French frigate Aconit (F65)

	Model of Aconit (Musée national de la Marine)
Class overview
Name	Type C65 corvette (1968–1988); Type F65 frigate (1988–1997);
Operators	French Navy
Preceded by	T 53 class
Succeeded by	Tourville class
Built	1968–1973
In commission	1973–1997
Planned	5
Completed	1
Cancelled	4
Retired	1
History
France
Name	Aconit
Builder	Arsenal de Lorient
Laid down	22 March 1968
Launched	7 March 1970
Commissioned	30 March 1973
Decommissioned	27 February 1997
Identification	F 703; D 609;
Fate	Demolished 24 November 2018
General characteristics
Type	Frigate
Displacement	3,135 tonnes (3,085 long tons) standard; 3,870 tonnes (3,809 long tons) full load;
Length	127 m (417 ft) o/a
Beam	13.4 m (44 ft 0 in)
Draught	5.8 m (19 ft 0 in)
Propulsion	1 × Rateau steam turbine, 28,650 hp (21,364 kW), single shaft
Speed	27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range	1,600 nmi (3,000 km; 1,800 mi) at 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph); 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph);
Complement	232
Sensors and ; processing systems	As built:; DRBV22A air surveillance radar; DRBV-13 surveillance radar; Decca 1226 navigation radar; DRBC32B fire control radar; DUBV23 active sonar (bow); DUBV43 towed active sonar; From 1985:; DRBV-15A surveillance radar (replaced DRBV-13); From 1992:; DRBN34A navigation radar (replaced Decca 1226); DRBC-32D radar (replaced DRBC-32B); DSBV62C towed passive sonar added;
Electronic warfare ; & decoys	As built:; 1 × SLQ25 Nixie towed decoy; From 1970s:; ARBR16 radar detector; 2 × Syllex decoy launchers;
Armament	As built:; 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; From 1985:; 8 × Exocet MM40 missiles (replaced anti-submarine mortar); From 1992:; Addition of; 2 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannons; 2 × 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine guns;

Aconit was a unique frigate built for the French Navy during the Cold War, in commission from 1973 until 1997. She was named after the corvette Aconit which fought in the Free French Naval Forces during World War II.

Class overview
Model of Aconit (Musée national de la Marine)
Name	Type C65 corvette (1968–1988) Type F65 frigate (1988–1997)
Operators	French Navy
Preceded by	T 53 class
Succeeded by	Tourville class
Built	1968–1973
In commission	1973–1997
Planned	5
Completed	1
Cancelled	4
Retired	1
History
France
Name	Aconit
Builder	Arsenal de Lorient
Laid down	22 March 1968
Launched	7 March 1970
Commissioned	30 March 1973
Decommissioned	27 February 1997
Identification	F 703 D 609
Fate	Demolished 24 November 2018
General characteristics
Type	Frigate
Displacement	3,135 tonnes (3,085 long tons) standard 3,870 tonnes (3,809 long tons) full load
Length	127 m (417 ft) o/a
Beam	13.4 m (44 ft 0 in)
Draught	5.8 m (19 ft 0 in)
Propulsion	1 × Rateau steam turbine, 28,650 hp (21,364 kW), single shaft
Speed	27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Range	1,600 nmi (3,000 km; 1,800 mi) at 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph) 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement	232
Sensors and processing systems	As built: DRBV22A air surveillance radar DRBV-13 surveillance radar Decca 1226 navigation radar DRBC32B fire control radar DUBV23 active sonar (bow) DUBV43 towed active sonar From 1985: DRBV-15A surveillance radar (replaced DRBV-13) From 1992: DRBN34A navigation radar (replaced Decca 1226) DRBC-32D radar (replaced DRBC-32B) DSBV62C towed passive sonar added
Electronic warfare & decoys	As built: 1 × SLQ25 Nixie towed decoy From 1970s: ARBR16 radar detector 2 × Syllex decoy launchers
Armament	As built: 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 From 1985: 8 × Exocet MM40 missiles (replaced anti-submarine mortar) From 1992: Addition of 2 × Oerlikon 20 mm cannons 2 × 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine guns