The Le Corse class (or E50 Type) was a class of 4 fast frigates (Escorteurs Rapide) built for the French Navy in the early 1950s. They were first surface combatant class of ships to be built after World War II and symbolized "the revival of the French fleet."[1] They were followed by the Le Normand-class (or E52 Type) frigates, and like them, were long-range convoy escorts capable of high speed.
F762 Le Brestois and battleship Jean Bart
| |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Name | Le Corse class |
Builders | F C de la Méditerranèe, A C de la Loire, Arsenal de Lorient |
Operators | French Navy |
Succeeded by | Le Normand class |
Built | 1952-1953 |
In commission | 1955-1976 |
Completed | 4 |
Retired | 4 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Frigate |
Displacement | 1508 ton standard, 1702 ton full load[1][2] |
Length | 99.8 m (327 ft) overall[1][2] |
Beam | 10.3 m (34 ft)[1][2] |
Draught | 4.3 m (14 ft)[1][2] |
Propulsion | 2 shaft geared turbines, 2 boilers, 14,914 kW (20,000 hp)[1][2] |
Speed | 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)[1][2] |
Range | 4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi)[1][2] |
Complement | 198 originally, 170 later[1][2] |
Sensors and processing systems | DRBV 20A, DRBM 32, DRBC 31 radar, ARBR 10, DUBV 1, DUBA 1 sonar<[1][2] |
Armament |
|
The E50 type shared a flush-decked layout with the E52 class, and had a similar armament of three twin 57mm turrets) (one forward and two aft) and an anti-submarine armament consisting of a battery of heavyweight guided torpedoes and a 375mm Bofors six-barrel rocket launcher.
Ships
editPennant | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
F 761 | Le Corse | Arsenal de Lorient | March 1952 | 8 August 1952 | 23 April 1955 | Target in Atlantic 1975 |
F 762 | Le Brestois | Arsenal de Lorient | August 1952 | 16 December 1952 | 19 January 1956 | Target in Mediterranean 1976 |
F 763 | Le Boulonnais | Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire | September 1952 | 12 May 1953 | 5 August 1955 | Target in Atlantic 1994 |
F 764 | Le Bordelais | Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée | January 1953 | 11 July 1953 | 7 April 1955 | Broken Up at Vigo, Spain 1981 |
See also
editReferences
editExternal links
edit- Description générale des escorteurs Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine