The MN Aconit (D646) was a destroyer built for the French Navy during the Cold War, in commission from 1973 until 2004. She was named after the corvette Aconit which fought in the Free French Naval Forces during World War II.
Aconit was laid down at the Arsenal de Lorient on March 22nd 1968, launched on March 7th 1970 and commissioned on March 30th 1973. She was initially based at Toulon before transferring to Brest in 1975.
The ship received several upgrades during her lifetime. In the 1970s she was fitted with the ARBR-16 radar detector and two Syllex chaff launchers. In 1984–85 she underwent a Indisponibilité pour Entretien et Réparations ("Unavailability for Maintenance and Repairs") during which the 305 mm anti-submarine mortar was replaced by eight Exocet MM40 missiles, and the DRBV-13 RDF in the radome upgraded to the DRBV-15A.
In 1988 she was redesignated a Type F65 frigate.
Another IPER in 1992 added the DSBV62C towed passive ASDIC, two Oerlikon 20 mm cannon, two 12.7 mm machine guns, and the Inmarsat and Syracuse satellite telecommunications systems. In addition, the Decca 1226 navigation RDF was replaced with the DRBN34A, and the DRBC-32B RDF was upgraded to the DRBC-32D.
Specifications[]
- Type: Destroyer
- Service Period: 1973-2004
- Characteristics:
- Length: 417 feet (127.1 meters)
- Beam: 44 feet (13.41 meters)
- Draught: 19 feet (5.8 meters)
- Displacement: 3,456 tons (Standard); 4,266 tons (Full Load)
- Crew: 232
- Propulsion: 1 × Rateau steam turbine, 28,650 hp (21,364 kW), single shaft
- Range: 5,000 nautical miles (9,260 kilometers) at 18 knots (33.34 km/h)
- Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h)
- Sensor Suite (As Built):
- DRBV22A air surveillance RDF
- DRBV-13 surveillance RDF - replaced by DRBV-15A surveillance RDF in 1985
- Decca 1226 navigation RDF - replaced by DRBN34A navigation RDF in 1992
- DRBC32B fire control RDF - replaced by DRBC-32D fire control RDF in 1992
- DUBV23 active ASDIC (bow)
- DUBV43 towed active ASDIC
- DSBV62C towed passive ASDIC - added in 1992
- Countermeasures:
- SLQ25 Nixie towed decoy
- ARBR16 radar detector
- Syllex decoy launchers x 2
- Armament:
- 2 × Model 1968 100 mm (4 in) gun turrets
- 1 × Malafon missile launcher
- 2 × launchers for L5 torpedoes (10 carried)
- 1 × quadruple 305 mm (12 in) anti-submarine mortar - replaced by MM40 Exocet AShMs in 1985
- 2 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannons - added in 1992
- 2 × 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine guns - added in 1992