French frigate Duquesne
# French frigate Duquesne

Duquesne was a Suffren-class frigate 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 Suffren. 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 and anti-submarine escorts for the Clemenceau-class aircraft carriers 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 157.6 metres (517 ft 1 in) long overall and 148 m (485 ft 7 in) between perpendiculars, with a 15.54 m (51 ft 0 in) beam and a maximum draught of 7.4 m (24 ft 3 in). The ship had a standard displacement of 5,090 tonnes (5,010 long tons) and 6,090 tonnes (5,990 long tons) at full load. By 1990 the ship had a standard displacement of 5,335 t (5,251 long tons) and 6,780 t (6,670 long tons) 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 54,100 kilowatts (72,500 shp). 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 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph) and a range of 5,100 nautical miles (9,400 km; 5,900 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). 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. 48 missiles were carried. The frigates were also equipped with two single-mounted 100-millimetre (3.9 in) Modèle 1953 naval guns in positions 'A' and 'B' along the 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 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 and the 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 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 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon were fitted two to each side of the ship abaft the DRBC 33A radar.

## Construction and career

Duquesne was constructed at the Lorient Arsenal (French: Arsenal de Lorient) with the keel being laid in November 1964. The ship was launched on 12 February 1966 and commissioned into the French Navy on 1 April 1970. The ship was initially based at 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 Clemenceaus 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 Horizon-class frigates.

