French frigate Montcalm
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name | Montcalm |
| Namesake | Louis de Montcalm de Saint Véran |
| Builder | Arsenal de Brest, France |
| Laid down | 5 December 1975 |
| Launched | 31 May 1980 |
| Commissioned | 28 May 1982 |
| Decommissioned | 3 July 2017 |
| Status | Awaiting disposal |
| 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 anti-ship helicopters |
| Aviation facilities | Double hangar |
Montcalm was one of seven F70 type guided-missile frigates built for the French Marine Nationale during the 1970s. Completed in 1982, she served during the Cold War.
Design and description
[edit]The Georges Leygues-class ships were designed as anti-submarine (ASW) escorts for the fleet.[1] 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).[2] 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.[1]
The primary anti-ship weapon of the Georges Leyguess consisted of four single box launchers for MM38 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.[1][2]
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.[1][2]
Construction and career
[edit]Montcalm was involved in operations off Libya during the 2011 Libyan Civil War. The vessel was used to evacuate French and British citizens from the nation after fighting closed the airports.[3] Montcalm was decommissioned on 3 July 2017.[4] The hull was then stripped and brought to Brégaillon to await final disposal.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Jordan 1995, p. 114.
- ^ a b c Moore 1981, p. 164.
- ^ Brophy, Daragh (1 August 2014). "'Crisis team' set up to help Irish in Libya, as French and British leave on naval ship". thejournal.ie. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (7 July 2017). "La frégate Montcalm a tiré sa révérence". Meretmarine.com (in French). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (30 March 2018). "L'ex-Montcalm en attente à Brégaillon". meretmarine.com (in French). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
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.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Montcalm (D642) at Wikimedia Commons
