Georges Leygues
French Georges Leygues Class destroyer of 3830 tons displacement and a crew of 218 launched in 1978. Two Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines rated at 46200 bhp and two SEMT- Pielstick 16PA6 CV280 diesels rated at 10400 bhp provide a top speed of 30knots; 21 knots on the diesel engines, and a range, of 13600 km at 18 knots. Armaments consist of four Aerospatiale MM 38 Exocet anti-ship missiles; a Thomson-CSF Crotale Navale EDIR octuple anti-aircraft launcher with twenty-six missiles; one 100 mm/55 Mod 68 CADAM automatic dual purpose gun; two Oerlikon 20 mm guns; four M2HB 12.7 mm machine guns; two fixed torpedo launchers and ten ECAN L5 anti-submarine torpedoes; twelve Honeywell Mk 46 torpedoes for use with helicopters are also carried for the ship' s two dual-purpose, anti-submarine and anti-ship Lynx helicopters.
Designated Fregates (Frigates) or Escourteurs d'Escadre, these vessels were originally known as the C-70 Fregates anti-sousmarines when laid down in the mid-1970s. The French classifications express their purpose better than the catch-all phrase 'destroyer', but they are larger than most ships classed as frigate and the authoritative Jane's Fighting Ships rates them as destroyers. With two Lynx helicopters able to carry AS12 anti-ship missiles or a powerful anti-submarine fit and a comprehensive weapon fit themselves, the 'Georges Leygues' class are versatile warships. They are also large enough to accept new weapons systems in due course; OTO-Melara Matra anti-submarine missiles are planned in due course. The last three ships of the seven ship series have towed arrays, and the others may receive them in mid-life refits.
