French frigate Dupleix

For other ships with the same name, see French ship Dupleix.

Dupleix was one of seven F70 type guided-missile frigates built for the French Navy during the 1970s. Completed in 1981, she served during the Cold War. The ship was decommissioned in 2014.

Dupleix (foreground) underway in the Arabian Sea on 25 March 2007 with USS Preble (background)
History
France
Name	Dupleix
Namesake	Joseph François Dupleix
Builder	Brest Arsenal, France
Laid down	17 October 1975
Launched	2 December 1978
Commissioned	13 June 1981
Decommissioned	July 2015
Identification	MMSI number: 228723000
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type	Georges Leygues-class frigate
Displacement	3,550 t (3,494 long tons) 4,500–4,580 t (4,429–4,508 long tons) full load
Length	139 m (456 ft)
Beam	14 m (45 ft 11 in)
Draught	5.7 m (18 ft 8 in)
Propulsion	2 shafts; CODOG 2 × gas turbines, 23,100 shp (23,420 PS; 17,226 kW) each 2 × diesel engines, 6,400 PS (6,312 bhp; 4,707 kW) each
Speed	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range	9,500 nmi (17,600 km; 10,900 mi) at 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Sensors and processing systems	DRBV 51C search radar DRBV 26 early-warning radar DRBC 32E fire-control radar DUBV 23B hull-mounted sonar DUBV 43B variable depth sonar
Electronic warfare & decoys	2 × Syllex chaff launchers
Armament	4 x single MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles 2 × fixed torpedo tubes 1 × single 100 mm (3.9 in) DP gun 2 × single 20 mm (0.8 in) AA guns 1 × octuple Crotale anti-air missile launcher
Aircraft carried	2 × Westland Lynx helicopters
Aviation facilities	Double hangar

Design and description

The Georges Leygues-class ships were designed as anti-submarine (ASW) escorts for the fleet.^[1] They had an overall length of 139 metres (456 ft), a beam of 14 m (45 ft 11 in) and a draught of 5.7 m (18 ft 8 in). The ships had a standard displacement of 3,830 tonnes (3,770 long tons) and 4,500–4,580 tonnes (4,430–4,510 long tons) at full load. The Georges Leyguess' propulsion machinery used a CODOG configuration with one SEMT-Pielstick 16PA6-V280 diesel engine and a Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbine were coupled to each of the two propeller shafts. The diesels were used for speeds under 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) and the gas turbines for sprints up to 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph). The diesels were rated at a total of 12,800 metric horsepower (12,600 bhp; 9,400 kW) and the turbines at a total of 46,200 shp (46,800 PS; 34,500 kW).^[2] The combination give the ships a range of 9,500 nautical miles (17,600 km; 10,900 mi) at 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph). The frigates had a complement of 216 sailors.^[1]

The primary anti-ship weapon of the Georges Leyguess consisted of four single box launchers for MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles, located aft of the funnel with two launchers on each broadside. The frigates were designed with a single 100-millimetre (3.9 in) Modèle 1968 dual-purpose gun in a single-gun turret forward of the superstructure. They were also equipped with two 20 mm (0.8 in) guns. The ships were fitted with a octuple Crotale anti-aircraft missile launcher with 26 reloads located on the aft superstructure. The anti-submarine| (ASW) weapons of the Georges Leygues-class ships consisted of two torpedo launchers , one on each side of the ship. Each ship carried ten torpedoes. The ships were designed to carry helicopters, a pair of Westland Lynx ASW helicopters in a double hangar at the stern.^[1][2]

They were completed with a DRBV 51C search radar, a DRBC 32E fire-control radar and a DRBV 26 early-warning radar. For anti-submarine warfare, they were equipped with a DUBV 23B hull-mounted sonar and DUBV 43B towed variable depth sonar. For electronic defence, the vessels mounted two Syllex chaff launchers. The SENIT 4 tactical data system coordinated sensor data.^[1][2]

Construction and career

Dupleix was built by the Arsenal de Brest with her keel being laid down on 17 October 1975. The vessel was launched on 2 December 1978 and was commissioned on 13 June 1981.^[1] The ship was decommissioned in 2014, and taken to Saint-Mandrier, to replace the ex-Rance at the diving school located there.^[3]