French navy D'Estienne D'Orves (A 69) class Origin: France Type: Frigate (FF) Built: 1972-1984 Class: French Navy: 23 in service Argentinian Navy: 3 in service Displacement: 950 tons standard; 1.170 tons full load Dimensions: Length 249.3ft (76m) oa; beam 33.8ft (10.3m); draught 9.8ft (3m) Propulsion: 2-shaft diesel (2 SEMT-Pielstick 12PC2-V400). 12.000bhp Performance: Range 4.500nm at 15 knots Weapons: Missiles: 2 MM.38 Exocet SSM on ships deployed overseas Guns: 1 100mm; 2 20mm AA ASW weapons: 1 375mm Mk 54 rocket launcher Torpedo tubes: 4 x 533mm for L3 and L5 torpedoes. Sensors: Radar: DRBV 51A surfacel air search; DRBC 32E fire control; DRBN 32 navigation Sonar: DUBA 25 hull-mounted Complement: 79   The French Navy built 18 Le Corse (Type E-50) and Le Normand (Type B-52) class seagoing fast escorts between 1951 and 1960. They had a speed of 28 knots, a standard displacement of about 1.290 tons and an armament of three twin 57= guns plus ASW weapons; steam turbine powered. they had a reasonable range.    An enlarged class. the Commandant Riviere (Type E-55) was diesel-powered. with a speed of 25 knots and a range of 7.000nm at 15 knots. They were originally armed with three single 100mm guns. but that in X position has since been removed and replaced by four single MM40 Exocets. ASW armament comprises a turret mounted quadruple mortar and two triple torpedo tubes. Eight ships of this class were built between 1957 and 1965; they can carry two landing craft and an ,80-man commando unit for operations in French colonies.    The D'Estienne D'Orves class, designated Avisos in the French Navy. are smaller and more specialized vessels with a very limited anti-aircraft armament. They are intended primarily for anti-submarine operations in coastal waters and are deployed in five three-ship divisions. of which one, the 1st. is based at Cherbourg and two each at Brest and Toulon -the 2nd and 4th and the 3rd and 5th respectively.    The single 100mm gun is mounted forward, immediately ahead of the large bridge. and the 375mm ASW rocket launcher is mounted on the deckhouse aft. France still has considerable overseas interests and the D.Estienne D'Orves class share some of the duties involved. For such distant deployments they mount an MM.38 Exocet SSM on either side of the funnel. which confers some independent offensive capability. although such a small ship is intended to be dependent upon other vessels or aircraft for protection against a serious air or surface threat. However; these relatively cheap and unsophisticated vessels can be built in greater numbers than the missile armed and helicopter equipped Georges Leygues (C 70) class.    Two of the class were sold to the Republic of South Africa during construction in 1976. but the sale fell through due to the United Nations embargo on arms sales.   They were then sold to Argentina, with the new names Drummond and Guerrico in 1978. and two years later a third ship, Granville was ordered by the same navy.    Future: These ships will serve the French Navy for many years to come. The first three are due to payoff in 1996 and there will then be a gradual rundown until the last. Commandant Bouan is paid off in 2004. No successor is currently planned. During future refits MM.40 Exocet and a new mast will be fitted. together with more advanced electronics. The last six of the class have been fitted with two Dagaie chaff launchers, and the first nine will be equipped with the new system in place of the original Syllex at their next refits. Two Dagaie ECM systems are fitted in the final seven ships of this class (as well as in a number of other French and foreign warships). The launcher consists of ten replaceable containers, each loaded with either chaff or infra-red (IR) rockets. Chaff grenades and IR flares provide the ships with passive protection against radarhoming, heat-seeking and dual-capable missiles.   The system is activated by radar; ESM or optical systems, with a reaction time of less than four seconds, and optimum firing direction is computed from a combination of threat bearing, wind speed and direction, and ship heading and speed. Weapons                                                                                     A Creusot-Loire 100mm dual-purpose gun, Model 1968-11 (1x1) B 20mm AA gun (2x1 ) C MM.38 Exocet SAM launchers (2x1 ) D 533mm torpedo tubes (2x2) for L3 ASW and L5 GP torpedoes E Bofors 375mm ASW rocket launcher, Model 1954 (1x6) Electronics 1 Thomson-CSF DUBA25 hull-mounted sonar 2 DRBN-32 navigation radar 3 DRBC-32E fire control radar 4 DRBV-51A search radar