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FS Chevalier Paul (D621)

2009 MODERN NAVY

FS Knight Paul (D621) History

FS Chevalier Paul (D621) is a modern multipurpose guided missile destroyer frigate of the French Navy (Marine Nationale). The vessel was ordered on 27 October 2000 and laid at the Lorient shipyard on 13 January 2005. The building was taken over by DCN Lorient.

The ship was officially launched on July 12, 2006, and was officially commissioned in June 2009 after successfully completing various tests. FS Chevalier Paul has her home port on the outskirts of Toulon in southeastern France, with access to important strategic shipping and travel routes in the Mediterranean.

The Paul was born from a multinational guided missile frigate originally composed of France, Britain and Italy. The design will revolve around a missile-equipped air defense platform equipped with state-of-the-art systems capable of countering any anticipated aerial threats. However, British demands quickly diverged from the bloc (in terms of mission and armament), leading the country to leave in 1999 to seek its own homegrown solution - an end-product counterpart more like a large ocean-going deep-water missile on armed patrol ships. This made France and Italy the dominant class, which resulted in a smaller, lighter vessel designed for water service in the Mediterranean. The French program produced the FS Forbin (D620) and the FS Chevalier Paul (D621), while the Italian Navy commissioned Anrea Doria (D553) and Caio Duilio (D554).

The British initiative eventually morphed into the Type 45 destroyer (better known as the Daring class, six of which have been completed since 2006).

The

FS Chevalier Paul is the second of two ships in the Horizon class, which is led by lead ship (and sister ship) FS Forbin, commissioned in 2008. With a displacement of 7,770 short tons, Paul's weight, size, and available armament class her as a missile-carrying destroyer, although she is also considered a guided-missile frigate.

Her primary duty is air defense, as her bow has a large number of anti-aircraft missiles, although her armament enables her to deal with most other naval threats. The container has a running length of 152.8 meters and a width of 20.3 meters. She pumps 5.4 meters of water and is capable of high seas operations. Power is provided by a conventional gas/diesel turbine combination: 2 GE/Avio LM2500 series gas turbines rated at 31,280 hp coupled to 2 SEMT Pielstick 12 PA6 STC diesel engines rated at 5,875 hp.

This arrangement powers the 2 propeller shafts in the stern as well as the beam propeller unit in the front. The maximum speed in ideal conditions is 29 knots and the range is up to 7,000 nautical miles. The warship has a crew of 174, consisting of officers and soldiers.

Externally, Cavalier Paul is presented in its most modern form. Gone are the long rail networks common to steel ships in naval history. The new approach relies on mostly smooth panels that conform to the sides of the hull. Combined with the superstructure, they take an undisturbed approach and are well suited to the basic stealth characteristics of naval ships (this practice is also common elsewhere).

The Paul features a raised bow and the forward layout is spearheaded by the first line of defense - namely the vertical missile system and deck guns. The bridge is easily identifiable by a glass panel behind the first row of deck guns, forward amidships. The main mast is enclosed (pyramid design) and carries various sensors and communication processing systems. A second mast (covered by pole attachments) is mounted further aft of the structure.

The double-separated smoke funnel is squat and fully enclosed to promote Paul's signature. They are all integrated into the existing postal structure. The stern is a flight deck mounted aft.

Knight Paul is authorized to receive and launch NHIndustries NH90 series medium transport helicopters or equivalent.

Paul is primarily armed with 48 Aster 15 or 30 series anti-aircraft missiles, fired from a SYLVER A50 vertical launch system mounted in the "A" position. Two six-port SADRAL transmitters are mounted above the aft flight deck. Enemy surface ships engage via an 8x display of Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles located between the bow and stern superstructures.

To counter enemy submarines, Paul is equipped with 2 x MU90 torpedo tubes. For short to medium range defense of surface ships - or for littoral bombardment during amphibious operations - the ship is equipped with 2 x 76mm Otobreda rapid-fire automatic cannons in the "B" position.

These are supported by 2 x 20mm F2 type deck guns.

Regarding the processing system, the FS Chevalier Paul is equipped with an Alenia EMPAR S-1850 LRR 3D Sentinel Radar Kit, fully equipped with IFF (Identify Friend or Foe) functionality. The surveillance/fire control radar is mounted on top of the main mast structure. A sonar array (ABF TUS 4110 CL) is installed on the hull and a towed antenna system can be towed behind the ship to detect incoming underwater threats such as torpedoes.

The Paul deployed a modern countermeasures suite that included a communications and radar jammer suite and decoy launchers.

FS Chevalier Paul is named after Jean-Paul de Saumeur (1598-1667), a French admiral who fought in the Mediterranean. The FS Cavalier Paul is the third of three ships of the French Navy to bear his name.