French frigate Courbet explained

Courbet is a general purpose stealth frigate of the French Navy (Marine Nationale) of the . She is the third French vessel named after the 19th-century Admiral Amédée Courbet.

Construction and career

Courbet took part in Opération Baliste. On 3 October 2006, an Israeli fighter aircraft penetrated her 20NaN0 defence perimeter without responding to radio calls, triggering a diplomatic incident. Israel apologised after official protests from the French government. Throughout September the ship was involved in anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia, helping to recapture a yacht taken by pirates on 2 September.

In December 2009 Courbet escorted the French Navy cruiser on her final voyage. This was last trip of the helicopter carrier that served as a floating embassy and symbol of the French Navy for 46 years. Jeanne d'Arcs last voyage in company with Courbet included visits to Africa, South America including Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires, the French Antilles, the United States including New York City, and Canada. The voyage was completed sometime in May 2010.[1]

During the Libyan Civil War, on 29 April 2011, while on patrol off Misrata, Courbet found and engaged four loyalist RHIB boats laying mines, sinking one of them.[2]

In June 2020, while on patrol to counter alleged arms smuggling to Libya, France claimed that Turkish frigates illuminated Courbet three times with their fire control radar, a claim which was denied by Turkish officials.[3]

On her first operational deployment after her mid-life upgrade, Courbet, operating in the Gulf of Guinea in conjunction with the helicopter assault ship, was involved in the seizure of just under 2 tons of drugs in May 2022.[4]

In September 2023, while operating in the Mediterranean the frigate experienced a fire on board. Although no one was reported injured and the fire was extinguished, she as compelled to return to Toulon for evaluation and repair.[5] The frigate was reported to have returned to sea in February 2024.[6]

Upgrade

Courbet was the first ship of her class to begin a mid-life upgrade in October 2020. The upgrade is designed to permit the frigate to operate through the 2020s and into the 2030s and incorporates the addition of hull-mounted sonar, improved point air defence systems as well as the capacity to carry the latest variant of the Exocet anti-ship missile.[7] The frigate returned to sea in June 2021 following her upgrade. She is projected to remain in service until 2032.[8]

In future it is also planned to incorporate the CANTO anti-torpedo countermeasures system in the frigate.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. French Warship on Last Trip Delivers Books to NYC Students . https://web.archive.org/web/20110728011240/http://www.frenchculture.org/IMG/pdf/Press_Release_-_French_Warship_on_Last_Trip_Delivers_Books_to_NYC_Students.pdf . 28 July 2011 . Consulate general of France NYC . 10 March 2010 . 22 June 2021 . dead.
  2. Web site: 2011 . Stalemate & Siege . 19 September 2020 . www.understandingwar.org.
  3. News: 2 July 2020. Libya crisis: France suspends Nato mission role amid Turkey row. BBC News. 15 April 2021.
  4. Web site: New Drug Seizure By The French Navy In The Gulf Of Guinea . Naval News . 25 May 2022 . 27 May 2022.
  5. Web site: La frégate Courbet interrompt sa mission et rentre à Toulon après un incendie dans ses machines . Mer et Marine . Groizeleau . Vincent . 22 September 2023 . 22 September 2023.
  6. Web site: La frégate Courbet a repris la mer . Mer et Marine . Caroline . Britz . 9 February 2024 . 9 February 2024.
  7. Web site: Naval Group starts renovation and upgrade of French Navy Courbet La Fayette-class frigate . October 2020 . Navy Recognition . 22 June 2021.
  8. Web site: Marine nationale : les programmes qui vont façonner la future flotte française . Mer et Marine. Groizeleau . Vincent . 2 January 2021 . 15 April 2021. fr.
  9. Web site: Video: French Navy's La Fayette-Class Frigate Mid-Life Update . Naval News . Manaranche . Martin . 31 July 2021 . 28 August 2021.