In 1973 the French navy commissioned the C 65 class destroyer Aconit as the prototype for a new series of escorts optimised for the anti-submarine role in the North Atlantic. The ship was 127 m long and had single-shaft propulsion for a speed of 27 knots. Even as the ship was being built, however, it was clear that it was too small and limited in capabilities, so the following F 67 or Tourville class destroyers featured greater dimensions for a 1 350-ton increase in standard displacement, a doubling of power delivered to two shafts, hangarage for two Westland Lynx helicopters, and an enhanced anti-ship capability through the addition of Exocet missiles.
Completed in 1974-77 at the Lorient naval dockyard, the three ships were commissioned as the Tourville, Duguay-Trouin and de Grasse. The first two ships were completed with three 100 mm guns, but the de Grasse was completed with only the two forward guns as it had been decided that the ships would have a Crotale surface-to-air missile installation (with 26 missiles) above the hangar.
The ships were to have been completed with the same electronic fit as the Aconit, but the decision was taken during the ships construction to adopt a more modern and capable suite including the DRBV 26 air surveillance radar, the DRBV 50 (later DRBV 51B) target designation radar, and a lightweight version of the DRBC 32 fire-control radar, but the Aconit’s SENIT 3 tactical data system was retained.
The ships have two sets of non-retracting stabilisers, and helicopter capability is enhanced by the provision of a downhaul system on the flight platform and aSPHEX traverse system serving the double hangar. Habitability was improved over that of earlier ships, and the capability of electronics (especially the sonar) has been upgraded, although the Malafon system was removed in the 1990s. The Tourville and de Grasse are still in service, but are due to be decommissioned in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
