Aviation Naval Warfare Land Systems Small Arms Space By Flag By Year By Tag

FS Languedoc (D653)

2016 MODERN NAVY

FS Languedoc (D653) History

As part of the "FREMM" initiative in the 2000s, the French and Italian states joined forces to design, develop and finally build a new multi-purpose frigate. These are known locally (respectively) as the Aquitane class and Bergamini class in each country.

Construction of the fleet began in 2007, and the first vessel was commissioned in 2012. A total of twenty ships are planned in the series between the two countries, as well as some units for the allies Morocco and Egypt.

For the French Navy, the Aquitane-class FREMM battleship consists of eight ships built by the DCNS in Lorient. The lead ship became FS Aquitane (D650), followed by sister ships Provence (D652), Languedoc (D653) (the subject of this article), Auvergne (D654) and Brittany (D655).

FS Normandie (D651) is scheduled for commissioning in 2019, Alsace and Lorraine in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

FS Languedoc (D653) laid in 2011. She was launched on July 12, 2014, and officially commissioned on March 16, 2016. The ship's home port is in Toulon, in the southeast of the country - with quick access to the crucial Mediterranean Sea.

The first six ships of the class (including the Languedoc) were assigned as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigates (the remaining two became anti-aircraft frigates). This makes them suitable for searching, pursuing and fighting enemy submarines using other weapons designed to counter maritime and air threats.

As such, this class is equipped with a combination of sensors, processing systems, and weapons to suit the intended role, including decoy launchers, sonar, radar, advanced fire control systems, and more.

The bow is occupied by a turret deck gun followed by two medium and long-range missile bays. Next is the bridge section, which is integrated into a continuous fuselage structure that extends almost to the stern. It features a mainmast, low funnel, a full-service hangar facility and a helipad (above the stern).

The warship typically operates an NHIndustries NH90 medium lift naval helicopter, performing various roles at sea and on the water.

The Languedoc was the third French FREMM frigate in service. She was piloted by a crew of up to 108 and had a barrel length of 466 feet, a beam of 66 feet and a draft of 17 feet. The displacement reached 6040 tons (short).

Power comes from an economy-oriented combined diesel or gas unit (CODOG), where 1 MTU 4000 series gas turbine is connected to 4 diesel generators. The bow thruster facilitates precise maneuvering.

The maximum speed attainable in ideal conditions is 27 knots and the quoted range is up to 7,000 miles. The CODOG arrangement allows a gas turbine or diesel powerplant to be used to perform propulsion or cruise action as required.

Armament includes 1 x 76mm OTO-Melara "Rapid Fire" deck gun with turret on foredeck. 1 x 16-cell MBDA "SYLVER" A43 Vertical Launch System (VLS) located behind the forward turret.

Carry 8 x MBDA MM.40 "Flying Fish" anti-ship missiles along with 4 x 324mm torpedo tubes, 2 x 20mm Nexter Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) and up to 4 x 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun (HMG).