View source for D'Estienne d'Orves-class aviso

{{short description|Class of naval vessel}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Lieutenant de vaisseau Lavallée.jpg
| Ship image size = 300px
| Ship caption = The aviso ''Lieutenant de vaisseau Lavallée''
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
| Name = ''D'Estienne d'Orves'' class or A69 type
| Builders = [[Arsenal de Lorient]]
| Operators = * {{navy|France}}
* {{navy|Turkey}}
* {{navy|Argentina}}
| Class before = *{{sclass|Commandant Rivière|frigate|4}}
| Class after = *{{sclass|Floréal|frigate|4}}
* {{sclass|La Fayette|frigate|4}}
* ''[[Patrouilleurs Hauturiers]]'' (from 2027)
| Subclasses = * {{sclass|Drummond|corvette|4}}
* {{sclass|Burak|corvette|4}}
| Built range = 
| In commission range = 
*1976 - now (French Navy)
*1999 - now (Turkish Navy)
*1978 - now (Argentine Navy)
| Total ships building = 
| Total ships planned = 
| Total ships completed = 17
| Total ships cancelled = 
| Total ships active = 10
| Total ships laid up = 
| Total ships scrapped = 
| Total ships lost = 
| Total ships retired = 7
| Total ships preserved = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship type = [[Aviso]]
| Ship displacement = * {{convert|1,100|LT|t|order=flip|lk=on|abbr=on}} standard 
* {{convert|1,250|LT|t|order=flip|abbr=on}} full load
| Ship length = * {{Convert|80|m|ftin|abbr=on}} [[Length overall|oa]]
* {{convert|76|m|ftin|abbr=on}} [[Length between perpendiculars|pp]]
| Ship beam = {{Convert|10.3|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| Ship draught = * {{Convert|5.3|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
* {{Convert|3|m|ftin|abbr=on}}{{sfn|Gardiner|Friedman|1983|p=41}}
| Ship propulsion = * 2 [[SEMT Pielstick]] 12 PC 2 V400 [[diesel engine]]s
* {{Convert|12000|bhp|kW|lk=on|order=flip|abbr=on}}, 2 shafts
| Ship speed = {{convert|23.5|kn|lk=in}}
| Ship range = {{convert|4500|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|15|kn}}
| Ship armour = 
| Ship complement = 90
| Ship EW = * 1 ARBR 16 radar interceptor
* 2 Dagaie decoy launchers
* 1 [[SLQ-25 Nixie]] countermeasure system
| Ship armament = * 2 [[Exocet]] MM38 [[Surface-to-surface missile|SSMs]] (removed from French ships when reclassified as OPVs)<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.asafrance.fr/item/patrouilleurs-les-avisos-francais-sur-tous-les-fronts.html|title=Patrouilleurs: Les avisos français sur tous les fronts. |trans-title=Patrol ships: French Avisos on all fronts. |language=French |date=26 January 2017 |website=asafrance.fr |access-date=6 June 2020}}</ref>
* 1 × [[French 100 mm naval gun|100 mm CADAM gun turret]] with Najir fire control system and CMS LYNCEA
* 2 × [[20 mm modèle F2 gun]]s
* 4 × 12.7 mm machine guns
* 4 × L3 or L5 type [[torpedo]]es in four fixed catapults (removed from French ships when reclassified as OPVs)<ref name="auto"/>
* 1 × sextuple [[Bofors 375mm anti submarine rockets|Bofors 375 mm rocket launcher]] (removed from French ships when reclassified as OPVs)<ref name="auto"/>
| Ship sensors = * 1 Air/surface DRBV 51A sentry radar
* 1 DRBC 32E fire control radar
* 1 Decca 1226 navigation radar
* 1 DUBA 25 hull sonar (removed from French vessels when reclassified as OPVs)<ref name="auto"/>
}}
|}
The '''''D'Estienne d'Orves''-class avisos''', also known as the '''A69 type avisos''', is a [[Ship class|class]] of [[French Navy]] [[aviso]]s, comparable in size to a light [[corvette]], mainly designed for coastal anti-submarine defence, but are also available for high sea escort missions, notably in support missions with the [[Strategic Oceanic Force|Strategic Oceanic Force (FOST)]]. Built on a simple and robust design, they have an economical and reliable propulsion system which allows them to be used for overseas presence missions. In addition to service in France, they have been ordered by the [[South African Navy]] (not delivered), [[Argentinian Navy]] and [[Turkish Navy]].

The class takes its name from the lead ship, named in honour of [[Honoré d'Estienne d'Orves]], a French naval officer and member of the [[French Resistance]].

==Design and description==
The ''D'Estienne d'Orves''-class [[aviso]]s were primarily designed for [[anti-submarine warfare]] (ASW) in coastal areas and colonial coastal patrol.{{sfn|Sharpe|1990|p=191}}{{sfn|Gardiner|Chumbley|Budzbon|1995|p=118}} They were ordered as replacements for the E 50 and E 52 type ''[[escorteur]]s'' of the [[French Navy]]. The ships are built austerely and have a [[Displacement (ship)#Standard displacement|standard displacement]] of {{convert|1,100|LT|t|order=flip|lk=on}} and {{convert|1,250|LT|t|order=flip}} at full load. The avisos are {{convert|80|m|ftin}} [[Length overall|long overall]] and {{convert|76|m|ftin}} [[Length between perpendiculars|between perpendiculars]] with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{Convert|10.3|m|ftin}} and a [[Draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|5.3|m|ftin}}.{{sfn|Gardiner|Chumbley|Budzbon|1995|p=118}}

The avisos are propelled by two shafts turning [[controllable pitch propeller]]s powered by two [[SEMT Pielstick]] 12 PC 2 V400 [[diesel engine]]s rated at {{Convert|12000|bhp|kW|lk=on|order=flip}}. The two engines are located in a single engine room mounted next to each other and controlled from a room abaft the machinery room. The two diesel engine system was selected due to the preference of endurance over speed. The ''D'Estienne d'Orves'' class has a maximum speed of {{convert|23.5|kn|lk=in}} and a range of {{convert|4500|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|15|kn}}. All ships in the class are fitted with [[fin stabiliser]]s except for {{ship|French aviso|Commandant Ducuing||2}} and {{ship|French aviso|Commandant Birot||2}}.{{sfn|Sharpe|1990|p=191}}{{sfn|Gardiner|Chumbley|Budzbon|1995|p=118}}

The class was intended to be constructed in two groups, the A 69 and A 70 types, with the latter type fitted with two [[Exocet]] MM38 [[surface-to-surface missile]]s (SSM) on either side of the [[Funnel (ship)|funnel]], but in the end, all ships of the class were fitted with the SSMs. The ships are armed with a [[French 100 mm naval gun|{{convert|100|mm|in|abbr=on|1}} CADAM gun turret]] with Najir fire control system and CMS LYNCEA, a pair of [[20 mm modèle F2 gun|{{convert|20|mm|in|abbr=on|1}} modèle F2 guns]] and four {{convert|12.7|mm|in|abbr=on|1}} machine guns. For ASW operations, the ''D'Estienne d'Orves'' class mounts four fixed catapults for L3 or L5 type [[torpedo]]es with no reloads carried and one remote-controlled sextuple {{convert|375|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} [[rocket launcher]], with 30 reloads carried in a [[Magazine (artillery)#Naval magazines|magazine]] located beneath the aft deckhouse.{{sfn|Gardiner|Chumbley|Budzbon|1995|p=118}}

The ''D'Estienne d'Orves'' class is equipped with one air/surface DRBV 51A sentry radar, one DRBC 32E fire control radar one Decca 1226 navigation radar and DUBA 25 hull-mounted sonar. The DUBA 25 is situated in a fixed dome with a retractable transducer, but is designed strictly for use in coastal waters. As countermeasures the avisos have one ARBR 16 radar interceptor, two Dagaie decoy launchers and one [[SLQ-25 Nixie]] countermeasure system, which was fitted in the mid-1980s. The ships have a complement of 90 and have space to accommodate 18 marines.{{sfn|Gardiner|Chumbley|Budzbon|1995|p=118}}{{sfn|Saunders|2009|p=834}}

===Modifications===
Beyond the Nixie countermeasure system, the funnels aboard the avisos were heightened due to issues with the gases coming from them. {{ship|French aviso|Commandant L'Herminier||2}} had SEMT Pielstick 12 PA 6 BTC diesels with infrared suppression systems installed which led to delays into the vessel's entry into service. In 1993, {{ship|French aviso|Commandant Blaison||2}} and {{ship|French aviso|Enseigne de vaisseau Jacoubert||2}} had their rocket launchers removed and a Syracuse II satcom terminal installed. Plans were drawn up to give the two ships a [[hangar]] and [[flight deck]] for helicopters, but this was abandoned.{{sfn|Gardiner|Chumbley|Budzbon|1995|p=118}}

From 2009, the remaining vessels in French service were reclassified as [[offshore patrol vessel]]s (OPVs) and, as a result, had their surface-to-surface missiles and heavy anti-submarine weapons removed.<ref name="auto"/> The remaining vessels in the class are being incrementally withdrawn from service between 2024 and 2027.<ref name=memarin>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/la-marine-nationale-va-rapidement-se-separer-de-ses-derniers-phm |title=La Marine nationale va rapidement désarmer ses derniers PHM |work=Mer et Marine |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |language=fr |trans-title=The French Navy will quickly disarm its last PHM |date=6 May 2021 |access-date=15 June 2021 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506085259/https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/la-marine-nationale-va-rapidement-se-separer-de-ses-derniers-phm |archive-date=2021-05-06 }}</ref>

Replacement of these vessels in French service is currently planned from about 2026 by a new class of patrol vessels.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/la-marine-nationale-n-obtiendrait-que-7-nouveaux-patrouilleurs-hauturiers-au-lieu-des-10 |title=La Marine nationale n'obtiendrait que 7 nouveaux patrouilleurs hauturiers au lieu des 10 prévus|last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |website=Mer et Marine |date=13 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/06/french-navy-ageing-phms-and-psps-patrol-vessels-to-be-replaced-with-10-new-opvs/ |title=French Navy Ageing PHMs And PSPs Patrol Vessels To Be Replaced With 10 New OPVs |work=navalnews.com |last=Vavasseur |first=Xavier |date=25 June 2020 |access-date=11 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/euronaval-2020/2020/10/euronaval-first-details-of-the-patrouilleurs-oceanique-po-platform-unveiled/ |title=Euronaval: First Details Of The Patrouilleurs Océanique (PO) Platform Unveiled |work=navalnews.com |date=23 October 2020 |access-date=20 November 2020}}</ref>

== Ships in the class ==
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! colspan="7" style="background:#eee;" align="center"| French Navy construction data{{sfn|Gardiner|Chumbley|Budzbon|1995|p=118}}
|-
! scope="col" | Pennant no. 
! scope="col" | Name 
! scope="col" | Builder 
! scope="col" | {{nowrap|Laid down}}
! scope="col" | Launched
! scope="col" | Commissioned
! scope="col" | Status
|-
! scope="row" | F 781
| {{ship|French aviso|D'Estienne d'Orves||2}}
| rowspan=17 align=center | [[Arsenal de Lorient]], [[Lorient]], France
| 1 September 1972
| 1 June 1973
| 10 September 1976
| [[Ship decommissioning|Decommissioned]] 1999, transferred to Turkey as [[French_aviso_D%27Estienne_d%27Orves#Service_in_the_Turkish_Naval_Forces|TCG ''Beykoz'' (F-503)]]
|-
! scope="row" | F 782
| {{ship|French aviso|Amyot d'Inville||2}}
| 1 September 1973
| 30 November 1974
| 13 October 1976
| Decommissioned 1999, transferred to Turkey as [[French_aviso_Amyot_d%27Inville#Service_in_the_Turkish_Naval_Forces|TCG ''Bartın'' (F-504)]]
|-
! scope="row" | F 783
| {{ship|French aviso|Drogou||2}} 
| 1 October 1973
| 30 November 1974
| 30 September 1976
| Decommissioned 2000, transferred to Turkey as [[French_aviso_Drogou#Service_in_the_Turkish_Naval_Forces|TCG ''Bodrum'' (F-501)]]; decommissioned from Turkish service 2022
|-
! scope="row" | F 784
| {{ship|French aviso|Détroyat||2}}
| 15 December 1974
| 31 January 1976
| 4 May 1977
| Decommissioned 1997, [[Ship breaking|scrapped]] at [[Ghent]], Belgium in 2015
|-
! scope="row" | F 785
| {{ship|French aviso|Jean Moulin||2}}
| 15 January 1975
| 31 January 1976
| 11 May 1977
| Decommissioned 1999, scrapped at Ghent, Belgium in 2015
|-
! scope="row" | F 786
| {{ship|French aviso|Quartier-Maître Anquetil||2}}
| 1 August 1975
| 7 August 1976
| 4 February 1978
| Decommissioned 2000, transferred to Turkey as [[French_aviso_Quartier-Ma%C3%AEtre_Anquetil#Service_in_the_Turkish_Naval_Forces|TCG ''Bandırma'' (F-502)]]
|-
! scope="row" | F 787
| {{ship|French aviso|Commandant de Pimodan||2}}
| 1 September 1975
| 7 August 1976
| 20 May 1978
| Decommissioned 2000, transferred to Turkey as {{TCG|Bozcaada|F-500}}
|-
! scope="row" | F 788
| {{ship|French aviso|Second-Maître Le Bihan||2}}
| 1 November 1976
| 13 August 1977
| 7 July 1979
| Decommissioned 2002, transferred to Turkey as [[French_aviso_Second-Ma%C3%AEtre_Le_Bihan#Service_in_the_Turkish_Naval_Forces|TCG ''Bafra'' (F-505)]]
|-
! scope="row" | F 789
| {{ship|French aviso|Lieutenant de vaisseau Le Hénaff||2}}
| March 1977
| 16 September 1978
| 13 February 1980
| Decommissioned 2020<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/henaff |title=Le Lieutenant de Vaisseau Le Henaff retiré du service |website=Mer et Marine |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |language=French |trans-title=Lieutenant de Vaisseau Le Henaff retired from service |date=24 August 2020 |access-date=20 November 2020 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030225210/https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/henaff |archive-date=2020-10-30 }}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | F 790
| {{ship|French aviso|Lieutenant de vaisseau Lavallée||2}}
| 11 November 1977
| 29 May 1979
| 16 August 1980
| Decommissioned 2018
|-
! scope="row" | F 791
| {{ship|French aviso|Commandant L'Herminier||2}}
| 7 May 1979
| 7 March 1981
| 19 January 1986
| Decommissioned 2018
|-
! scope="row" | F 792
| {{ship|French aviso|Premier-Maître L'Her||2}}
| 15 December 1978
| 28 June 1980
| 5 December 1981
| Decommissioned June 2024;<ref>{{cite web |date=28 June 2024 |title=L’aviso PM L’Her tire sa révérence après 43 années de navigation |website=Marine Nationale|language=fr |url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/marine/actualites/laviso-pm-lher-tire-sa-reverence-43-annees-navigation |access-date=28 June 2024}}</ref> sunk as a target ship in December 2024<ref>{{cite web |title=Premier Maître L'Her (F792) (+2024)|url=https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?325029}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" | F 793
| {{ship|French aviso|Commandant Blaison||2}}
| 15 November 1979
| 7 March 1981
| 28 April 1982
| In service; ''retirement planned in 2027''<ref name=memarin/>
|-
! scope="row" | F 794
| {{ship|French aviso|Enseigne de vaisseau Jacoubet||2}}
| April 1979
| 29 September 1981
| 23 October 1982
| In service; ''retirement planned in 2026''<ref name=memarin/>
|-
! scope="row" | F 795
| {{ship|French aviso|Commandant Ducuing||2}}
| 1 October 1980
| 26 September 1981
| 17 March 1983
| In service; ''retirement planned in 2025''<ref name=memarin/>
|-
! scope="row" | F 796
| {{ship|French aviso|Commandant Birot||2}}
| 23 March 1981
| 22 May 1982
| 14 March 1984
| In service; ''retirement planned in 2025''<ref name=memarin/>
|-
! scope="row" | F 797
| {{ship|French aviso|Commandant Bouan||2}} (ex-''Commandant Levasseur'')
| 12 October 1981
| 23 May 1983
| 11 May 1984
| In service; ''retirement planned in 2026''<ref name=memarin/>
|-
|}

== South African and Argentine navies ==
{{main article|Drummond-class corvette}}
[[File:P33ARAGranville.jpg|thumb|ARA ''Granville'']]

The [[Argentine Navy]] also operated three ''D'Estienne d'Orves''-class ships, locally known as the {{sclass|Drummond|corvette|4}}. The first two ships, originally named ''Lieutenant de vaisseau Le Hénaff'' and ''Commandant L'Herminier'' while under construction for the French Navy, were originally acquired by the [[South African Navy]] in 1976. In the French Navy they were replaced by new ships with the same names. The two ships were renamed ''Good Hope'' and ''Transvaal'', but due to [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 418|UN sanctions]] against [[South Africa]], they were not delivered and were bought by the Argentine Navy on 25 December 1978. They were renamed {{ship|ARA|Drummond|P-31|6}} and {{ship|ARA|Guerrico|P-32|6}}. A third ship of the class, {{ship|ARA|Granville|P-33|6}}, was ordered by Argentina and was delivered in 1981.{{sfn|Gardiner|Chumbley|Budzbon|1995|pp=4, 118}} All vessels had been retired as of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Germán Videla Solá |first=Mariano |date=2024-09-01 |title=La Armada Argentina retiró del servicio a la ARA Granville, la última de sus corbetas A-69 |url=https://www.zona-militar.com/2024/09/01/la-armada-argentina-retira-del-servicio-a-la-corbeta-ara-granville/ |access-date=2024-10-24|website=Zona Militar|language=es}}</ref>

== Turkish Navy ==
{{main article|Burak-class corvette}}

Starting in November 2000, Turkey acquired six Type A 69 avisos. They were acquired for the [[Turkish Navy]] for coastal patrol in order to release more capable Turkish ships for frontline duty. Five of the six vessels were refitted at [[Brest, France|Brest]] before transfer.{{sfn|Saunders|2009|p=834}}

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book|editor-last1=Gardiner|editor-first1=Robert|editor-last2=Friedman|editor-first2=Norman|year=1983|title=Conway's All the world's fighting ships, 1947-1982|location=Annapolis, Md|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=9780870219238}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Gardiner |editor-first=Robert |editor-last2=Chumbley |editor-first2=Stephen |editor-last3=Budzbon |editor-first3=Przemysław |name-list-style=amp |year=1995 |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-132-7}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Saunders |editor-first=Stephen |year=2009 |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 |publisher=Jane's Information Group Inc. |edition=112 |location=Alexandria, Virginia |isbn=978-0-7106-2888-6}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Sharpe |editor-first=Richard |year=1990 |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1990–91 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |edition=93 |location=Surrey, United Kingdom |isbn=0-7106-0904-3}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Aviso class A69|D'Estienne d'Orves class}}
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/d-orves.htm globalsecurity.org]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070220142953/http://www.alabordache.com/marine/espacemarine/marine/fregate_rang_2/index.php Alabordache.com] French Aviso in activity
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080828132841/http://www.alabordache.com/marine/espacemarine/desarme/ Alabordache.com] French Aviso disarmed
* {{in lang|es}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20070715223407/http://www.ara.mil.ar/pnav_buques.asp Argentine Navy (ARA) official site – class specifications & pictures]

{{D'Estienne d'Orves class aviso}}
{{French Navy Vehicle}}

[[Category:Corvette classes]]
[[Category:Frigate classes]]
[[Category:Cold War frigates of France|A69 type avisos]]
[[Category:Cold War frigates of South Africa]]
[[Category:Frigates of France]]
[[Category:Corvettes of the French Navy]]
[[Category:D'Estienne d'Orves-class avisos| ]]
[[Category:Ship classes of the French Navy]]