RPC12
# RPC12

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.

## Design and description

The RPC12 has been classified 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.

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

## Ships

| Ship | Pennant | Builder | Commissioned | Home port | Fate |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Fréhel | A675 | Lorient Naval Industries (LNI) | 23 May 1989 | Cherbourg | In active service |
| Saire | A676 | LNI | 6 October 1989 | Cherbourg | In active service |
| Armen | A677 | LNI | 6 December 1991 | Brest | In active service |
| La Houssaye | A678 | LNI | 30 October 1992 | Brest | In active service |
| Kéréon | A679 | LNI | 5 December 1992 | Brest | In active service |
| Sicié | A680 | LNI | 6 October 1994 | Lorient (until 1995), Toulon | In active service |
| Taunoa | A681 | SOCARENAM | 9 March 1996 | Brest | In active service |
| Lardier | Y638 | SOCARENAM | 12 April 1995 | Toulon | In active service |
| Giens | Y639 | SOCARENAM | 2 December 1994 | Toulon | In active service |
| Mengam | Y640 | SOCARENAM | 6 October 1994 | Brest | In active service |
| Balaguier | Y641 | SOCARENAM | 8 July 1995 | Toulon | In active service |
| Taillat | Y642 | SOCARENAM | 18 October 1995 | Toulon | In active service |
| Nividic | Y643 | SOCARENAM | 13 December 1996 | Brest | In active service |
| Port Cros | Y649 | SOCARENAM | 21 June 1997 | Toulon | In active service |
| Le Four | Y647 | SOCARENAM | 13 March 1998 | Brest | In active service |
| Eckmühl | Y646 | SOCARENAM | | | In active service |
| Rascas | A682 | SOCARENAM | 22 November 2003 | Toulon | In active service |

## Citations

* 1 2 3 4 Remorqueurs type RPC12, Netmarine
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Remorqueur type RPC 12 : Caractéristiques principales, Netmarine
