The Georges Leygues class (Type F70) is a class of anti-submarine frigates of the French Navy. They are multi-role ships due to their Exocet and Crotale missile armament, making them especially suitable for the defence of strategic positions, show of force operations or as high seas escorts.
The superstructures were built as to optimise resistance to the blast from nuclear explosions.
The F70 is internationally labelled an "anti-submarine destroyer" (hence the "D" in the hull numbers), though the French do not use the term and refer to the ships as "frigates".
The last three ships of the class had their bridges raised one deck to overcome problems experienced by the first four in bad weather, as well as being equipped with DSBV 61 passive linear towed array sonar and several other upgraded systems.
| General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Anti-submarine Frigate |
| Displacement: | 3,550 t (3,494 long tons) 4,500 t (4,429 long tons) full load |
| Length: | 139 m (456 ft) |
| Beam: | 14 m (46 ft) |
| Draught: | 5.7 m (18 ft 8 in) |
| Propulsion: | CODOG 2 × Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines, 26,000 hp (19,388 kW) each 2 × SEMT Pielstick 16PA6-V280 diesel engines, 5,200 hp (3,878 kW) each |
| Speed: | 30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h) |
| Range: | 8,500 miles |
| Complement: | 235 |
| Armament: | Anti-ship;
Anti-submarine;
Guns;
CIWS;
|
| Aircraft carried: |
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