Moroccan frigate Mohammed VI

Mohammed VI (701) is a FREMM multipurpose frigate of the Royal Moroccan Navy.[1][2]

Mohammed VI underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 25 April 2018
History
Morocco
Name: Mohammed VI
Namesake: Mohammed VI
Ordered: 24 October 2007
Builder: DCNS, Lorient
Laid down: 2008
Launched: 14 September 2011
Commissioned: 30 January 2014
Homeport: Ksar es-Seghir
Identification:
Status: Active
General characteristics
Class and type: FREMM multipurpose frigate
Displacement: 6,000 tons
Length: 466 ft (142.0 m)
Beam: 65 ft (19.8 m)
Draught: 16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion:
Speed: 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph); max cruise speed 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph)
Range: 6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement: 145
Sensors and
processing systems:		 Héraklès multi-purpose passive electronically scanned array radar
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 1 × NH90 helicopter
Aviation facilities: Single hangar

Development and design

Three original variants of the FREMM were proposed; an anti-submarine variant (ASW) and a general-purpose variant (GP) and a land-attack variant (AVT) to replace the existing classes of frigates within the French and Italian navies. A total of 27 FREMM were to be constructed - 17 for France and 10 for Italy - with additional aims to seek exports, however budget cuts and changing requirements has seen this number drop significantly for France, while the order for Italy remained unchanged. The land-attack variant (AVT) was subsequently cancelled.

On 24 October 2007 it was announced that the Royal Moroccan Navy had ordered one FREMM to replace its Descubierta-class corvette.[3] The contract was signed on 18 April 2008 and construction of the Moroccan FREMM began in the summer 2008 with delivery expected in 2012 or 2013.[4] The Moroccan ship is similar to the French anti-submarine version, without SYLVER A70 tubes for SCALP Naval, and cost €470m.[5]

Construction and career

Mohammed VI is the biggest and most powerful frigate in Africa (with the Egyptian frigate Tahya Misr, of the same class). Mohammed VI was launched on 14 September 2011 and handed over on 30 January 2014.[5] The ship was commissioned on 30 January 2014.[6] Her homeport is Ksar es-Seghir.

  • Mohammed VI at Lorient on 24 May 2013.

References
  1. "Aquitaine class FREMM Frigate French Navy Marine Nationale". www.seaforces.org. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  2. "Royal Moroccan Navy FREMM Frigate / FREMM Marocaine - Mohammed VI". far-maroc.forumpro.fr (in French). Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  3. "Accord conclu pour la vente d'une frégate française au Maroc". Mer et Marine (in French). Archived from the original on 20 November 2007.
  4. "La construction de la FREMM marocaine débute à Lorient". Mer et Marine (in French). Archived from the original on 22 April 2009.
  5. Djama, Nasser (30 January 2014). "A Brest, le Maroc prend possession de sa frégate Fremm Mohammed VI". L'Usine Nouvelle (in French). Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  6. Nouvelle, L'Usine (2014-01-30). "A Brest, le Maroc prend possession de sa frégate Fremm Mohammed VI - L'Usine Maroc" (in French). Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
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