Built as a frigate under yard No P29 by Chantiers de l’Atlantique (Alsthom), St Nazaire for the French Navy.
1989 Ordered.
02 April 1990 keel laid down.
06 October 1990 launched as the FLORÉAL (F 730) one of the Floreal class, five sisters
Displacement 2,600 tons, full load 2,950. Dim.93.50 x 14 x 4.40m (draught)
Powered by 4 SEMT-Pielstick 6pA6 L280 diesels, 8.820 hp., twin variable pitch propellers, speed 20 knots.
Bow thrusters 340 hp.
Endurance by a speed of 15 knots, 10,000 mile.
Armament: 1 – 3.9 inch 55cal Mod 68 Cadam automatic, 2 Giat 20FS 20mm AA in two single mounts, 2 Matra Simbad SAM twin launchers, 2 Aerospatiale MM 38 Exocet; 1 Dauphin I or Aerospatiale AS 565 MAPanther or 1 AS 332F Super Puma helicopter.
Crew 11 Officers, 36 crew and 42 mariners.
27 May 1992 commissioned.
After commissioned a unit of the French Indian Forces in the Indian Ocean, stationed at La Reunion, South India Ocean.
The FLORÉAL is a small monitoring frigate ("frégate de surveillance") of the French Marine Nationale. She is the lead ship of her class, and the first French vessel named after the 8th month of the Republican Calendar.
In 1993, she took part in United Nations Operation in Somalia II to protect Blue Helmets. In 1995, she took part in the capture of Bob Denard (1929-2007) a French soldier and mercenary in the Comoros. She also took part in the Action of 9 April 2009 when French and German forces retake the French yacht TANIT what had been captured by Somali pirates.
Her usual mission is monitoring of the EEZ in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
2011 In service.
French Southern & Antarctic Territories 1999 5.20f, sg?, scott?
French Southern & Antarctic Territories 2013 sg?, scott?
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flor%C3%A9al_(F_730) The Encyclopedia of Warships.