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LA LORIENTAISE (P652) has been built as a coastal minesweeper in St. John DD (CANADA) as "MIRAMICHI"
Launched: 1953. Completed 13th November 1954.
Transferred to France with the Mutual Assist. Pact in 1954.
Displacement: 370 tons (470 deep load).
Dimensions: 50 x 46,05 (p.p.) x 9,20 x 2,80m.
Machinery: 2 Gen Motors diesels ‑ 2500 cv ‑ 2 speed: 15kts.
Armament: l/4O AA ‑ 2/20AA.
Complement: 3 officers plus 30 men.
Commissioned for overseas stations.
Now in Wallis et Futuna seas for patrol.
Will be paid off in a near future. (Written in 1987)

Log Book January 1987.
Wallis and Fortuna SG494 (I do not have the stamp)

Built by the Saint John Dry Dock Company Canada as Gaspe Class Minesweeper MSO (Mine Sweeper Ocean), She was commissioned on July 30, 1954 as HMCS Miramichi (M-150) in the Canadian Navy.

Paid off on October 1. On October 9 1954, she was transferred to the French Navy, to be re-named as La Lorientaise (M-731).

Re-Classed in 1 June 1973 as patrouilleur La Lorientaise (P-652). Her sister ship in French Navy was La Dieppoise. (viewtopic.php?f=2&t=10223) They were operated as “Colonial Gunboats” together.

The Lorientaise comissioned in all the archipelagoes of French Polynesia and sometimes later in the Pacific. She carried out various missions such as maritime surveillance of the maritime exclusion zone, particularly during campaigns to fire CEP Mururoa and Fangataufa, fisheries surveillance, rescue at sea, various meteorological, hydrographic and bathythermal, transport civilian authorities, medical assistance etc.

After traveling 300,000 miles or 14 times around the earth, "The Lore" as sailors called her, was withdrawn from active service October 15, 1986.

On 17 January 1989 La Lorientasie (P-652) was sunk as a target in a live fire ex using 20, 30 and 100 mm gunfire from the French Naval vessels EV Henry, Commandant Birot, La Railleuse and La Gracieuse in the Pacific off the coast of New Caledonia.

"The Lore" now rests at the bottom of the Pacific (3000 meters deep) with the sirens of the ocean. She does not care, the 500 sailors who have worked with her and feel pampered regularly to it.

Source: Various web sites.