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French frigate Courbet
| Field | Value | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| section1 | {{Infobox ship/image | |||||||||
| image | FS Courbet 6.jpg | |||||||||
| section2 | {{Infobox ship/career | |||||||||
| country | France | |||||||||
| flag | ||||||||||
| name | Courbet | |||||||||
| namesake | Admiral Amédée Courbet | |||||||||
| laid_down | 15 September 1993 | |||||||||
| launched | 12 March 1994 | |||||||||
| commissioned | 1 April 1997 | |||||||||
| homeport | Toulon | |||||||||
| identification | * | |||||||||
| honours | Flies the FNFL jack in honour of the battleship | |||||||||
| status | In active service | |||||||||
| section3 | {{Infobox ship/characteristics | |||||||||
| class | ||||||||||
| displacement | * 3280 t | |||||||||
| * fully loaded<ref>{{cite web | url | https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/la-fregate-la-fayette-de-nouveau-operationnelle-apres-sa-renovation | title=La frégate La Fayette de nouveau opérationnelle après sa rénovation | work=Mer et Marine | last=Groizeleau | first=Vincent | language=fr | date=28 November 2022 | access-date=29 November 2022}} | |
| length | 125 m | |||||||||
| beam | 15.4 m | |||||||||
| draught | 4.8 m | |||||||||
| propulsion | 4 SEMT Pielstick 12PA6V280 STC2 diesel engines, 21000 hp | |||||||||
| speed | 25 kn | |||||||||
| range | 7000 nmi at 15 kn | |||||||||
| complement | 170+; around 6 additional personnel on Courbet post-upgrade | |||||||||
| sensors | *1 × Air/Surface DRBV 15C sentry radar | |||||||||
| *1 x SENIT FLF combat management system (replaced previous Thales TAVITAC CMS during 2020-21 refit)<ref>{{cite web | url | https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/10/first-upgraded-la-fayette-class-frigate/ | title=First Upgraded la Fayette-class Frigate back into the French Fleet | work=Naval News | date=18 October 2021 }} | |||||
| EW | *1 × Saïgon ARBG 1 radio interceptor | |||||||||
| *1 × Syracuse IV satellite communications<ref>{{cite web | url | https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/a-bord-du-courbet-en-arret-technique-a-toulon-apres-l-essai-de-choc-du-25-fevrier | title=A bord du Courbet, en arrêt technique à Toulon après l'essai de choc du 25 février | work=Mer et Marine | last=Groizeleau | first=Vincent | language=fr | date=5 May 2025 | access-date=5 May 2025 | url-access=subscription}} |
| * 8 × Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles (Block 3c variant entering service in French Navy from December 2022)<ref>{{cite web | url | https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/euronaval-2022/2022/10/first-exocet-mm40-block-3c-missiles-set-for-december-delivery/ | title=First Exocet MM40 Block 3c Missiles Set For December Delivery | work=Naval News | last=Vavasseur | first=Xavier | date=17 October 2022 | access-date=29 November 2022}} | ||
| armour | On sensitive areas (munition magazine and control centre) | |||||||||
| aircraft | 1 × helicopter (Panther or NH90) |
- 3680 t fully loaded
- 1 x SENIT FLF combat management system (replaced previous Thales TAVITAC CMS during 2020-21 refit)
- 1 × firing control radar for the 100 mm gun
- 1 × DRBN34 navigation radar
- 1 × DRBN34 landing radar
- KingKlip Mk2 hull-mounted sonar (incorporated during 2020-21 refit)
- 1 × ARBR 21 radar interceptor
- 2 × Dagaie Mk2 chaff launcher
- 1 × AN/SLQ-25 Nixie tugged noise maker
- 1 × Prairie-Masker noise reduction system
- 1 × Syracuse IV satellite communications
- 1 × Inmarsat
- Anti-ship;
- 8 × Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles (Block 3c variant entering service in French Navy from December 2022)
- Guns;
- 1 × 100 mm TR automatic gun
- 2 × 20 mm modèle F2 guns
- Anti-aircraft;
- 2 x 6 SADRAL launchers/MISTRAL Mk3 SAMs/SSMs (replaced previous Crotale SAM during 2020-21 refit)
Courbet is a general purpose stealth frigate of the French Navy (Marine Nationale) of the . She is the third French vessel named after the 19th-century Admiral Amédée Courbet.
Construction and career
Courbet took part in Opération Baliste. On 3 October 2006, an Israeli fighter aircraft penetrated her 2 nmi defence perimeter without responding to radio calls, triggering a diplomatic incident. Israel apologised after official protests from the French government. Throughout September the ship was involved in anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia, helping to recapture a yacht taken by pirates on 2 September.
In December 2009 Courbet escorted the French Navy cruiser on her final voyage. This was last trip of the helicopter carrier that served as a floating embassy and symbol of the French Navy for 46 years. Jeanne d'Arcs last voyage in company with Courbet included visits to Africa, South America including Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires, the French Antilles, the United States including New York City, and Canada. The voyage was completed sometime in May 2010.
During the Libyan Civil War, on 29 April 2011, while on patrol off Misrata, Courbet found and engaged four loyalist RHIB boats laying mines, sinking one of them.
In June 2020, while on patrol to counter alleged arms smuggling to Libya, France claimed that Turkish frigates illuminated Courbet three times with their fire control radar, a claim which was denied by Turkish officials.
On her first operational deployment after her mid-life upgrade, Courbet, operating in the Gulf of Guinea in conjunction with the helicopter assault ship , was involved in the seizure of just under 2 tons of drugs in May 2022.
In September 2023, while operating in the Mediterranean the frigate experienced a fire on board. Although no one was reported injured and the fire was extinguished, she as compelled to return to Toulon for evaluation and repair. The frigate was reported to have returned to sea in February 2024.
Upgrade
Courbet was the first ship of her class to begin a mid-life upgrade in October 2020. The upgrade is designed to permit the frigate to operate through the 2020s and into the 2030s and incorporates the addition of hull-mounted sonar, improved point air defence systems as well as the capacity to carry the latest variant of the Exocet anti-ship missile. The frigate returned to sea in June 2021 following her upgrade.
Going forward it was also planned to incorporate the CANTO anti-torpedo countermeasures system in the frigate.
References
References
- Groizeleau, Vincent. (28 November 2022). "La frégate La Fayette de nouveau opérationnelle après sa rénovation". Mer et Marine.
- (3 May 2001). "La Fayette Class Frigate".
- Vavasseur, Xavier. (3 February 2023). "French Mission Jeanne D'Arc 2023 To Sail Across Indo-Pacific".
- (18 October 2021). "First Upgraded la Fayette-class Frigate back into the French Fleet". Naval News.
- Groizeleau, Vincent. (5 May 2025). "A bord du Courbet, en arrêt technique à Toulon après l'essai de choc du 25 février". Mer et Marine.
- Vavasseur, Xavier. (17 October 2022). "First Exocet MM40 Block 3c Missiles Set For December Delivery". Naval News.
- Groizeleau, Vincent. (15 April 2021). "Première FLF rénovée, la frégate Courbet remise à l'eau". Mer et Marine.
- (10 March 2010). "French Warship on Last Trip Delivers Books to NYC Students". Consulate general of France NYC.
- (2011). "Stalemate & Siege".
- (2 July 2020). "Libya crisis: France suspends Nato mission role amid Turkey row". BBC News.
- (25 May 2022). "New Drug Seizure By The French Navy In The Gulf Of Guinea". Naval News.
- Groizeleau, Vincent. (22 September 2023). "La frégate Courbet interrompt sa mission et rentre à Toulon après un incendie dans ses machines". Mer et Marine.
- Caroline, Britz. (9 February 2024). "La frégate Courbet a repris la mer". Mer et Marine.
- (October 2020). "Naval Group starts renovation and upgrade of French Navy Courbet La Fayette-class frigate". Navy Recognition.
- Groizeleau, Vincent. (2 January 2021). "Marine nationale : les programmes qui vont façonner la future flotte française". Mer et Marine.
- Manaranche, Martin. (31 July 2021). "Video: French Navy's La Fayette-Class Frigate Mid-Life Update". Naval News.
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
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