Durance-class tanker

The Durance class is a series of multi-product replenishment oilers, originally designed and built for service in the French Navy. Besides the five ships built for the French Navy, a sixth was built for the Royal Australian Navy, while the lead ship of the class currently serves with the Argentine Navy. Two ships of a similar but smaller design are in service with the Royal Saudi Navy as the Boraida-class replenishment oilers.

Meuse in the Arabian Sea, 2 March 2015
Class overview
Name:	Durance class
Operators:	French Navy  Argentine Navy  Royal Saudi Navy Former Operators  Royal Australian Navy
Subclasses:	Boraida class
Built:	1973–1990
Completed:	8
Active:	6
Laid up:	2
General characteristics of French ships
Type:	Replenishment oiler
Displacement:	7,700–7,900 t (7,600–7,800 long tons) standard 18,200–18,800 t (17,900–18,500 long tons) (full load)
Length:	157.2 m (515 ft 9 in)
Beam:	21.2 m (69 ft 7 in)
Draught:	8.65 m (28 ft 5 in) standard 10.8 m (35 ft 5 in) full load
Propulsion:	2 × SEMT Pielstick 16 PC2.5 V 400 diesel engines 2 shafts, 15,000 kW (20,000 hp)
Speed:	19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Range:	9,000 nmi (17,000 km; 10,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement:	162
Sensors and processing systems:	2 x DRBN 34 radars
Armament:	1 x Bofors 40 mm (1.6 in)/L60 gun 4 x 12.7 mm (0.5 in) M2 Browning machine guns 3 x Simbad Mistral missile launcher
Aviation facilities:	Medium helicopter pad

In French Navy service the ships were used with the Force d'action navale (FAR, "Naval Action Force"). The last three French ships were built to a modified design with increased space for command operations. The three ships are used as flagships for French naval forces in the Indian Ocean. In 2009, Somme repelled an attack by pirates off the coast of Somalia. In 2014, a second French ship was removed from service. In 2019, the Australian ship was taken out of service.

French Navy

Design and description

In French service, the class the first two ships were dubbed Pétrolier Revitailleur d'Escadre (PRE, "fleet replenishment oiler"), and the final three, Bâtiment de commandement et ravitailleur (BCR, "command and replenishment ship").[1] In addition to their role as a fleet tanker, the three dubbed BCR can accommodate an entire general staff and thus supervise naval operations.[2] Meuse, which had a superstructure that was one deck higher than Durance, the lead ship of the class and the final three ships of the class, Var, Marne and Somme all had superstructures that were extended aft by 8 m (26 ft) to accommodate the additional staff requirements. The first two ships carry two cranes abaft the bridge, while the final three only have one positioned along the centreline.[3]

The five ships are of similar design but different layouts. Durance and Meuse had a standard displacement of 7,700 tonnes (7,600 long tons) and 18,200 t (17,900 long tons) at full load. Marne, Var and Somme have a standard displacement of 7,900 t (7,800 long tons) and 18,800 t (18,500 long tons) at full load. All five ships are 157.3 metres (516 ft 1 in) long overall and 149 m (488 ft 10 in) between perpendiculars with a beam of 21.2 m (69 ft 7 in) and a draught of 8.65 m (28 ft 5 in) empty and 10.8 m (35 ft 5 in) at full load. All five vessels are powered by two SEMT Pielstick 16 PC2.5 V 400 diesel engines turning two LIPS controllable pitch propellers rated at 15,000 kilowatts (20,000 hp). The vessels have a maximum speed of 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) and a range of 9,000 nmi (17,000 km; 10,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[1][4]

Durance was initially equipped with two landing craft for vehicles and personnel.[5] Each ship has two dual solid/liquid underway transfer stations per side and can replenish two ships per side and one astern.[3] As built, Durance had capacity for 7,600 t (7,500 long tons) of fuel oil, 1,500 t (1,500 long tons) of diesel oil, 510 t (500 long tons) of JP-5 aviation fuel, 130 t (130 long tons) of distilled water, 170 t (170 long tons) of provisions, 150 t (150 long tons) of munitions and 51 t (50 long tons) of spare parts. Meuse had capacity for 5,170 t (5,090 long tons) of fuel oil, 4,078 t (4,014 long tons) of diesel, 1,160 t (1,140 long tons) of JP-5 aviation fuel, 250 t (250 long tons) of distilled water, 180 t (180 long tons) of provisions, 124 t (122 long tons) of munitions and 46 t (45 long tons) of spare parts. The final three ships of the class differed from Meuse by carrying 3,360 t (3,310 long tons) of diesel fuel, 1,160 t (1,140 long tons) of JP-5 aviation fuel, 170 t (170 long tons) of munitions and 15 t (15 long tons) of spare parts.[4] These numbers changed with the needs of the fleet.[1]

The Durance-class tankers all mount a flight deck over the stern and a hangar. The ships utilise Aérospatiale Alouette III and Westland Lynx helicopters but are capable of operating larger ones from their flight deck. For defence, Durance was armed with twin-mounted Bofors 40 mm (1.6 in)/L60 anti-aircraft (AA) guns. The other four ships initially mounted one Bofors 40 mm/L60 AA guns and two 20 mm (0.8 in) AA guns in a twin turret.[4] They are equipped with two DRBN 34 navigational radars. The armament was later altered for the final four ships by removing the 20 mm guns and adding four 12.7 mm (0.5 in) M2 Browning machine guns and three launchers for Simbad Mistral surface-to-air missiles. Meuse had only one launcher installed. The ships have a complement of 162 and are capable of accommodating 250 personnel.[1]

Ships in class

Marne (central) replenishing the German frigate Emden (left) and USS Shoup (right)

Five ships of the class were built for the French Navy:

Durance class[1][4]
Pennant no.	Name	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Status
A 629	Durance	Arsenal de Brest, Brest, France	10 December 1973	6 September 1975	1 December 1976	Sold to Argentina in July 1999, renamed ARA Patagonia
A 607	Meuse		2 June 1977	2 December 1978	21 November 1980	Decommissioned 2014
A 608	Var		8 May 1979	1 June 1981	29 January 1983	In service
A 630	Marne		4 August 1982	2 February 1985	16 January 1987	In service
A 631	Somme	Normed, La Seyne, France	3 May 1985	3 October 1987	7 March 1990	In service

Three ships of the class (Marne, Somme, and Var) are fitted out as flagships and can embark an admiral and his staff. The 2013 French White Paper on Defence and National Security planned to replace them with four new double-hulled tankers between 2018 and 2021.[6] However, Meuse was decommissioned under budget cuts announced in October 2014.[7] They will be replaced under the FLOTLOG project by four derivatives of Italy's Vulcano Logistic Support Ship, scheduled to be delivered in 2022, 2025, 2027 and (subject to ratification of the next procurement plan) 2029.[8]

Construction and career

The first four tankers were constructed by the Arsenal de Brest at Brest, France between 1973 and 1987.[4] The fifth and final ship was ordered in March 1984 as part of the 1984–1988 plan and was built by Normed at their yard La Seyne, France.[1][2] The Durance-class ships began entering service in 1976 were assigned to the Force d'action navale (FAR, "Naval Action Force"). One of the BCRs (Var, Marne and Somme) is assigned to Indian Ocean as flagship of the French naval forces in the region.[1] In October 2009, Somme repelled an attack by Somali pirates.[9]

Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Success in 2018

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ordered one vessel, HMAS Success, of a modified design in September 1979. A second vessel was planned in 1980, but not optioned. Construction of Success was slow and costs increased.[10] The modified Durance-class oiler is 157.2 m (515 ft 9 in) in length, with a beam of 21.2 m (69 ft 7 in), and a draught of 8.6 m (28 ft 3 in), with a full load displacement of 18,221 t (17,933 long tons).[11] Propulsion machinery consists of two SEMT-Pielstick 16 PC2.5 V 400 diesel motors, which supply 15,500 kW (20,800 hp) to the ship's two propeller shafts. Top speed is 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph), and the ship has a range of 8,616 nmi (15,957 km; 9,915 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). Success has a total capacity of 10,200 tonnes of cargo: 8,707 tonnes of diesel fuel, 975 tonnes of aviation fuel, 250 tonnes of munitions (including guided missiles and torpedoes), 116 tonnes of water, 95 tonnes of components and naval stores, and 57 tonnes of food and other consumables.[12] Fuel and liquid stores can be transferred from four points (two on each side), allowing Success to replenish two ships simultaneously, while solid cargo can be moved via vertical replenishment (with a hangar and helipad for a single Sea King, Seahawk, or Squirrel helicopter), or by boat (the RAN LCVP T 7 is carried on a starboard forward davit).[11] The ship is armed with seven 12.7 mm machine guns, and is fitted for but not with a Mark 15 Phalanx CIWS. The sensor suite includes two Kelvin Hughes Type 100G navigation radars. Ship's company is made up of 25 officers and 212 sailors.[12]

Ships in class

Royal Australian Navy[13]
Pennant no.	Name	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Status
OR 304	HMAS Success	Cockatoo Docks & Engineering Company, Sydney, Australia	9 August 1980	3 March 1984	19 February 1986	Decommissioned 2019[14]

Argentine Navy

ARA Patagonia during naval exercises

On 12 July 1999, Argentina acquired Durance from the French Navy and renamed the ship ARA Patagonia. The ship underwent a refit and has capacity for 9,100 t (9,000 long tons) of fuel oil, 500 t of aviation fuel, 140 t of distilled water, 170 t of provisions, 150 t of munitions and 50 t of spare parts. The ship mounts only two Bofors 40 mm/60 guns and four 12.7 mm machine guns. The ship uses an Alouette III helicopter. The ship entered Argentine Navy service in July 2000.[15]

Ships in class

Argentine Navy[15]
Pennant no.	Name	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Status
B-1	ARA Patagonia	Arsenal de Brest, Brest, France	10 December 1973	6 September 1975	July 2000	In service

Royal Saudi Navy

Boraida underway in the Red Sea in 1991

In October 1980, Saudi Arabia signed a contract for two replenishment oilers as part of the Sawari I programme. The Boraida class have a full load displacement of 11,400 t (11,200 long tons), are 135 m (442 ft 11 in) long, have a beam of 18.7 m (61 ft 4 in), and a draught of 7 m (23 ft 0 in). They use two 18,200 horsepower (13,600 kW) SEMT Pielstick 14 PC2.5 V 500 diesel engines driving two shafts. They have a top speed of 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph) and a range of 7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 15 knots. They have a complement of 140. The ship can carry 4,350 tonnes (4,280 long tons; 4,800 short tons) of diesel, 35 tonnes (34 long tons; 39 short tons) of aviation fuel, 140 tonnes (140 long tons; 150 short tons) of freshwater, 100 tonnes (98 long tons; 110 short tons) of ammo, and 100 tonnes (98 long tons; 110 short tons) of supplies. The ship is armed by four Breda Bofors 40 mm/70 guns in two twin mounts. They have two CSEE Naja optronic fire control directors for the 40 mm guns. They have an aft helicopter deck, and can carry either two Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin or one Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma helicopters. Both ships underwent upgrades in 1996–1998. They serve as training ships and depot and maintenance ships.[16]

Boraida class[16][17]
Pennant no.	Name	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Status
902	Boraida	La Ciotat, Marseille, France	13 April 1982	22 January 1983	29 February 1984	In service
904	Yunbou	9 October 1983	20 October 1984	29 August 1985	In service

Citations

1. Saunders 2009, p. 269.
2. Couhat 1986, p. 140.
3. Couhat 1986, pp. 139–140.
4. Couhat 1986, p. 139.
5. "Pétrolier ravitailleur Durance : Caractéristiques principales" [Durance tanker: Main features]. netmarine.net (in French). Retrieved 9 January 2020.
6. "Projet de loi de finances pour 2013 : Défense : équipement des forces" (in French). Senate of France. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
7. "Défense : Le Drian détaille les 7 500 postes supprimés dans l'armée" [Defense: Drian details 7,500 job cuts in the army]. francetvinfo.fr (in French). 15 October 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
8. Cabirol, Michel (15 June 2018). "Pétrolier ravitailleur : la France monte à bord du programme italien Vulcano" [Oil tanker: France gets on board the Italian Vulcano program]. Le Tribune (in French). Retrieved 9 January 2020.
9. "Pirates hit navy ship 'in error'". BBC News. 7 October 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
10. Couhat 1986, p. 17.
11. Saunders 2012, p. 35.
12. Saunders & Philpott 2015, p. 36.
13. Saunders 2009, p. 38.
14. "HMAS Success (II)". Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
15. Saunders 2009, p. 20.
16. Saunders 2009, p. 715.
17. Couhat 1986, p. 406.

References

• Couhat, Jean Labayle, ed. (1986). Combat Fleets of the World 1986/87. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85368-860-5.
• Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 (112 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN 0-7106-2888-9.
• Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2012). IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2012–2013. Coulsdon: IHS Jane's. ISBN 9780710630087. OCLC 793688752.
• Saunders, Stephen & Philpott, Tom, eds. (2015). IHS Jane's Fighting Ships 2015–2016 (116th Revised ed.). Coulsdon: IHS Jane's. ISBN 9780710631435. OCLC 919022075.

External links