French frigate Dupleix

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Dupleix was one of seven F70 type guided-missile frigates built for the French Navy during the 1970s. Completed in 1981, she served during the Cold War. The ship was decommissioned in 2014.

Design and description

The Georges Leygues-class ships were designed as anti-submarine (ASW) escorts for the fleet.Template:Sfn They had an overall length of Template:Convert, a beam of Template:Cvt and a draught of Template:Cvt. The ships had a standard displacement of Template:Convert and Template:Convert at full load. The Georges Leyguess' propulsion machinery used a CODOG configuration with one SEMT-Pielstick 16PA6-V280 diesel engine and a Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbine were coupled to each of the two propeller shafts. The diesels were used for speeds under Template:Convert and the gas turbines for sprints up to Template:Convert. The diesels were rated at a total of Template:Convert and the turbines at a total of Template:Cvt.Template:Sfn The combination give the ships a range of Template:Convert at Template:Convert. The frigates had a complement of 216 sailors.Template:Sfn

The primary anti-ship weapon of the Georges Leyguess consisted of four single box launchers for MM38 Exocet anti-ship missiles, located aft of the funnel with two launchers on each broadside. The frigates were designed with a single [[French 100 mm naval gun|Template:Convert Modèle 1968]] dual-purpose gun in a single-gun turret forward of the superstructure. They were also equipped with two Template:Cvt guns. The ships were fitted with a octuple Crotale anti-aircraft missile launcher with 26 reloads located on the aft superstructure. The anti-submarine| (ASW) weapons of the Georges Leygues-class ships consisted of two torpedo launchers , one on each side of the ship. Each ship carried ten torpedoes. The ships were designed to carry helicopters, a pair of Westland Lynx ASW helicopters in a double hangar at the stern.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

They were completed with a DRBV 51C search radar, a DRBC 32E fire-control radar and a DRBV 26 early-warning radar. For anti-submarine warfare, they were equipped with a DUBV 23B hull-mounted sonar and DUBV 43B towed variable depth sonar. For electronic defence, the vessels mounted two Syllex chaff launchers. The SENIT 4 tactical data system coordinated sensor data.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Construction and career

Dupleix was built by the Arsenal de Brest with her keel being laid down on 17 October 1975. The vessel was launched on 2 December 1978 and was commissioned on 13 June 1981.Template:Sfn The ship was decommissioned in 2014, and taken to Saint-Mandrier, to replace the ex-Rance at the diving school located there.