French frigate ΄Alsace΄ in Corfu Port
Photo: Gerasimos Martinis
CORFU. The ship΄s construction began in 2016 at the DCNS shipyards in Lorient, it was launched in 2019, and it entered service in 2021. Since then, it has been based at the naval base in Toulon.
The modern French frigate D656 Alsace arrived at the port of Corfu on Tuesday, April 21, for a short period of rest for its crew. It is one of the newest ships of the French Navy, belonging to the FREMM type (Aquitaine-class), which numbers a total of six vessels in French service. More specifically, it is the first of two ships of the air-defence variant (DA – Défense Aérienne) of this type. Its construction began in 2016 at the DCNS shipyards in Lorient, it was launched in 2019, and it entered service in 2021. Since then, it has been based at the naval base in Toulon.
The ship has a length of 142 metres, a beam of 20 metres, and a displacement of 6,000 tons, while its crew consists of 120–145 personnel. The ship’s main weapon is the long-range Aster-30 anti-aircraft missiles, launched from four eight-cell Sylver A50 vertical launch systems located at the bow. Its armament is complemented by eight MM40 Exocet Block 3 surface-to-surface missiles, one 76 mm main gun, and two remotely operated 20 mm cannons. The ship’s primary sensor is the Heracles multi-role radar, while propulsion is provided by four engines combining diesel and electric power. This offers “quiet” sailing characteristics, giving frigates of this type top-tier anti-submarine warfare capabilities, in combination with the two sonars they carry, the onboard NH-90 NFH helicopter, two twin torpedo tubes, and torpedo countermeasure launchers.
The frigate D656 Alsace is participating in the operational deployment of a large part of the French Navy in the wider region, due to developments in the Middle East, including the carrier strike group of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which was recently at the Souda Bay base in Crete.
GERASIMOS MARTINIS
