Le Normand-class frigate

The Le Normand class (or E52 Type) was a class of 14 fast frigates (Escorteurs Rapide) built for the French Navy in the late 1950s. They were an immediate follow-on from the earlier Le Corse-class (or E50 Type) frigates, and like them, were long-range convoy escorts capable of high speed.[2] The first seven ships, paid for by the United States under the Mutual Defense Assistance Act were ordered in 1952. The remaining seven ships were paid for by France and ordered between 1953 and 1955.[3]

Bourguignon under way
Class overview
Name: Le Normand class
Builders: F C de la Méditerranèe, A C de la Loire, Penhoët, Arsenal de Lorient
Operators:  French Navy
Preceded by: Le Corse class
Succeeded by: Commandant Rivière class
Built: 1956–1960
In commission: 1956–1985
Completed: 14
Retired: 14
General characteristics
Type: Frigate
Displacement: 1295 ton standard, 1795 ton full load[1]
Length: 99.3 m (326 ft) overall[1]
Beam: 10.3 m (34 ft)[1]
Draught: 4.1 m (13 ft)[1]
Propulsion: 2 shaft Parsons or Le Rateau geared turbines, 2 boilers, 14,914 kW (20,000 hp) [1][2]
Speed: 28 knots (32 mph; 52 km/h)[1]
Range: 4,500 nmi (5,200 mi; 8,300 km)[3]
Complement: 175 peace, 200 war[1]
Sensors and
processing systems:		 DRBV 22, DRBC 31 radar, DUBV 1, DUBA 1 sonar[3]
Armament:

The E52 type shared a flush-decked layout with the E50 class, and had a similar armament of three twin 57mm turrets) (one forward and two aft) and an anti-submarine armament consisting of a battery of heavyweight guided torpedoes and a 375mm Bofors six-barrel rocket launcher. The major difference was the layout of the armament, with the torpedo tubes moving from forwards to amidships, and the Bofors launcher moving from amidships to forward of the bow gun, thus reducing topweight and improving the arc of fire for the Bofors launcher.[3]

The last three ships were completed as a modified version, the Type E52B. This replaced the amidships turret and the Bofors rocket launcher with a new 305mm anti-submarine mortar mounted amidships.[3] Two more of this type were ordered in 1957, but were cancelled owing to financial problems.[4]

Ships
Pennant[3] Name Builder[3] Laid down Launched[3] Commissioned[3] Fate[3]
F 765 Le Normand F C de la Méditerranée July 1953 13 February 1954 3 November 1956 Stricken 1980
F 766 Le Picard A C de la Loire November 1953 31 May 1954 20 September 1956 Stricken 1979
F 767 Le Gascon A C de la Loire February 1954 23 October 1954 29 March 1957 Stricken 1977
F 768 Le Lorrain F C de la Méditerranée February 1954 19 June 1954 1 January 1957 Broken Up 1981
F 769 Le Bourguignon Penhöet January 1954 28 January 1956 11 July 1957 Stricken 1976
F 770 Le Champenois A C de la Loire May 1954 12 March 1955 1 June 1957 Stricken 1975
F 771 Le Savoyard F C de la Méditerranée November 1953 7 May 1955 14 June 1956 Stricken 1980
F 772 Le Breton Arsenal de Lorient June 1954 2 April 1955 20 August 1957 Stricken 1977
F 773 Le Basque Arsenal de Lorient December 1954 25 February 1956 18 October 1957 Stricken 1980
F 774 Le Agenais Arsenal de Lorient August 1955 23 June 1956 14 May 1958 Stricken 1985
F 775 Le Bearnais Arsenal de Lorient December 1955 23 June 1956 14 October 1958 Stricken 1980
F 776 L'Alsacien Arsenal de Lorient July 1956 26 January 1957 27 August 1960 Stricken 1981
F 777 Le Provençal Arsenal de Lorient February 1957 5 October 1957 6 November 1960 Stricken 1980
F 778 Le Vendeen F C de la Méditerranée March 1957 27 July 1957 1 October 1960 Stricken 1981

See also
  • List of Escorteurs of the French Navy

Notes
  1. Blackman 1971, p.116.
  2. Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, pp. 116–117.
  3. Gardiner and Chumbley 1995, p.117.
  4. Blackman 1962, p.88.

References
  • Blackman, Raymond V.B., ed. (1962). Jane's Fighting Ships 1962–63. London: Sampson Low, Marston.
  • Blackman, Raymond V.B., ed. (1971). Jane's Fighting Ships 1971–72. London: Sampson Low. ISBN 0-354-00096-9.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen (1995). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-55750-132-5.
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