FS Auvergne (D654)

2018 MODERN NAVY

• 1 FS Auvergne (D654) History
• 2 FS Auvergne (D654) Specification
  • 2.1 Foundation
  • 2.2 SHIPBUILDER
  • 2.3 Class information
  • 2.4 Operator
  • 2.5 Characters
  • 2.6 Distinctive Features
  • 2.7 Dimensions and Weight
  • 2.8 Power and Performance
  • 2.9 Weapons
  • 2.10 Aircraft

FS Auvergne (D654) History

The FS Auvergne (D654) was the product of the FREMM multipurpose frigate program between the French and Italian navies. The FS Auvergne is the fifth ship of the French batch - named after the lead ship of the Aquitane class, Aquitane (D650) - laid in 2012 by builder DCNS (Lorient), launched in September 2015 and officially commissioned in France in 2015 use.

Shipping in February 2018. The vessel is currently located in Toulon and will be transferred to Brest in 2022.

The FREMM program originally envisaged France receiving a total of 17 ships - although this was later reduced to the eight currently in service with the French Navy due to budget constraints. The French batch is a mix of six anti-submarine forms as well as a pair of anti-aircraft models.

The 6,000-ton warship has a completely modern design with as few structural protrusions as possible, clean lines and easy camouflage. Deck guns with turrets and vertical launch systems (VLS) occupy the forecastle, while the bridge section is located aft.

The main mast is amidships with a closed design followed by a low closed smoke funnel. The hangar area then leads to an unobstructed helipad above the stern.

Dimensions include a barrel length of 466 feet, a beam of 65 feet, and a draft of up to 16 feet. Propulsion is provided by an MTU 4000 series turbine package, developed using the CODLOG (Combined Diesel-Electric- or Gas) concept to maximize fuel efficiency at cruise and high speed. Under ideal conditions, the maximum speed can reach 27 knots, and the range can reach 6000 nautical miles.

Typically cruise at 15 knots for maximum range.

The warship has a crew of approximately 145 and is equipped with Herakles Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) multipurpose radar, CAPTAS-4 towed sonar array and UMS 4110 CL Series hull mounted sonar array.

The weapon is a mixture of ballistic, missile and torpedo weapons. On the foredeck is a single 76mm ultra-fast turret system with two 16-cell SYLVER VLS armed with Aster 15 surface-to-air missiles (SAM) and MdCN surface-attack cruise missiles.

There are 3x 20mm Narwhal Long Range Weapon System (RWS) for close range defense and 2x 4-cell MM. 40 anti-ship missile launchers EXOCET Block 3/3c. Completing the weapons suite are two twin-barreled B-515 series torpedo launchers that support the MU90 torpedo series.

In addition, there is an NHIndustires NH90 naval helicopter supported by the flight deck above the stern. The rotorcraft can support a multi-mission set including over-the-horizon reconnaissance, anti-submarine/anti-ship operations, search and rescue (SAR) operations, and general maritime support functions.

FS Auvergne (D654) Specification

Foundation

Year of Service

2018

Origins

France

Status

In service

supplement

145

staff

SHIPBUILDER

DCNS - France

Class information

Class

Aquitane class

Class Size

8

ships

Class

FS Aquitaine (D650); FS Normandy (D651); RV Provence (D652); FS Languedoc (D653); FS Auvergne (D654); FS Brittany (D655); FS Alsace (D656); FS Lorraine (D657)

Operator

France

Characters

Sea Bombing

Maritime bombardment/attack of surface targets/areas primarily through ship-based ballistic weapons.

Land Assault

Littoral attacks against surface targets primarily through ship-based missiles/missile weapons.

Sea Patrol

Active patrolling of critical waterways and sea areas; also serves as a local deterrent against air and maritime threats.

Airspace Denial/Deterrence

Neutralization or deterrence of flying elements by airborne missile weapon ballistics.

Fleet Support

Provide support (fire or materiel) to major surface fleets in blue water environments.

Distinctive Features

Flatten

The hull of this vessel is designed to operate in coastal/shallow water environments.

Air Defense

Airborne systems warn and protect ships from airborne and low-altitude ballistic and/or missile threats.

On the horizon

The ship is granted over-the-horizon combat capability, usually provided by a launched fixed-wing/rotary-wing aircraft.

Missile weapons

The ship supports long-range missile launches to air, sea or land-based targets; typical of modern design.

Torpedo

Able to launch torpedoes at distant targets.

Dimensions and Weight

Length

466. 0 feet

142.04m

Ray

65.0 feet

19.81m

Draft

16. 0 feet

4.88m

Shift

6,000

t

Power and Performance

Installed Power:

Combination diesel-electric-or-gas (CODLOG): MTU 4000 series turbines drive 2 axles rear.

Surface Velocity

27. 0 nodes

(31.1 km/h)

Area

5,996nm

(6,900 miles | 11,104 km)

kts = nodes | mph = miles per hour | nm = nautical miles | mi = miles | km = miles 1 kts = 1.15mph | 1 nautical mile = 1.15 kilometers | 1 nautical mile = 1.85 kilometers

Weapons

1 x 76mm Super Rapid deck gun with turret. 1 x 16 cell SYLVER A43 Vertical Launch System (VLS) with Aster 15 Series Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM). 1 x 16-cell SYLVER A70 VLS with MdCN Land Attack Cruise Missile. 2 x 4 cell MM. 40 EXOCET Block 3/3c anti-ship missiles.

2 x B-515 Dual Torpedo Launchers (MU90 Torpedo Series). 3 x 20mm Narwhal Remote Control Weapon System (RWS).

Aircraft

1 x NHIndustries NH. 90 Navy helicopters operate in the aft helipad/hangar deck area.