FACM Class La Combattante III
Encyclopedia
Fast Attack Craft Missile Class La Combattante III refers to four ships ordered by Greece in September 1974 from France. There are similar to the Fast Attack Craft Missile Class La Combattante IIa
, but are bigger and armed with torpedoes. A second group of six were ordered in 1978, but were built in Greece and use Penguin Mk 2 Mod 3 missile
s.
has decided to modernize the Fast Attack Craft Missile Class La Combattante III and La Combattante IIIb. For the four Combattante III fast attack craft, Thales
will deliver a TACTICOS combat management system, including four multifunctional operator consoles, one surveillance radar
, one fire control
tracking system, one electro-optical tracking and fire control system, an integrated low probability of interception radar, two target designation sights and a tactical data link. The weapon suite of the Combattante IIIs will remain unchanged. Thales will also be responsible for the integration of these existing gun
s, surface-to-surface missile
s and torpedoes. The first of the four ships were ready by mid 2006, followed by the other three with six months intervals.
4 Emerson Electric 30 mm (2 twin); multipurpose; 1,200 rounds/min combined to 6 km (3.2 NM); weight of shell 0.35 kg.
ESM: Thomson-CSF DR 2000S; intercept.
Navigation: Decca 1226C; I-band.
Fire control: Thomson-CSF Castor II; I/J-band; range 31 km (17 NM) for 2 m2 target.
FACM Class La Combattante IIa
Fast Attack Craft Missile Class La Combattante IIa were originally built for the German Navy as Type 148 Tiger class fast attack craft. They were later transferred to Hellenic Navy and the class was renamed Combattante IIa, as with similar French made ships. All the ships were under mid-life...
, but are bigger and armed with torpedoes. A second group of six were ordered in 1978, but were built in Greece and use Penguin Mk 2 Mod 3 missile
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
s.
Modernization
The Hellenic NavyHellenic Navy
The Hellenic Navy is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence...
has decided to modernize the Fast Attack Craft Missile Class La Combattante III and La Combattante IIIb. For the four Combattante III fast attack craft, Thales
Thales
Thales of Miletus was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher from Miletus in Asia Minor, and one of the Seven Sages of Greece. Many, most notably Aristotle, regard him as the first philosopher in the Greek tradition...
will deliver a TACTICOS combat management system, including four multifunctional operator consoles, one surveillance radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
, one fire control
Fire-control system
A fire-control system is a number of components working together, usually a gun data computer, a director, and radar, which is designed to assist a weapon system in hitting its target. It performs the same task as a human gunner firing a weapon, but attempts to do so faster and more...
tracking system, one electro-optical tracking and fire control system, an integrated low probability of interception radar, two target designation sights and a tactical data link. The weapon suite of the Combattante IIIs will remain unchanged. Thales will also be responsible for the integration of these existing gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
s, surface-to-surface missile
Surface-to-surface missile
A 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...
s and torpedoes. The first of the four ships were ready by mid 2006, followed by the other three with six months intervals.
Ships
- PGFG Laskos (P 20), commissioned 20 Apr 1977
- PGFG Blessas (P 21), commissioned 7 July 1977
- PGFG Mikonios (P 22), commissioned 10 Feb 1978
- PGFG Troupakis (P 23), commissioned 8 Nov 1977
Specifications
- Displacement, tonTonThe ton is a unit of measure. It has a long history and has acquired a number of meanings and uses over the years. It is used principally as a unit of weight, and as a unit of volume. It can also be used as a measure of energy, for truck classification, or as a colloquial term.It is derived from...
s: 359 standard; 425 full load - Length (m): 56.2
- Beam (m): 8
- Draught (m): 2.1
- Range (NMNautical mileThe nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator...
): 700 at 32 kn; 2,500 at 15 kn - Speed (knots):36
- Main machinery: 4 MTUMTUMTU may refer to:Networks and Internet* Maximum transmission unit, the size of the largest packet that a network protocol can transmit* Multi tenant unit, a telecom term referring to a building with multiple offices or apartments...
20V 538 TB92 diesels; 17,060 hpHorsepowerHorsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
(m) (12.54 MW) sustained; 4 shafts (P 20-23) - Crew: 42 (5 officers)
- Missiles: SSMSSM-Organisations:* Shattuck-Saint Mary's, a boarding school in Faribault, MN* Society of the Sacred Mission* Society of Saint Michael, a priestly fraternity of Anglo-Catholic bishops, priests, and deacons...
: 4 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:...
; inertial cruise; active radar homing to 42 km (23 NM) at 0.9 MachMach numberMach number is the speed of an object moving through air, or any other fluid substance, divided by the speed of sound as it is in that substance for its particular physical conditions, including those of temperature and pressure...
; warhead 165 kg. - Guns: 2 OTO Melara 3 inch (76 mm)/62 compactOtobreda 76 mmThe Otobreda 76 mm gun is a naval artillery piece built by the Italian defence conglomerate Otobreda. It is based on the Oto Melara 76mm/L62 Allargato, which was bigger and heavier...
; 85 rounds/min to 16 km (8.6 NM) anti-surface; 12 km (6.5 NM) anti-aircraft; weight of shell 6 kg.
4 Emerson Electric 30 mm (2 twin); multipurpose; 1,200 rounds/min combined to 6 km (3.2 NM); weight of shell 0.35 kg.
- Torpedoes: 2-21 in (533 mm)aft tubes. AEG SST-4; anti-surface; wire-guided; active homing to 12 km (6.5 NM) at 35 kt; passive homing to 28 km (15 NM) at 23 kn; warhead 250 kg.
- Countermeasures: Decoys: Wegmann chaff launchers.
ESM: Thomson-CSF DR 2000S; intercept.
- Weapons control: 2 CSEE Panda optical directors for 30 mm guns. Thomson-CSF Vega I or II system (P 20-P 23). NFT PFCS-2 (P 24-P 29).
- Radars: Surface search: Thomson-CSF Triton; G-band; range 33 km (18 NM) for 2 m2 target.
Navigation: Decca 1226C; I-band.
Fire control: Thomson-CSF Castor II; I/J-band; range 31 km (17 NM) for 2 m2 target.