The Le Normand class (or E52 Type) was a class of 14 fast frigates (Escorteurs Rapide) built for the French Navy in the late 1950s. They were an immediate follow-on from the earlier Le Corse-class (or E50 Type) frigates, and like them, were long-range convoy escorts capable of high speed. The first seven ships, paid for by the United States under the Mutual Defense Assistance Act were ordered in 1952. The remaining seven ships were paid for by France and ordered between 1953 and 1955.
The E52 type shared a flush-decked layout with the E50 class, and had a similar armament of three twin 57mm turrets) (one forward and two aft) and an anti-submarine armament consisting of a battery of heavyweight guided torpedoes and a 375mm Bofors six-barrel rocket launcher. The major difference was the layout of the armament, with the torpedo tubes moving from forwards to amidships, and the Bofors launcher moving from amidships to forward of the bow gun, thus reducing topweight and improving the arc of fire for the Bofors launcher.
The last three ships were completed as a modified version, the Type E52B. This replaced the amidships turret and the Bofors rocket launcher with a new 305mm anti-submarine mortar mounted amidships. Two more of this type were ordered in 1957, but were cancelledowing to financial problems.[1]
| Pennant | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F 765 | Le Normand | F C de la Méditerranée | July 1953 | 13 February 1954 | 3 November 1956 | Stricken 1980 | |
| F 766 | Le Picard | A C de la Loire | November 1953 | 31 May 1954 | 20 September 1956 | Stricken 1979 | |
| F 767 | Le Gascon | A C de la Loire | February 1954 | 23 October 1954 | 29 March 1957 | Stricken 1977 | |
| F 768 | Le Lorrain | F C de la Méditerranée | February 1954 | 19 June 1954 | 1 January 1957 | Broken Up 1981 | |
| F 769 | Le Bourguignon | Penhöet | January 1954 | 28 January 1956 | 11 July 1957 | Stricken 1976 | |
| F 770 | Le Champenois | A C de la Loire | May 1954 | 12 March 1955 | 1 June 1957 | Stricken 1975 | |
| F 771 | Le Savoyard | F C de la Méditerranée | November 1953 | 7 May 1955 | 14 June 1956 | Stricken 1980 | |
| F 772 | Le Breton | Arsenal de Lorient | June 1954 | 2 April 1955 | 20 August 1957 | Stricken 1977 | |
| F 773 | Le Basque | Arsenal de Lorient | December 1954 | 25 February 1956 | 18 October 1957 | Stricken 1980 | |
| F 774 | L'Agenais | Arsenal de Lorient | August 1955 | 23 June 1956 | 14 May 1958 | Stricken 1985 | |
| F 775 | Le Bearnais | Arsenal de Lorient | December 1955 | 23 June 1956 | 14 October 1958 | Stricken 1980 | |
| F 776 | L'Alsacien | Arsenal de Lorient | July 1956 | 26 January 1957 | 27 August 1960 | Stricken 1981 | |
| F 777 | Le Provençal | Arsenal de Lorient | February 1957 | 5 October 1957 | 6 November 1960 | Stricken 1980 | |
| F 778 | Le Vendeen | F C de la Méditerranée | March 1957 | 27 July 1957 | 1 October 1960 | Stricken 1981 |