1976 DETROYAT One of a class of 17 corvettes (which the French Navy classifies as Avisos - Despatch Ships), optimised for coastal anti submarine patrols and colonial duties, with good endurance at the expense of speed.
THE TYPE A-69
The primary mission of the 17 ships of the DEstienne dOrves class (they were named after French heroes of the Second World War) was conceived to be coastal anti-submarine duties, but with overseas territories particularly in the Caribbean and South Pacific to patrol, the French Navy also ensured that they were equipped for lengthy tours of detached duty. Dtroyat was the fourth of the class to be constructed, by the Naval Dockyard at Lorient, on the Atlantic coast (where all 17 ships were built). She was laid down on 15 December 1974, launched, together with her sister-ship Jean Moulin, on 31 January 1976 and commissioned on 4 May, 1977. She underwent a midlife refit in the mid-1980s, and was decommissioned in 1997.
ARMS AND EQUIPMENT
Initially, the DEstienne dOrves class was to be sub-divided, one group of ships (the Type 70s, as they were initially known) to hove an additional armament of two launchers for MM 38 Exocet SSMs. In the end, all the ships were fitted to accommodate the launchers, which were mounted on ships destined for colonial tours. In addition, all had a Model 1968 100mm dual- purpose gun, two 20mm AA guns and four catapults for launching L5 533mm (21 in) torpedoes. Most had a Bofors 375mm anti-submarine rocket launcher, though some ships lost it in favour of a satellite communications system. Air search and fire control radar were standard, as was the DUBA 25 sonar. All ships were constructed with extra accommodation space for an officer and half-platoon of Marines.
TECHNICAL DATA
Type: Corvette Machinery: 2-shaft SEMT-Pielstick diesels, giving a total of 11,000bhp
Dimensions (overall): Length, 80m (262ft); beam, 10.3m (34ft)
Displacement: 950t standard, 1250t full load
Draught: 5.3m (17ft) Complement: 79 + marines
