''Duquesne'' was a of the French Navy. She was designed to protect a fleet against air threats, surface ships, submarines, and, to a lesser extent, provide firepower against land objectives. She is the sister ship of . She is the eighth French vessel named after the 17th century admiral Abraham Duquesne. ''Duquesne'' was decommissioned in 2008.

Background and description

Ships of the ''Suffren'' class were designed as Anti-air warfare, anti-air and Anti-submarine warfare, anti-submarine escorts for the s and were similar in concept to the British Type 82 destroyer. They were ordered in 1960 as part of France's new naval policy of deterrence/intervention/defence following the election of Charles de Gaulle as president of France. The French designation for the class was ''frégates lance-engins'' (FLE 60). They were designated as frigates by the French Navy but were considered destroyers by publications. They were later re-designated ''frégates lance-missiles'' (FLM 60). The vessel measured Length overall, long overall and Length between perpendiculars, between perpendiculars, with a Beam (nautical), beam and a maximum Draft (hull), draught of . The ship had a Displacement (ship)#standard displacement, standard displacement of and at Deep load, full load. By 1990 the ship had a standard displacement of and at full load. ''Duquesne'' was powered by four multi-tube, automatic control boilers creating steam for two sets of Rateau double-reduction geared turbines turning two propellers. They were rated at . They created a total of 3,440 kW of electrical power through two 1,000 kW turbochargers and three 480 kW diesel alternators. ''Duquesne'' had a maximum speed of and a range of at . The frigate had a complement of 355 sailors including 23 officers. For increased stabilisation as a weapons platform, the frigate was outfitted with three pairs of non-retractable fin stabilisers. Ships of the ''Suffren'' class were considered extremely seaworthy vessels. The ''Suffren'' class were armed with a twin launcher situated on the quarterdeck for the Masurca (surface to air missile), Masurca surface-to-air missile. 48 missiles were carried. The frigates were also equipped with two single-mounted French 100 mm naval gun, Modèle 1953 naval guns in positions 'A' and 'B' along the Centerline (nautical), centreline. These were later upgraded to the Modèle 1964. The frigates also mounted a Malafon anti-submarine missile system. Each ship carried 13 missiles and the Magazine (artillery)#Naval magazines, magazine was situated in the aft deckhouse. Furthermore, the ''Suffren'' class had four launchers for L5 torpedoes, two to each side of the ship, housed in the deckhouse between the Mast (sailing), mast and the Bridge (nautical), bridge. Each ship carried ten torpedoes. They were the first French warships to deploy torpedoes using fixed catapults. Fire control was via the DRBI 23 3D radar for air search/tracking housed in a massive radome that dominated the ship's silhouette. The ''Suffren'' class also mounted DRBN 32, DRBV 50, two DRBR 51 and DRBC 32A radars. For anti-submarine warfare, they were equipped with DUBV 23 hull-mounted sonar and DUBV 43 towed variable depth sonar. For electronic defence, the vessels initially mounted the Syllex chaff system. The SENIT I tactical data system coordinated sensor data.

Modifications

In 1977 to 1979, the Exocet, MM38 Exocet anti-ship missile system was fitted to ''Duquesne''. The ship carried four missiles. The Masuraca system was upgraded between 1982 and 1985. In 1985, ''Duquesne'' had its DRBV 50 radar replaced with the advanced DRBV 15 system. ''Duquesne'' was modernised beginning in 1990 with the DRBC 32A gunfire control radar being replaced with the newer DRBC 33A system. Furthermore, the Syllex outfit was replaced with the Dagaie and Sagaie electronic countermeasures systems. Additionally four single-mounted Oerlikon 20 mm cannon, cannon were fitted two to each side of the ship abaft the DRBC 33A radar.

Construction and career

''Duquesne'' was constructed at the Arsenal de Lorient, Lorient Arsenal (french: Arsenal de Lorient) with the keel being Keel laying, laid in November 1964. The ship was Ceremonial ship launching, launched on 12 February 1966 and Ship commissioning, commissioned into the French Navy on 1 April 1970. The ship was initially based at Brest, France, Brest with the rest of France's Atlantic Fleet. ''Duquesne'' accompanied the ''Clemenceau''-class aircraft carriers on deployments and as a result was based with them as part of the French Atlantic Fleet upon entering service. In 1975, when the ''Clemenceau''s were transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet, ''Duquesne'' later joined them and was based at Toulon beginning in 1977. The frigate took part in naval operations off Lebanon from 1982 to 1984 and participated in the early 1990s in naval operations off the former Yugoslavia. In 1992, the vessel joined the Naval Action Force. ''Duquesne'' was retired in 2008. The ''Suffren'' class was replaced by the s.

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* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Duquesne Suffren-class frigates Cold War frigates of France Frigates of France 1966 ships Ships built in France