French frigate Courbet

History
France
Name	Courbet
Namesake	Admiral Amédée Courbet
Laid down	15 September 1993
Launched	12 March 1994
Commissioned	1 April 1997
Homeport	Toulon
Identification	MMSI number: 228731000
Status	In active service
General characteristics
Class and type	La Fayette-class frigate
Displacement	3,200 t (3,100 long tons); 3,600 t (3,500 long tons) fully loaded;
Length	125 m (410 ft 1 in)
Beam	15.4 m (50 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.8 m (15 ft 9 in)
Propulsion	4 SEMT Pielstick 12PA6V280 STC2 diesel engines, 16,000 kW (21,000 hp)
Speed	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range	7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement	12 officers; 68 non-commissioned officers; 61 sailors;
Sensors and ; processing systems	1 × Air/Surface DRBV 15C sentry radar; 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);
Electronic warfare ; & decoys	1 × Saïgon ARBG 1 radio interceptor; 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 II; 1 × Inmarsat;
Armament	Anti-ship;; 8 × Exocet MM40 Block 3C anti-ship missiles (upgraded from Block II variant during 2020/21 refit); 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);
Armour	On sensitive areas (munition magazine and control centre)
Aircraft carried	1 × helicopter (Panther or NH90)

Courbet is a general purpose stealth frigate of the French Navy (Marine Nationale). 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-nautical-mile (4 km) 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 Jeanne d'Arc 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'Arc's 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.^[2]

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.^[3]

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 latest variant of the Exocet anti-ship missile.^[4] The frigate returned to sea in June 2021 following her upgrade.^[1] She is projected to remain in service until 2032.^[5]

In future it is also planned to incorporate the CANTO anti-torpedo countermeasures system in the frigate.^[6]

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Groizeleau, Vincent (15 April 2021). "Première FLF rénovée, la frégate Courbet remise à l'eau". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 22 June 2021.
^ "French Warship on Last Trip Delivers Books to NYC Students" (PDF) (Press release). Consulate general of France NYC. 10 March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
^ "Libya crisis: France suspends Nato mission role amid Turkey row". BBC News. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
^ "Naval Group starts renovation and upgrade of French Navy Courbet La Fayette-class frigate". Navy Recognition. October 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
^ Groizeleau, Vincent (2 January 2021). "Marine nationale : les programmes qui vont façonner la future flotte française". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 15 April 2021.
^ Manaranche, Martin (31 July 2021). "Video: French Navy's La Fayette-Class Frigate Mid-Life Update". Naval News. Retrieved 28 August 2021.

External links[]

Marine nationale, Frégate type La Fayette Presentation-Courbet (F 712)

[meretmarine-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b Groizeleau, Vincent (15 April 2021). "Première FLF rénovée, la frégate Courbet remise à l'eau". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 22 June 2021.

[2] "French Warship on Last Trip Delivers Books to NYC Students" (PDF) (Press release). Consulate general of France NYC. 10 March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2021.

[3] "Libya crisis: France suspends Nato mission role amid Turkey row". BBC News. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2021.

[4] "Naval Group starts renovation and upgrade of French Navy Courbet La Fayette-class frigate". Navy Recognition. October 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2021.

[5] Groizeleau, Vincent (2 January 2021). "Marine nationale : les programmes qui vont façonner la future flotte française". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 15 April 2021.

[6] Manaranche, Martin (31 July 2021). "Video: French Navy's La Fayette-Class Frigate Mid-Life Update". Naval News. Retrieved 28 August 2021.

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hide v t La Fayette-class frigates
French Navy	La Fayette Surcouf Courbet Jauréguiberry / Aconit Guépratte
Republic of China Navy Kang Ding class	Kang Ding Si Ning Wu Chang Di Hua Kun Ming Chen De
Royal Saudi Navy Al Riyadh class	Al Riyadh Makkah Al Dammam
Republic of Singapore Navy Formidable class	Formidable Intrepid Steadfast Tenacious Stalwart Supreme
Preceded by: Floréal class Followed by: None
List of frigates of the French Navy List of frigates of the Republic of China Navy List of frigates of the Royal Saudi Navy List of frigates of the Republic of Singapore Navy

History

France
Name	Courbet
Namesake	Admiral Amédée Courbet
Laid down	15 September 1993
Launched	12 March 1994
Commissioned	1 April 1997
Homeport	Toulon
Identification	MMSI number: 228731000
Status	In active service
General characteristics
Class and type	La Fayette-class frigate
Displacement	3,200 t (3,100 long tons) 3,600 t (3,500 long tons) fully loaded
Length	125 m (410 ft 1 in)
Beam	15.4 m (50 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.8 m (15 ft 9 in)
Propulsion	4 SEMT Pielstick 12PA6V280 STC2 diesel engines, 16,000 kW (21,000 hp)
Speed	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range	7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement	12 officers 68 non-commissioned officers 61 sailors
Sensors and processing systems	1 × Air/Surface DRBV 15C sentry radar 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)
Electronic warfare & decoys	1 × Saïgon ARBG 1 radio interceptor 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 II 1 × Inmarsat
Armament	Anti-ship; 8 × Exocet MM40 Block 3C anti-ship missiles (upgraded from Block II variant during 2020/21 refit)^[1] 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)
Armour	On sensitive areas (munition magazine and control centre)
Aircraft carried	1 × helicopter (Panther or NH90)