Drummond class corvette
Encyclopedia
The Drummond class are three corvette
s designed and built in France basically similar to the D'Estienne d'Orves class
(or A69). The ships were all commissioned between 1978 and 1982 in the Argentine Navy
The first two vesseles were originally built for South Africa
but were embargoed
and bought by Argentina instead. The third ship was expressly built for the Argentine Navy and is slightly different. Although considered by its designers to be aviso
s, the Drummond class vessels have been classed in Argentina as corvettes. They are equipped mostly with German and Dutch electronic systems (instead of French) for better compatibility with the two MEKO
classes in Argentine service all integrated into the Miniaco Combat system of indigenous design
.
The ships currently serve in the "Atlantic Area of Operations" of the Argentine Navy
, based on Mar del Plata
Naval Base, province of Buenos Aires.
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
s designed and built in France basically similar to the D'Estienne d'Orves class
D'Estienne d'Orves class
The A69 type Avisos are small warships mainly designed for coastal anti-submarine defence, but are also available for high sea escort missions . Built on a simple and robust design, they have an economical and reliable propulsion system which allows them to be used for overseas presence missions...
(or A69). The ships were all commissioned between 1978 and 1982 in the Argentine Navy
Argentine Navy
The Navy of the Argentine Republic or Armada of the Argentine Republic is the navy of Argentina. It is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic, together with the Army and the Air Force....
The first two vesseles were originally built for South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
but were embargoed
United Nations Security Council Resolution 418
United Nations Security Council Resolution 418, adopted unanimously on 4 November 1977, imposed a mandatory arms embargo against apartheid South Africa. This resolution differed from the earlier Resolution 282, which was only voluntary...
and bought by Argentina instead. The third ship was expressly built for the Argentine Navy and is slightly different. Although considered by its designers to be aviso
Aviso
An aviso , a kind of dispatch boat or advice boat, survives particularly in the French navy, they are considered equivalent to the modern sloop....
s, the Drummond class vessels have been classed in Argentina as corvettes. They are equipped mostly with German and Dutch electronic systems (instead of French) for better compatibility with the two MEKO
MEKO
The MEKO family of warships was developed by the German company Blohm + Voss.MEKO is a registered trademark. The portmanteau stands for "Mehrzweck-Kombination" . It is a concept in modern naval shipbuilding based on modularity of armament, electronics and other equipment, aiming at ease of...
classes in Argentine service all integrated into the Miniaco Combat system of indigenous design
Argentine defense industry
The Argentine defense industry has developed over the years, different programs to improve the armed forces of Argentina. The first major steps to establish a defense industry were made during the Second World War and they received a boost during the 1970s after the United States imposed an arms...
.
The ships currently serve in the "Atlantic Area of Operations" of the Argentine Navy
Argentine Navy
The Navy of the Argentine Republic or Armada of the Argentine Republic is the navy of Argentina. It is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic, together with the Army and the Air Force....
, based on Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata
Mar del Plata is an Argentine city located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, south of Buenos Aires. Mar del Plata is the second largest city of Buenos Aires Province. The name "Mar del Plata" had apparently the sense of "sea of the Río de la Plata region" or "adjoining sea to the Río de la Plata"...
Naval Base, province of Buenos Aires.
Specification
- Displacement: n/a tons (empty); 1,170 tons (full load)
- Length: n/a ft (80 m)
- Beam: n/a ft (10.3 m)
- Draught: n/a ft (3.55 m)
- Propulsion:
- 2 shafts / propellers
- 2 SEMT PielstickSEMT PielstickSEMT Pielstick is a French diesel engine manufacturer based in Villepinte, France and owned by MAN Diesel, a subsidiary of MAN AGSEMT Pielstick was formed in 1988 when the business was acquired from GEC Alsthom by MAN and MTU, originally as a 50/50 partnership...
12 PC2.2 V 400 diesel engines, 12 shp tot. - Max shaft horsepower: n/a shp max
- Speed: 23 knots (45 km/h)
- Range: 4,500 nautical miles at 16 knots (31 km/h)
- Armament
- 4 x AérospatialeAérospatialeAérospatiale was a French aerospace manufacturer that built both civilian and military aircraft, rockets and satellites. It was originally known as Société Nationale Industrielle Aérospatiale...
MM 38 ExocetExocetThe Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
SSMSurface-to-surface missileA surface-to-surface missile is a guided projectile launched from a hand-held, vehicle mounted, trailer mounted or fixed installation or from a ship. They are often powered by a rocket motor or sometimes fired by an explosive charge, since the launching platform is typically stationary or moving... - 1 x 4in/55 (100 mm) Creusot-Loire CADAM turretFrench 100 mm naval gunModern French 100 mm naval guns are multipurpose artillery pieces , capable of a high rate of fire. Most modern French warships are equipped with one of its versions.-History:...
DP automatic fast-firing gun - 1 x twin 40 mm 70-cal. OTO Melara (Breda Bofors) AA guns
- 2 x 20 mm L/ 90 OerlikonOerlikon ContravesRheinmetall Air Defence AG is a division of German armament manufacturer Rheinmetall, created when the company's Oerlikon Contraves unit was renamed on 1 January 2009 and integrated with Rheinmetall's other air-defence products...
automatic gunAutocannonAn autocannon or automatic cannon is a rapid-fire projectile weapon firing a shell as opposed to the bullet fired by a machine gun. Autocannons often have a larger caliber than a machine gun . Usually, autocannons are smaller than a field gun or other artillery, and are mechanically loaded for a...
s - 2 x 12.7 mm machine guns
- 2 x triple 324 mm ILAS-3 ASW torpedo tubes (Whitehead AS-244 torpedoTorpedoThe modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
es, quantity n/a)
- 4 x Aérospatiale
- Aircraft: None
- Complement: 95
- Radar:
- Air/Surface Search: Signaal DA08 (equipped with IFFIdentification friend or foeIn telecommunications, identification, friend or foe is an identification system designed for command and control. It is a system that enables military and national interrogation systems to identify aircraft, vehicles, or forces as friendly and to determine their bearing and range from the...
). - Surface Search & helicopter control: Signaal ZW06.
- Fire Control: Signaal STIR
- Navigation: DeccaDecca RadarThe Decca Company, a British gramophone manufacturer that, as Decca Records, released records under the Decca label, contributed to the British war effort during the Second World War...
TM 1226
- Air/Surface Search: Signaal DA08 (equipped with IFF
- Sonar: ThomsonThomson-CSFThomson-CSF was a major electronics and defence contractor. In December 2000 it was renamed Thales Group.-History:In 1879 Elihu Thomson and Edwin Houston formed the Thomson-Houston Electric Company in the United States....
Sintra Diodon - Electronic Warfare:
- Decoys: (no details available)
- Datalink: (no details available)
- Weapons Control System: Thomson-CSF System Vega, CSEE Panda MK2 director (optical), NASA director (optronic, for the 40 mm gun).
- Concept/Program: French designed and built general purpose avisoAvisoAn aviso , a kind of dispatch boat or advice boat, survives particularly in the French navy, they are considered equivalent to the modern sloop....
s (classified as "corvettes" by the Argentine navy). - Builder: n/a shipyard, Lorient, France.
- Designer: n/a, France.
- Design: A69D'Estienne d'Orves classThe A69 type Avisos are small warships mainly designed for coastal anti-submarine defence, but are also available for high sea escort missions . Built on a simple and robust design, they have an economical and reliable propulsion system which allows them to be used for overseas presence missions...
type.
Ships in the class
- ARA Drummond (P-31)ARA Drummond (P-31)ARA Drummond is the lead ship of the Drummond class of three corvettes of the Argentine Navy. She is the second vessel to be named after Navy Sgt Francisco Drummond.-Service history:...
- ARA Guerrico (P-32)ARA Guerrico (P-32)ARA Guerrico is a Drummond class corvette of the Argentine Navy. She is the first vessel to be named after Rear Admiral Martin Guerrico who fought in the 19th century War of the Triple Alliance....
- ARA Granville (P-33)