Cassard-class frigate

Jean Bart
Class overview
Name:	Cassard class
Builders:	DCNS S.A.
Operators:	Marine Nationale
Succeeded by:	Aquitaine class (air-defence variant)
Built:	1982-1991
In service:	1988-present
Completed:	2
Active:	2
General characteristics
Type:	Destroyer
Displacement:	4,500 tons, 5,000 full load
Length:	139 m (456 ft)
Beam:	14 m (46 ft)
Draught:	6.5 m (21 ft)
Propulsion:	4 × SEMT Pielstick 18PA6-V280 BTC diesel engines 42,000 hp (31,000 kW), 2 shafts
Speed:	29.5 knots (54.6 km/h; 33.9 mph)
Range:	8,000 nmi (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Complement:	250
Sensors and processing systems:	Thomson-CSF ARBR 17B radar warning DIBV 1A Vampir Thomson-CSF DRBJ 11B air search radar Thomson-CSF DRBV 26C 2 × Racal DRBN 34A navigational radar Thomson-CSF DRBC 33A fire control for guns 2 × Raytheon SPG-51C fire control for missiles Thomson Sintra DUBA 25A sonar SENIT 68 combat data system Syracuse 2 SATCOM OPSMER command support system
Electronic warfare & decoys:	Thomson-CSF ARBB-33 jammer
Armament:	Anti-air; 1 × Mk 13 launcher (40 × Standard SM-1MR anti-air missiles) Anti-ship; 8 × MM40 Exocet anti-ship missiles Anti-submarine; 2 × fixed torpedo tubes (10 × L5 mod 4 torpedoes) Guns; 1 × Creusot- Loire Compact 100 mm/55 Mod 68 DP gun 2 × 20 mm F2 anti-aircraft guns 4 × 12.7 mm machine guns CIWS; 2 × Sadral sextuple launcher (39 × Mistral CIWS anti-air missiles)
Aircraft carried:	1 × Eurocopter AS 565 Panther anti-submarine helicopter

The Cassard class (Type F70 AA) is a class of anti-air warfare destroyers of the French Navy. The class is an air defence variant of the Georges Leygues class. The two classes have a different armament and propulsion system mounted on an identical hull. Their primary role is to provide air cover for a fleet, an aeronaval group, a convoy & a littoral point. Their secondary role is to manage air assets coordination & aircraft control for the force, especially through Link 16.They can also be used for research, identification or presence missions. Both ships are assigned to the Force d'Action Navale.

The experience gained during the design and construction of the Cassard type was used for the design of the La Fayette class.

The Cassard-class frigate was initially designed to replace the four T 47-class anti-air warfare vessels in service at the time. Initially procured with four ships in the class, (the third and fourth hulls authorized for construction in 1983), the class was cut back to two vessels after the United States chose to terminate the production of the Standard SM-1MR missile. The prolonged design period led to the plans being redrawn several times.

The class shares a common hull design with the Georges Leygues class. The superstructure is composed of a lightweight aluminum alloy that is resistant to fire and corrosion. However the adoption of a similar propulsion system was abandoned early on. The hot exhaust from the Olympus turbines found on the Georges Leygues class was thought to be incompatible with the numerous arrays required in the new design. The ships are crewed by 244 personnel but can accommodate 251.

The class carries one anti-submarine helicopter on a deck placed aft with a hangar provided for storage. Originally supplied with a Eurocopter AS 565 Panther, they were later replaced with the Westland Lynx. The SAMAHE 210 helicopter handling system is adaptable to different types of undercarriages on helicopters and had munitions trucks to position weapon loadouts to assist the arming of the helicopters.

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Wikipedia