French frigate Courbet

Courbet is a second-line multi-mission stealth frigate of the French Marine Nationale. She is the third French vessel named after the 19th century admiral Amédée Courbet.

For other ships with the same name, see French ship 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
Fate: In active service
General characteristics
Class and type: La Fayette-class frigate
Displacement: 3200 tonnes, 3600 tonnes fully loaded
Length: 125 m (410 ft)
Beam: 15.4 m (51 ft)
Draught: 4.8 m (16 ft)
Propulsion: 4 diesel SEMT Pielstick 12PA6V280 STC2, 21000 hp (15 400 kW)
Speed: 25 knots (46 km/h)
Range: 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h), 9000 at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement:
  • 12 officers
  • 68 non-commissioned officers
  • 61 men
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 (being 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:
Armour: On sensitive areas (munition magazine and control centre)
Aircraft carried: 1 × helicopter (Panther or NH90)

Notable missions

Courbet took part in Opération Baliste. On 3 October 2006, an Israeli fighter 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 September 2.

In December 2009 Courbet escorted the Marine Nationale cruiser Jeanne d'Arc on her final voyage. This was last trip of the famous 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 to Buenos Aires, the French Antilles, the United States of America including New York City, and Canada. The voyage was completed sometime in May 2010.[1]

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 will incorporate the addition of hull-mounted sonar, improved point air defence systems as well as other upgrades including torpedo countermeasures. The upgrade was scheduled to be completed in 2021.[2] She is projected to remain in service until 2032.[3]

References
  1. http://www.frenchculture.org/IMG/pdf/Press_Release_-_French_Warship_on_Last_Trip_Delivers_Books_to_NYC_Students.pdf Archived 2011-07-28 at the Wayback Machine Press officer (Consulate general of France) NYC, accessed 4 Oct 2010
  2. https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2020/october/9094-naval-group-starts-renovation-and-upgrade-of-french-navy-courbet-la-fayette-class-frigate.html
  3. https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/marine-nationale-les-programmes-qui-vont-faconner-la-future-flotte-francaise
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