French frigate De Grasse (D 612)

For other ships of the same name, see French ship De Grasse.

Career (France)
Name:	De Grasse
Namesake:	François Joseph Paul de Grasse
Builder:	Arsenal de Lorient
Laid down:	1972
Launched:	30 November 1974
Commissioned:	25 October 1975
In service:	1 October 1977
Homeport:	Brest
Fate:	In service
General characteristics
Class and type:	Tourville class frigate
Displacement:	4580 tonnes (6100 tonnes fully loaded)
Length:	152.75 m
Beam:	15.80 m
Draught:	6.60 m
Propulsion:	2 Rateau steam turbines, double reduction 4 multitubular boilers Fuel: Gazoil Propellers : 2 fixed propellers Power : 58000 hp (42 MW)
Speed:	32 knots (59 km/h)
Range:	1900 nautical miles (3500 km) at 30 knots (56 km/h) 4500 nautical miles (8300 km) and 18 knots (33 km/h)
Complement:	24 officers 160 non-commissioned officers 115 men
Sensors and processing systems:	1 DRBV 51B surface sentry radar 1 DRBV 26A air sentry radar 1 DRBC 32D targeting radar 2 DRBN 34 navigation radars 1 DUBV 23 hull sonar 1 ETBF DSBV 62C sonar 1 DSBX 1 tugged sonar 1 Syva torpedo alert system
Electronic warfare and decoys:	1 ARBB 32 jammer 1 ARBR 16 radar interceptor 2 Syllex decoy launchers bubble belt SENIT 3 SEAO/OPSMER HF, UHF, VHF and SHF liaison systems Syracuse 2 Inmarsat Link 11
Armament:	Anti-ship; 6 × Exocet MM38 anti-ship missiles Anti-submarine; 2 × L5 torpedo launchers, 10 torpedoes on board (L5 mod 4) Guns; 2 × 100 mm turrets (1968 model) 2 × 20 mm cannons 4 × 12.7 mm machine guns CIWS; 1 x Crotale EDIR CIWS anti-air missiles (8 missiles on launcher, 16 in magazine)
Aircraft carried:	2 x Lynx WG13 anti-ship submarine

The De Grasse is a F67 type large high-sea frigate (warship) of the French Marine Nationale specialised in anti-submarine warfare, though she also has anti-air and anti-surface capabilities. She is named after the 18th Century admiral count François Joseph Paul de Grasse.

Between 1994 and 1996, the De Grasse and her sister Tourville were refitted with the modern SLAMS anti-submarine system, an active Very Low Frequencies sonar.

In April 2006, the De Grasse lost her towed sonar array during an exercise in heavy sea. The incident was reported by the Canard Enchaîné; an investigation was launched to ascertain responsibilities for the loss of the 3 million euro worth sonar array. Meanwhile, the spare sonar of the decommissioned Duguay-Trouin was fitted on the De Grasse.

Gallery

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  The frigate De Grasse

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  Aft of the frigate De Grasse; the towed sonar is clearly visible

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  The command bridge of the De Grasse

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  The frigate De Grasse, harboured in Portsmouth, for the International Festival of the Sea (25th of August 2001).

De Grasse (centre left) in a 5-country multinational fleet, during Operation Enduring Freedom in the Oman Sea. In four descending columns, from left to right: ITS Maestrale (F 570), De Grasse (D 612); USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), Charles De Gaulle (R 91), Surcouf (F 711); USS Port Royal (CG-73), HMS Ocean (L 12), USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), HNLMS Van Amstel (F 831); and ITS Luigi Durand de la Penne (D 560).

Sources and references

• (French) Frégate De Grasse, netmarine.net