Suffren-class frigate

	Frigate Duquesne
Class overview
Name	Suffren
Operators	French Navy
Succeeded by	Horizon class frigate
In service	- 2001
In commission	1st October 1967
Completed	2
Active	1
Laid up	1
General characteristics
Type	frigate
Displacement	5335 tonnes
Length	158 m
Beam	15.50 m
Draught	7.25 m
Propulsion	4 steam boilers and 4 turbines for 2 propellers; 72,500 hp (54 MW)
Speed	34 knots
Boats & landing ; craft carried	1 EDL 700, 1 EDO, 1 10-seat EFRC, 1 10-seat EFR.
Complement	360 men, including 23 officers.
Sensors and ; processing systems	list error: <br /> list (help); DRBI23 tridimentional sentry radar ; DRBV15 surface or low-altitude sentry radar ; DRBC33 multi-system targeting radar ; DRBN34 ; DRBR51
Electronic warfare ; & decoys	list error: <br /> list (help); 2 "Sagaie" decoy launchers; SLQ-25 Nixie; ARBR33 jammer; ARBR17 detector
Armament	list error: <br /> list (help); 48 surface-air Masurca missiles (DRBR51-guided) ; 4 MM38 Exocet missiles ; 10 L5 anti-submarine torpedoes ; 2 100 mm turrets ; 4 x 20 mm cannons ; 4 x 12.7 mm machine guns
Notes	Ships in class include: Suffren and Duquesne

The Suffren type anti-air frigates are first-rank destroyers of the French Navy, designed to protect a fleet against air threats, surface ships, submarines, and, to a lesser extent, provide fire power against land objectives. They were the first French ships to be built specifically as guided missile frigates.

Design

The two ships were designed as escorts for the Clemenceau class aircraft carriers and are similar in concept to the British Type 82 destroyer. The French class designation is FLE 60. The primary weapon is the Masurca surface to air missiles which are launched from a twin launcher on the quarter deck. 48 missiles were carried. Fire control was via the DRBI 23 3D radar housed in a massive radome. Anti submarine weapons include a Malafon anti submarine missile system (13 missiles carried) and torpedo catapults. Exocet missiles were fitted in 1977-79 replacing the Malafon.

Both ships were modernised in 1989-90 (Suffren ) and 1990-91 (Duquesne) with new electronics

Ships

The two ships of the class are both named after French Admirals. Three ships were intitially planned with more in a follow on group but budgetary constraints caused by building the nuclear deterrent submarines caused the programme to terminate at two ships.