Cassard-class frigate
Jean Bart
| |
Class overview | |
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Name | Cassard class |
Builders | DCNS S.A. |
Operators | Marine Nationale |
Succeeded by | Aquitaine class (air-defence variant) |
Built | 1982–1991 |
In service | 1988–2021 |
Completed | 2 |
Retired | 2 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Frigate |
Displacement | 4,500 tons, 5,000 full load |
Length | 139 m (456 ft 0 in) |
Beam | 14 m (45 ft 11 in) |
Draught | 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | 29.5 knots (54.6 km/h; 33.9 mph) |
Range | 8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph) |
Complement | 250 |
Sensors and processing systems |
|
Electronic warfare & decoys | Thomson-CSF ARBB-33 jammer |
Armament |
|
Aircraft carried | 1 × Eurocopter AS 565 Panther anti-submarine helicopter |
The Cassard class (Type F70 AA) was a
of the class, Cassard, was retired in 2019 followed by the retirement of Jean Bart in 2021.The experience gained during the design and construction of the Cassard type was used for the design of the La Fayette class.
Design
The Cassard-class frigate was initially designed to replace the four T 47-class anti-air warfare vessels in service at the time. Initially procured with four ships in the class, (the third and fourth hulls authorized for construction in 1983), the class was cut back to two vessels after the United States chose to terminate the production of the Standard SM-1MR missile. The prolonged design period led to the plans being redrawn several times.[2]
The class shared a common hull design with the Georges Leygues class. The superstructure was composed of a lightweight aluminum alloy that is resistant to fire and corrosion. However the adoption of a similar propulsion system was abandoned early on. The hot exhaust from the Olympus turbines found on the Georges Leygues class was thought to be incompatible with the numerous arrays required in the new design.[2] The ships were crewed by 244 personnel but could accommodate 251.[3]
The class carried one anti-submarine
Propulsion
The Cassard class were powered by four
Armament
The Cassard frigates were armed with one Mk 13 launcher for the 40 Standard SM-1MR anti-air missiles. The missiles have semi-active radar homing out to 46 km (29 mi) at Mach 2 with a ceiling limit of 18,288 m (60,000 ft).[3] The Mk 13 single arm launchers and SPG 51 tracker/illuminators were taken off the T 47 destroyers Bouvet and Kersaint and refurbished.[2]
The Cassards were also provided with two Sadral sextuple launchers for 39
For anti-ship weaponry, the class was provided with eight MM40 Exocet anti-ship missiles. The MM40 Exocet missiles are sea-skimmers with a warhead of 165 kg (364 lb) and have a range of 70 km (43 mi) at Mach 0.9.[3] The frigates also had two fixed torpedo tubes for ten L5 mod 4 torpedoes. These torpedoes have active and passive homing with a range of 9.5 km (5.9 mi) at 35 kn (65 km/h; 40 mph). They carry a 150 kg (330 lb) warhead and can travel to a depth of 550 m (1,800 ft).[3]
The Cassard class was armed with a
Electronics
- 1 DRBV26C sentry radar
- 1 Thales SMART-S MK2 (replacing DRBJ11B) [4]
- 1 DIBV2A infra-red alert system
- 2 DRBN34 navigation and landing radar
- 1 DUBV 24C hull sonar
- Syracuse II satellite communication system
- 1 ARBR 17 radar detector
- 1 SAIGON radio emission detector
- 1 ARBB 33 jammer
- 2 SAGAIE NG decoy launchers
- 2 DAGAIE decoy launchers
Ships in class
Cassard class construction data[2] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Pennant | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned |
Cassard | D 614 | 3 September 1982 | 6 February 1985 | 28 July 1988 | 15 March 2019 |
Jean Bart | D 615 | 12 March 1986 | 19 March 1988 | 21 September 1991 | 31 August 2021 |
Courbet | D 616 | Cancelled | |||
~ | D 617 |
They were decommissioned in conjunction with the introduction of the FREDA air defence frigates in 2021–2022.
Gallery
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Fire team of Cassard
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Frigate Cassard
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Jean Bart beside the frigates Surcouf and Courbet
See also
References
Citations
Sources
- Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
- Saunders, Stephen (ed.). Jane's Fighting Ships, 2004-2005 (107 ed.). Surrey: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2623-1.