French frigate Jean de Vienne
 Jean de Vienne near Toulon, 23 September 2003
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name | Jean de Vienne |
| Namesake | Jean de Vienne |
| Laid down | 26 October 1979 |
| Launched | 17 November 1981 |
| Commissioned | 25 May 1984 |
| Decommissioned | 9 January 2019 |
| Identification |
|
| Status | Decommissioned |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class and type | Georges Leygues-class frigate |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 139 m (456 ft) |
| Beam | 14 m (45 ft 11 in) |
| Draught | 5.7 m (18 ft 8 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
| Range | 9,500 nmi (17,600 km; 10,900 mi) at 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys | 2 × Syllex chaff launchers |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 2 × Westland Lynx helicopters |
| Aviation facilities | Double hangar |
Jean de Vienne was one of seven F70 type guided-missile frigate built for the French Marine Nationale during the 1980s. Completed in 1984, she served during the Cold War. Her complement was 20% female.[1]
Design and description
[edit]The Georges Leygues-class ships were designed as anti-submarine (ASW) escorts for the fleet.[2] They had an overall length of 139 metres (456 ft), a beam of 14 m (45 ft 11 in) and a draught of 5.7 m (18 ft 8 in). The ships had a standard displacement of 3,830 tonnes (3,770 long tons) and 4,500–4,580 tonnes (4,430–4,510 long tons) at full load. The Georges Leyguess' propulsion machinery used a CODOG configuration with one SEMT-Pielstick 16PA6-V280 diesel engine and a Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbine were coupled to each of the two propeller shafts. The diesels were used for speeds under 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) and the gas turbines for sprints up to 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph). The diesels were rated at a total of 12,800 metric horsepower (12,600 bhp; 9,400 kW) and the turbines at a total of 46,200 shp (46,800 PS; 34,500 kW).[3] The combination give the ships a range of 9,500 nautical miles (17,600 km; 10,900 mi) at 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph). The frigates had a complement of 216 sailors.[2]
The primary anti-ship weapon of the Georges Leyguess consisted of four single box launchers for MM40 Exocet anti-ship missiles, located aft of the funnel with two launchers on each broadside. The frigates were designed with a single 100-millimetre (3.9 in) Modèle 1968 dual-purpose gun in a single-gun turret forward of the superstructure. They were also equipped with two 20 mm (0.8 in) guns. The ships were fitted with a octuple Crotale anti-aircraft missile launcher with 26 reloads located on the aft superstructure. The anti-submarine| (ASW) weapons of the Georges Leygues-class ships consisted of two torpedo launchers , one on each side of the ship. Each ship carried ten torpedoes. The ships were designed to carry helicopters, a pair of Westland Lynx ASW helicopters in a double hangar at the stern.[2][3]
They were completed with a DRBV 51C search radar, a DRBC 32E fire-control radar and a DRBV 26 early-warning radar. For anti-submarine warfare, they were equipped with a DUBV 23B hull-mounted sonar and DUBV 43B towed variable depth sonar. For electronic defence, the vessels mounted two Syllex chaff launchers. The SENIT 4 tactical data system coordinated sensor data.[2][3]
Construction and carer
[edit]Jean de Vienne was laid down on 26 October 1979 and launched 17 November 1981. She was accepted into the French navy on 25 May 1984.[2]
During the 1991 Gulf War, Jean de Vienne was reported as the only French naval vessel to have been part of surface forces under the operational command and control of the United States.[4]
In 2001, Jean de Vienne was part of the task force deployed to the Indian Ocean as part of Opération Héraklès, the initial French contribution to the War in Afghanistan. While deployed there, she was part of the escort for the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.[1]
In 2011, the ship deployed as part of Opération Harmattan, the French contribution to NATO's involvement in the military intervention in Libya.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Frégate Jean de Vienne" (in French). netmarine.net. 2010. Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Jordan 1995, p. 114.
- ^ a b c Moore 1981, p. 164.
- ^ "La Marine dans la Guerre du Golfe". www.netmarine.net. Retrieved 2021-06-13.
- ^ "La frégate Jean de Vienne reçoit la croix de la valeur militaire" (in French). MeretMarine. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
Bibliography
[edit]- Jordan, John (1995). "France". In Chumbley, Stephen (ed.). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 95–131. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
- Moore, John, ed. (1981). Jane's Fighting Ships 1981–82. London: Jane's Publishing. ISBN 0-531-03977-3.
- Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2004). Jane's Fighting Ships 2004–2005. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2623-1.