French frigate Surcouf
| Career | |
|---|---|
| Ordered: | |
| Laid down: | 06/07/1992 |
| Launched: | 03/07/1993 |
| Commissioned: | 07/02/1997 |
| Decommissioned: | |
| Fate: | |
| Struck: | |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 3200 tonnes, 3600 tonnes fully loaded |
| Length: | 125 m |
| Width: | 15.4 m |
| Beam: | |
| Draught: | 4,8 m |
| Propulsion: | 4 diesel SEMT Pielstick 12PA6V280 STC2, 21000 HP (15 400 kW) |
| Speed: | 25 knots |
| Range: | 7000 nautical miles at 15 knots, 9000 at 12 knots |
| Complement: | 12 officers 68 non-commissioned officers |
| Armament: | 1 x 100 mm TR automatic gun 2 x 20mm turret, F2 type |
| Shielding | On sensitive areas (munition magasine and control centre) |
| Radars | 1 x Air/Surface DRBV 15C sentry radar 1 x firing control radar for the 100mm gun |
| Electronic Warfare | 1 x Saïgon ARBG 1 radio interceptor 1 x ARBR 21 radar interceptor |
| Satellite transmission | 1 x Syracuse II 1 x Inmarsat |
| Planes | 1 x 10-tonne helicopter (Panther or NH90) |
| Motto: | |
The Surcouf is a La Fayette-class frigate of the French Navy. She was laid down at Lorient Naval Dockyard on July 6, 1992, launched July 3, 1993, and commissioned May 1996.
Since its commission, Surcouf has taken part in numerous missions, notably in Operation Antilope (Gabon and Congo), Operation Trident (Kosovo) and Mission Khor Anga in the Djibouti zone.
On the 14th of May 2001, Surcouf had to assist Marc Guillemot skipper of the Biscuits La Trinitaine-Team Ethypharm, who had to abandon his ship after her starboard floater broke. The Panther helicopter of Surcouf successfully airlifted the 5-men crew of the catamaran.
On the 14th of October 2004, the Surcouf assisted the Sara 2, and panamean cargo ship who hit the bottom near Yemen. The 16-man crew was successfully airlifted by the Panther heicopter, and later transferred from the frigate to Yeminite coast guards.
Five ships of the French Navy have borne the name in honor of the 18th century Saint-Malo corsair Robert Surcouf (see Robert Surcouf for the list)
Photographs
 Inside of the forward deck of the Surcouf |
 The Surcouf in Toulon; the helicopter is clearly visible on the aft |
 The helicopter pad; the Crotale missile launcher is well visible on the top of the helicopter hangar. |
Categories: French naval ships