 FrigateVentôse | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name | Ventôse |
| Namesake | Month ofVentôse |
| Ordered | 9 January 1990 |
| Builder | Chantiers de l'Atlantique |
| Laid down | 28 June 1991 |
| Launched | 14 March 1992 |
| Commissioned | 5 May 1993 |
| Home port | Fort de France,Martinique |
| Status | in active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Floréal-classfrigate |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 93.5 m (306 ft 9 in) |
| Beam | 14 m (45 ft 11 in) |
| Draught | 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 20knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Range | 9,000 nmi (17,000 km; 10,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Troops | 24 marines |
| Complement | 90 |
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 1 ×Eurocopter Panther orEurocopter Dauphin N3 helicopter |
| Aviation facilities | Flight deck andhangar |
Ventôse is aFloréal-classfrigate (French:frégate de surveillance) of theFrench Navy. The frigate is the fourth ship of its class, and the first French vessel named afterVentôse, the sixth month of theRepublican Calendar, the month of wind. The ship was constructed byChantiers de l'Atlantique atSaint-Nazaire, France, in 1991–1992 and entered service in 1993.Ventôse is stationed in the FrenchCaribbean Sea territories for patrol duties.
TheFloréal-classfrigates were designed in response to a demand for a cheap warship capable of operating in low threat areas and able to perform general patrol functions. As a result, theFloréal class were constructed to mercantile standards in the areas of ammunition stowage, helicopter facilities and damage control, which significantly lowered the cost of the vessels. TheFloréal class were designed for using modular construction which shortened their building times.[2]
Ventôse has astandard displacement of 2,600tonnes (2,600long tons) and 3,000 tonnes (2,950 long tons) at full load. The frigate measures 85.2 metres (279 ft 6 in)long between perpendiculars and 93.5 metres (306 ft 9 in)overall with abeam of 14 metres (45 ft 11 in) and adraught of 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in).[3][4] Due to the frigate's broad beam, the ship is equipped with fin stabilisers.[5]
The frigate is powered by acombined diesel and diesel (CODAD) system comprising fourSEMT Pielstick 6 PA6 L280 BPCdiesel engines driving two shafts each turning a LIPScontrollable pitch propeller. The CODAD system is rated at 6,580kilowatts (8,820 hp) The vessel is also equipped with one 203-kilowatt (272 hp)bow thruster. Due to the mercantile construction design, the four diesels are all located within one machinery room for ease of maintenance. Bothdiesel fuel and TR5aviation fuel is brought aboard at a single location at the stern compared to naval-constructed vessels which sport two. The ship also has three 750 kW (1,010 hp) diesel-electric generators located just fore and aft of the machinery room.[5][6]Ventôse has a maximum speed of 20knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) and a range of 9,000nautical miles (17,000 km; 10,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[3]
Ventôse was armed with twoExocet MM38surface-to-surface missiles in launchers situated centrally atop the midshipssuperstructure.[3] However, at the end of the missile's life cycle in 2014, the launchers were removed as theFrench Navy did not intend to replace the capability aboard the ships.[7] The ship also mounts one100 mm CADAM turret with the Najir fire control system located forwards and two20 mm modèle F2 guns situated in atop the aft superstructure. The ship is equipped with DRBV-21C (Mars) air sentry, Racal Decca RM1290 navigation and Racal Decca RM1290 landingradars along with ARBG-1A Saïgon communications intercept, CSF ARBR 16A radar intercept electronic surveillance systems and two Dagaie decoy systems.[3]
The frigate is equipped with a 30-by-15-metre (98 by 49 ft) helicopterlanding pad located on the stern and a 10-by-15-metre (33 by 49 ft)hangar.[3][8] The ship is capable of operating the embarkedEurocopter AS565 Panther up tosea state 5.[3][5]Ventôse is capable of operating helicopters up to the size of theEurocopter AS332 Super Puma.[3] The ship has a complement of 90 including the aircrew and officers and 24 marines with capacity for a further 13 personnel.[3]
Ventôse was ordered as part of the second pair on 9 January 1990 fromChantiers de l'Atlantique for construction at their yard inSaint-Nazaire, France, and thekeel waslaid down on 28 June 1991. The frigate was built using modular construction methods which reduced the vessel's construction time.Ventôse waslaunched on 14 March 1992 andcommissioned into the French Navy on 5 May 1993.[2][3] Followingsea trials,Ventôse sailed forArsenal de Lorient,Lorient where the weapons and sensors were installed and underwent further trials.[5]
Ventôse is stationed in theCaribbean Sea to patrol French oversea territories in the region. The vessel was assigned to theFrench Antilles, stationed atMartinique.[3][9] In 2005, in the aftermath of theHurricane Katrina disaster in the United States, the frigate was offered as part of theFrench response.[10] However, the United States declined France's offer.[11] In June 2009,Ventôse took part in the recovery operation for theAir France Flight 447 which crashed some 960 kilometres (600 mi) off the northeast coast of Brazil.[12]
On 6 and 7 January 2012,Ventôse intercepted two sailboats,Jo Ann Moore andSangria, 600 nautical miles (1,100 km; 690 mi) offGuadeloupe.Jo Ann Moore was stopped first and searched, with its four crew apprehended. Leaving a small party aboard the sailboat, the frigate made off to the southwest to catch up with the second sailboat,Sangria. The three crew members on boardSangria were arrested and 45 bundles comprising 1.2 tonnes (1.2 long tons; 1.3 short tons) ofcocaine were seized.[13] On 30 November 2012,Ventôse was alerted to the presence of a smuggler'sgo-fast boat by an American patrol aircraft. The smugglers were forcibly stopped and three crew were arrested along with the seizure of 838 kilograms (1,847 lb) of cocaine.[14]
In June 2015, the frigate stopped a go-fast boat and seized 20 kilograms (44 lb) ofmarijuana. On 3–4 June,Ventôse moved to intercept theAnguillan-flaggedcoastal trading vesselLady Margaret, suspected of smuggling.Lady Margaret was stopped without incident and the boarding party fromVentôse uncovered 524 kilograms (1,155 lb) of marijuana, which was destroyed.[15] In September 2017,Ventôse, withsister shipGerminal, was deployed toSaint Martin after the island was hit byHurricane Irma.[16]
From October to November 2018,Ventôse trained with theGuyana Defence Force, then stopping atBelém, Brazil before spending the rest of the time offWest Africa as part of Operation Corymbe, the permanent French mission to theGulf of Guinea.[17] On 26–27 May 2019Ventôse intercepted a suspected smuggling go-fast boat offDominica. Two smugglers were arrested and 416 kilograms (917 lb) of cocaine was seized.[18] In January 2023 the frigate intercepted a fishing vessel in the Caribbean and seized 320 kg (710 lb) of illegally traffickedcannabis.[19] In September 2023,Ventôse deployed to the Gulf of Guinea and was involved in an operation which seized 2.4 tonnes (2.4 long tons; 2.6 short tons) ofcocaine from smugglers.[20]
