Shipbucket :: Some French Cold War ships

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

Author:	Hood [ April 7th, 2024, 3:07 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Some French Cold War ships
Fantastic work! It's so good to see these vessels represented in SB and their varied modifications and lives mapped out.

Author:	Gollevainen [ April 7th, 2024, 4:57 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Some French Cold War ships
Yeah these were a long waited addition! Great work as usual

Author:	eswube [ April 14th, 2024, 12:41 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Some French Cold War ships
Fantastic series!

Author:	paul_541 [ April 14th, 2024, 4:43 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Some French Cold War ships
Really nice work on those French DDs well done !

Author:	Garlicdesign [ April 20th, 2024, 12:42 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Some French Cold War ships
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. 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. 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. 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. Later modifications are included in the excellent depictions by Bezobrazov and Brockpaine already in the archive. Cheers GD

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Some French Cold War ships http://shipbucket.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=10614	Page 7 of 8

Author:	eswube [ April 20th, 2024, 2:21 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Some French Cold War ships
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.

Author:	paul_541 [ April 21st, 2024, 10:52 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Some French Cold War ships
Well done GarlicDesign !

Author:	Hood [ April 22nd, 2024, 7:50 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Some French Cold War ships
Fantastic work and excellent additions, the Suffren-class were certainly good looking ships.

Author:	Garlicdesign [ April 28th, 2024, 3:14 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Some French Cold War ships
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

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