Some French Cold War ships

Post drawings of ships that actually exist or have existed at some point.

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Hood
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Re: Some French Cold War ships

Post by Hood »

Fantastic work!
It's so good to see these vessels represented in SB and their varied modifications and lives mapped out.
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Gollevainen
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Re: Some French Cold War ships

Post by Gollevainen »

Yeah these were a long waited addition! Great work as usual
eswube
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Re: Some French Cold War ships

Post by eswube »

Fantastic series!
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paul_541
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Re: Some French Cold War ships

Post by paul_541 »

Really nice work on those French DDs well done ! :D
My motto:Per ardua ad astra (RCAF)
Current Drawings:
USS Midway CVB-41 and later alterations
HMCS Bonaventure CVL-22 and later alterations
Paul 2024
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Garlicdesign
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Re: Some French Cold War ships

Post by Garlicdesign »

Hi all!

Originally, I only wanted to draw some parts used by these ships, but while I was at it...

Suffren-class destroyers

A class of two (more were planned, but the cash was needed for the contemporary Redoutable-class SSBNs) air-defence missile destroyers, which were generally rated as one of the most successful french cold-war warships - they were fast, very good sea boats and sturdy enough for more than 30 years of service. They mounted the french-designed (actually, a rather clumsy copy of Terrier, with more bulk and less performance) Masurca SAM system (48 missiles stowage), two rapid-firing 100mm guns, four 550mm ASW torpedo catapults, the Malafon standoff ASW system (13 missiles stowage) and four 20mm cannon, which were for some reason mounted in egg-shaped twin turrets directly in front of the aft mast stub with the ESM installation. They were easily identified by their huge fiberglass radomes for a complex and bulky first generation 3D-radar (DRBI-23); apart from this huge set, only a DRBV-50 target designator and a navigation radar was carried.
Image

Beginning in 1977, both vessels received four Exocet SSMs each. The 20mm turrets were landed and the guns (WW2-vintage Oerlikons) mounted individually and without protection, two near the old position, the other two forward of the bridge.
Image

In 1986, both ships received a new commo array including the Syracuse Satcom. Duquesne at that time also swapped the DRBV-50 for the more advanced DRBV-15 target designator radar.
Image

Suffren received a comprehensive electronics refit in 1989/90, including the DRBV-15, a new ESM suite (the same one as on Cassard and Jean Bart), whose main installation went to the position formerly occupied by the Syllex chaff launcher; new Dagaie countermeasures launchers were mounted aft behind the 20mm cannon positions, and the deckhouse and mast stub between them were replaced with larger installations.
Image

Later modifications are included in the excellent depictions by Bezobrazov and Brockpaine already in the archive.

Cheers
GD
eswube
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Re: Some French Cold War ships

Post by eswube »

Fantastic work!
That said, I would personally really appreciate if the "later modifications" were done by You too, so we would have all of them done consistently in one style. ;)
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paul_541
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Re: Some French Cold War ships

Post by paul_541 »

Well done GarlicDesign !
My motto:Per ardua ad astra (RCAF)
Current Drawings:
USS Midway CVB-41 and later alterations
HMCS Bonaventure CVL-22 and later alterations
Paul 2024
Hood
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Re: Some French Cold War ships

Post by Hood »

Fantastic work and excellent additions, the Suffren-class were certainly good looking ships.
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Garlicdesign
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Re: Some French Cold War ships

Post by Garlicdesign »

Hello again!

OK, the Forum seems to work better now, although everything still takes eons.

Next entry: French cruiser Colbert after her 1967-1970 refit as anti-air missile cruiser. Her original configuration was drastically changed, landing all 127mm guns and half her 57mm pieces; the main armament now was a Masurca launcher with 48 missiles, two 100mm guns and (from 1977) four MM38 Exocet antiship missiles. Interestingly, the original radar outfit was not modernized, just distributed differently; although 3D-radars were available at that time, Colbert still relied on an old-fashioned height finder and two different 2D air surveillance sets.

Image

During the final 20 years of her career, Colbert was not modernized in any significant way, with the exception of satellite communication installed in the mid-1980s. The image shows her shortly before the end of her career; although she was in good material condition, she was stricken in 1991 during the post-cold war rundown of all western European navies.

Cheers
GD
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paul_541
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Re: Some French Cold War ships

Post by paul_541 »

Garlicdesign wrote: April 28th, 2024, 3:14 pm Hello again!

OK, the Forum seems to work better now, although everything still takes eons.

Next entry: French cruiser Colbert after her 1967-1970 refit as anti-air missile cruiser. Her original configuration was drastically changed, landing all 127mm guns and half her 57mm pieces; the main armament now was a Masurca launcher with 48 missiles, two 100mm guns and (from 1977) four MM38 Exocet antiship missiles. Interestingly, the original radar outfit was not modernized, just distributed differently; although 3D-radars were available at that time, Colbert still relied on an old-fashioned height finder and two different 2D air surveillance sets.

During the final 20 years of her career, Colbert was not modernized in any significant way, with the exception of satellite communication installed in the mid-1980s. The image shows her shortly before the end of her career; although she was in good material condition, she was stricken in 1991 during the post-cold war rundown of all western European navies.

Cheers
GD
Well done again ! Will you do a Clemenceau or Charles De Gaulle redux too :roll: ? Just joking ;)
My motto:Per ardua ad astra (RCAF)
Current Drawings:
USS Midway CVB-41 and later alterations
HMCS Bonaventure CVL-22 and later alterations
Paul 2024
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