French frigate Primauguet

History
France
Name	Primauguet
Laid down	17 November 1981
Launched	17 March 1984
Commissioned	5 November 1986
Out of service	April 2019
Status	Decommissioned
General characteristics (as completed)
Class & type	Georges Leygues-class frigate
Displacement	3,550 t (3,494 long tons) 4,580 t (4,508 long tons) full load
Length	139 m (456 ft)
Beam	14 m (45 ft 11 in)
Draught	5.7 m (18 ft 8 in)
Propulsion	2 shafts; CODOG 2 × gas turbines, 23,100 shp (23,420 PS; 17,226 kW) each 2 × diesel engines, 6,400 PS (6,312 bhp; 4,707 kW) each
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 & processing systems	DRBV 51C search radar DRBV 26 early-warning radar DRBC 32E fire-control radar DUBV 23B hull-mounted sonar DUBV 43B variable depth sonar
Electronic warfare & decoys	2 × Syllex chaff launchers
Armament	4 x single Exocet anti-ship missiles 2 × fixed torpedo tubes 1 × single 100 mm (3.9 in) DP gun 2 × single 20 mm (0.8 in) AA guns 1 × octuple Crotale anti-air missile launcher
Aircraft carried	2 × Westland Lynx helicopters
Aviation facilities	Double hangar

Primauguet was one of seven F70 type guided-missile frigates built for the French Marine Nationale during the 1980s. Completed in 1986, she served in the Cold War.

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 4,580 tonnes (4,510 long tons) at full load.^[2] Based on experience with the earlier ships in the class, Primaguet had her bridge (nautical) raised one level and 210 t (210 long tons) of ballast was added to improve her stability.^[3] 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 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.^[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]

• Baker, A.D. The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1998–1999. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1998. ISBN 1-55750-111-4.
• 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.

• NetMarine