Thanks to its capabilities and versatility, the ship is expected to remain in service for many more years, with an estimated service life of between 15 and 20 years, thus making a lasting contribution to French maritime security and presence in the region.

Characteristics

Length : 60.8 m
Width : 9.55 m
Draft : 3.20 m
Mass : 700 tons

The vessel is powered by two 8,050 hp ABC 12 DZC diesel engines, enabling it to reach a top speed of 21 knots. Its cruising range is 3,500 nautical miles at a speed of 12 knots.

Its crew consists of 24 sailors and 14 other people can be carry by the ship.

Equipment

The exact equipment present on the ship is not known due to its modernity, however two navigation radars can be visually identified above the maneuvering bridge.

Weapons

This ship being a modern coastal patrol vessel, its armament is limited, however, due to its modernity, it allows it to defend itself against ships better armed than it.

1 x 20mm Narwhal-20B (the 20 mm remotely operated turret in the front allows targeting targets at long distances with a wide range of ammunition, the gun used is the Giat M693)
2 x 12.7 machine gun (machine guns are on each side of the bridge to defend the ship against close targets)

In this game, the latest ship of the La Combattante class would be an interesting addition to the French tech tree, providing a modern combat vessel capable of defending against various threats. It would thus complement the French coastal tech tree in a compelling way.

Pictures

Video

La Combattante, nouveau patrouilleur de la Marine Nationale, entre en service
Baptême et prise de commandement de “la Combattante”
La Combattante rejoint la flotte des Antilles

Sources

CharAznable3 · May 16, 2026, 10:43pm

Armed yacht +1