RPC12

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Remorqueurs Portuaires et Côtiers de 12 tonnes de traction au point fixe (RPC12)
FS Le Four 1.jpg
Le Four maneuvering in Brest harbour (10 November 2004)
Class overview
NameRPC-12
BuildersLorient Naval Industries (LNI), Socarenam
Operators French Navy
Preceded by, , , .
SubclassesRPC12 type A, RPC12 type B, RP12[1]
General characteristics
Typeharbour tugboat
Displacement220 tonnes (259 full load)[2]
Length25 metres[2]
Beam8.4 metres[2]
Height13.2 metres (6.9m with mast removed) [2]
Draught3.4 metres[2]
Propulsion
  • Type A: 2 x SACM-Wärtsilä UD30 V12 M3D diesel engines (2 x 683 HP)
  • Type B: 2 x Baudouin 12P15 2S SKC diesel engines (2 x 660 HP) [2]
Speed11 knots[2]
Range800 nm at 10 knots[2]
Boats & landing
craft carried		1 Rigid-hulled inflatable boat[2]
Complement5 (harbour operations) to 8 (coastal operations)[2]
Sensors and
processing systems
  • One navigation radar:
  • Type A: Decca RM170
  • A682 Rascas: Furuno
  • Others: Racal Decca Bridgemaster C181-4[2]

The RPC12 (Remorqueurs Portuaires et Côtiers de 12 tonnes de traction au point fixe, "Harbour and Coastal tugboat, 12-tonne bollard pull") is a type of harbour tugboat operated by the French Navy. They utilise Voith propulsion to develop a 12-tonne bollard pull.[1]

The RPC12 has been declined into three sub-types: the original version, called "Type A" (comprising Fréhel and Saire), was designed as a dual-purpose tugboat capable of supporting shipping operations both in harbours and off the coast. After the two first units, the design was simplified, while retaining most functionalities, to reduce cost, yielding the "Type B" (comprising Armen, La Houssaye, Kéréon, Sicié and Taunoa). The nine remaining units constitute the RP12 type, which is further simplified to operate only within harbours (comprising Lardier, Giens, Mengam, Balaguier, Taillat, Nividic, Port Cros, Le Four and Eckmühl). Because of these differing capabilities, the RPC12 of both types are classified "auxiliaries", with an "A"-prefixed pennant number, while the RP12 are considered "yard vessels", with the corresponding "Y"-prefixed pennant numbers.[1]

The latest in the series, Rascas, is an improved high-sea ship with better sonic isolation and air conditioning, or use in tropical waters,[1] and a different radar.[2]

  • Profile view of Armen undergoing repairs, with her Voith Schneider propellers clearly visible under the hull

  • Detail of Armen's propellers

Ships[]

Ship Pennant Builder Commissioned Home port Fate
A675 (LNI) 23 May 1989 Cherbourg In active service
A676 LNI 6 October 1989 Cherbourg In active service
Armen A677 LNI 6 December 1991 Brest In active service
A678 LNI 30 October 1992 Brest In active service
A679 LNI 5 December 1992 Brest In active service
A680 LNI 6 October 1994 Lorient (until 1995), Toulon In active service
A681 SOCARENAM 9 March 1996 Brest In active service
Y638 SOCARENAM 12 April 1995 Toulon In active service
Y639 SOCARENAM 2 December 1994 Toulon In active service
Y640 SOCARENAM 6 October 1994 Brest In active service
Y641 SOCARENAM 8 July 1995 Toulon In active service
Y642 SOCARENAM 18 October 1995 Toulon In active service
Y643 SOCARENAM 13 December 1996 Brest In active service
Y649 SOCARENAM 21 June 1997 Toulon In active service
Y647 SOCARENAM 13 March 1998 Brest In active service
Y646 SOCARENAM In active service
A682 SOCARENAM 22 November 2003 Toulon In active service

External Links/Sources[]

  1. ^ a b c d Remorqueurs type RPC12, Netmarine
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Remorqueur type RPC 12 : Caractéristiques principales, Netmarine


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