FS Surcouf (F711)

Encyclopedia : F : FS : FSS : FS Surcouf (F711)

Career

Ordered:
Laid down:	6 July 1992
Launched:	3 July 1993
Commissioned:	7 February 1997
Decommissioned:
Fate:
Struck:
General Characteristics
Displacement:	3200 tonnes, 3600 tonnes fully loaded
Length:	125 m
Width:	15.4 m
Beam:
Draught:	4,8 m
Propulsion:	4 diesel SEMT Pielstick 12PA6V280 STC2, 21000 hp (15 400 kW)
Speed:	25 knots
Range:	7000 nautical miles at 15 knots, 9000 at 12 knots
Complement:	12 officers 68 non-commissioned officers 61 men
Armament:	1 x 100 mm TR automatic gun 2 x 20 mm modèle F2 guns 1 x Crotale CN2 launcher (8 missiles on the launcher, 18 missiles in magazine) 16 Aster 15 missiles in vertical launchers 8 x Exocet MM40 block II missiles
Shielding	On sensitive areas (munition magazine and control centre)
Radars	1 x Air/Surface DRBV 15C sentry radar 1 x firing control radar for the 100 mm gun 1 x DRBN34 navigation radar 1 x DRBN34 landing radar
Electronic Warfare	1 x Saïgon ARBG 1 radio interceptor 1 x ARBR 21 radar interceptor 2 x Dagaie Mk2 chaff launcher 1 x AN/SLQ-25 Nixie tugged noise maker 1 x Prairie-Masker noise reduction system
Satellite transmission	1 x Syracuse II 1 x Inmarsat
Planes	1 x 10-tonne helicopter (Panther or NH90)
Motto:

The Surcouf (F711) is a La Fayette-class frigate of the French Navy. She was laid down at Lorient Naval Dockyard on July 6, 1992, launched July 3, 1993, and commissioned May 1996.

Since its commission, Surcouf has taken part in numerous missions, notably in Operation Antilope (Gabon and Congo), Operation Trident (Kosovo) and Mission Khor Anga in the Djibouti zone.

On 14 May 2001, Surcouf had to assist Marc Guillemot skipper of the Biscuits La Trinitaine-Team Ethypharm, who had to abandon his ship after her starboard floater broke. The Panther helicopter of Surcouf successfully airlifted the 5-men crew of the catamaran.

On 14 October 2004, the Surcouf assisted the Sara 2, a Panamanian cargo ship which ran aground near Yemen. The 16-man crew was successfully airlifted by the Panther helicopter, and later transferred from the frigate to Yemanite coast guards.

Five ships of the French Navy have borne the name in honor of the 18th century Saint-Malo corsair Robert Surcouf (see French ship Surcouf for the list).

Photographs

Image:Surcouf_1.jpg|Inside of the forward deck of the Surcouf Image:Surcouf_2.jpg|The Surcouf in Toulon; the helicopter is clearly visible on the aft Image:Surcouf_3.jpg|The helicopter pad; the Crotale missile launcher is well visible on the top of the helicopter hangar. Image:Sourcouf-Courbet.jpg|Stealth frigate Surcouf and Courbet

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