Moroccan frigate Mohammed V

The Moroccan frigate Mohammed V is a Floréal-class frigate of the Royal Moroccan Navy. The ship was the first to be constructed for Morocco by Chantiers de l'Atlantique at Saint-Nazaire, France from 1999 to 2001. The frigate entered service in 2002. Mohammed V is the first of two Floréal-class frigates in Moroccan service, the other being Hassan II.

Moroccan frigate Mohammed V (foreground) and Hassan II (rear)
History
Morocco
Name: Mohammed V
Ordered: 12 July 1999
Builder: Chantiers de l'Atlantique
Laid down: June 1999
Launched: 9 March 2001
Commissioned: 12 March 2002
Identification: Pennant number 611
Status: In service
General characteristics
Class and type: Floréal-class frigate
Displacement:
  • 2,600 t (2,600 long tons)
  • 3,000 t (2,950 long tons) full load
Length: 93.5 m (306 ft 9 in)
Beam: 14 m (45 ft 11 in)
Draught: 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in)
Propulsion:
Speed: 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Range: 10,000 nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement: 89
Sensors and
processing systems:		 2 × Decca Bridgemaster radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
  • Thomsen-CSF ARBR 17 radar intercept
  • 2 Dagaie decoy systems
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 1 Panther helicopter
Aviation facilities: Flight deck and hangar

Design and description

The Floréal-class frigates were designed in response to a demand for a cheap warship capable of operating in low threat areas and able to perform general patrol functions. As a result, the Floréal class were constructed to mercantile standards in the areas of ammunition stowage, helicopter facilities and damage control, which significantly lowered the cost of the vessels. The Floréal class were designed for using modular construction which shortened their building times.[1] The Moroccan frigates of the class are similar to those in French service with a few changes.[2]

Mohammed V has a standard displacement of 2,600 tonnes (2,600 long tons) and 3,000 tonnes (2,950 long tons) at full load. The frigate measures 85.2 metres (279 ft 6 in) long between perpendiculars and 93.5 metres (306 ft 9 in) overall with a beam of 14 metres (45 ft 11 in) and a draught of 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in).[2][3] Due to the frigate's broad beam, the ship is equipped with fin stabilisers.[4]

The frigate is powered by a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) system comprising four SEMT Pielstick 6 PA6 L280 BPC diesel engines driving two shafts each turning a LIPS controllable pitch propeller. The CODAD system is rated at 7,200 kilowatts (9,600 hp) The vessel is also equipped with one 250-kilowatt (340 hp) bow thruster.[2] Due to the mercantile construction design, the four diesels are all located within one machinery room for ease of maintenance. Both diesel fuel and TR5 aviation fuel is brought aboard at a single location at the stern compared to naval-constructed vessels which sport two. The ship also has three 750 kW (1,010 hp) diesel-electric generators located just fore and aft of the machinery room.[4][5] Mohammed V has a maximum speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) and a range of 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[2]

Mohammed V is armed with two Exocet MM38 surface-to-surface missiles in launchers situated centrally atop the midships superstructure. The ship also mounts one Otobreda 76 mm (3 in) gun turret with Najir fire control system located forwards. The vessel is capable of being armed with two 20 mm modèle F2 guns situated in atop the aft superstructure. In place of the 20 mm (0.8 in) guns, the Moroccan Floréal-class frigates can be fitted with twin launchers for Simbad surface-to-air missiles. The ship is equipped with two Decca Bridgemaster radars, one for use as navigational radar, the other for helicopter control, Thomsen-CSF ARBR 17 radar intercept electronic surveillance systems and two Dagaie decoy systems.[2]

The frigate is equipped with a 30-by-15-metre (98 by 49 ft) helicopter landing pad located on the stern and a 10-by-15-metre (33 by 49 ft) hangar.[2][6] The ship is capable of operating the embarked Eurocopter AS565 Panther up to sea state 5.[4][7] Mohammed V is capable of operating helicopters up to the size of the Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma. The ship has a complement of 89 including officers.[8]

Construction and career

Mohammed V was ordered as the first of a pair of Floréal-class frigates on 12 July 1999 from Chantiers de l'Atlantique for construction at their yard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The vessel's keel was laid down in June 1999 and was built using modular construction methods which reduced the vessel's construction time. Mohammed V was launched on 9 March 2001 and commissioned into the Royal Moroccan Navy on 12 March 2002.[2]

In September 2010, Mohammed V joined in joint naval exercises with the European Maritime Force off Morocco.[9] In June 2017, the frigate trained with NATO's Standing Maritime Group 2 off Morocco.[10] In March 2019, the ship participated in the international joint naval exercise Obangame Express 2019 that took place in the maritime area between Ivory Coast and Nigeria.[11] In May, Mohammed V along with the French aviso Lieutenant de vaisseau Le Hénaff and the Senegalese patrol vessel Fouladou participated in a joint patrol of the Gulf of Guinea from the Ivory Coast to Senegal.[12]

Citations
  1. Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, pp. 119–120.
  2. Saunders 2009, p. 531.
  3. Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, p. 119.
  4. Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, p. 120.
  5. Massicot 2010, pp. 53–54.
  6. Massicot 2010, p. 55.
  7. Saunders 2009, p. 258.
  8. Saunders 2009, pp. 258, 531.
  9. "EUROMARFOR Training With the Moroccan Navy". European Maritime Force. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  10. "NATO ships train with Royal Moroccan Navy". navaltoday.com. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  11. "La Frégate «Mohammed V» de la Marine Royale participe à l'exercice naval multinational «Obangame Express 2019»" [The Royal Navy frigate "Mohammed V" takes part in the multinational naval exercise "Obangame Express 2019"]. Le Matin (in French). 15 March 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  12. "Patrouilleur Le Hénaff. Retour d'une mission en Afrique" [Patroller Le Hénaff. Return from a mission to Africa]. Le Télégramme (in French). 18 May 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.

References
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Massicot, Jean (2010). Navires de guerre et marine française (in French). Toulon, France: Desnoel. ISBN 978-1-4461-4597-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 (112 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN 0-7106-2888-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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