Léopard-class training ship

The Léopard-class training ships are a class of sea vessels built for the Force d'action Navale (French Navy) to train French officer-candidates in basic seamanship. There are 8 of these vessels built. They were built by La Perrière in Lorient, Ateliers et Chantiers de la Manche (ACM) in Saint-Malo, and Société Française de Construction Navale (SFCN). These vessels have a secondary role of anti-pollution work,[1] and are still in active service as of 2016.

The Guépard at sea
Class overview
Name:	Léopard
Builders:	La Ferrière in Lorient, ACM in Saint-Malo, SFCN in Villeneuve La Garenne
Operators:	French Navy
Preceded by:	class training vessel
Succeeded by:	Almak (BFM)
Subclasses:	none
Built:	1978-1983
In service:	1982-present
In commission:	1982-present
Planned:	8
Building:	0
Completed:	8
Cancelled:	0
Active:	8
Laid up:	0
Lost:	0
Retired:	0
Preserved:	0
General characteristics
Type:	Training Vessel
Tonnage:	335 tonnes
Displacement:	470 tonnes fullload
Length:	43m
Beam:	8.3m
Draft:	3.65 Tmax
Propulsion:	2 × SACM-Wärtsilä UD30 V16-M3 2200 HP total, two shafts with controllable pitch propellers
Speed:	15 knots
Range:	5000 Nautical Miles @ 12 knots
Complement:	37
Crew:	1 Officer, 7 Petty officers, 7 Seamen For training: 2 Officers, 2 Petty officers, 18 students
Armament:	x2 20mm Oerlikons Replaced in 2002 by x2 12.7mm machine guns

Origin

The Léopard-class training ships are used for navigational and practical training of French officer-candidates at sea. In the 1970s, ex-minesweepers were converted into training ships and formed both the 20th and 22nd divisions.

In 1978 the French Navy decided to build eight vessels to provide practical training in the operation and navigation of naval vessels. Students were officers or petty officers from the Group of Schools and Central Naval Instruction, Brest. The ships are all named after French destroyers that sought service during the Second World War. The class is affectionately known as the "Menagerie".

At the time of construction, it was anticipated these ships would likely be retired sometime during the 2010s meaning a functional life expectancy of about 30 years.

Design

Léopard class training vessels are 43 meters long (40.13 meters at the water line) with a maximum width of 8.30 meters and a maximum height of 18 meters. The draft is 3.65 (Tmax) meters, whilst the displacement is 335 metric tons and 470 metric tons at full load.

The class has twin 1100 HP Diesel SACM-Wärtsilä UD30 V16-M3 engines, that replaced the original two 1200 HP Diesel Baudouin 12M-26.2 in 2011/2012 (4 temps, 12 cylinders in V block). Power is transmitted via two shafts turning two propellers with controllable pitch. It has two Baudouin auxiliary Diesel electric alternators of 80 kW output each.

The electronic equipment includes a Navigation radar Racal Decca Bridgemaster 250E (DRBN-38), that replaced the original Furuno FAR 2127 in 2011-2012; 1 SAGEM gyroscopic compass with Alphaminicourse, 1 loch Ben., and 2 echo sounders (1 Furuno LS 6200 for shallow depth, 1 NUBS8A for deeper water).

The ships of this class each have a crew composed of 1 officer, 10 sailors, and 4 quartermasters; plus 1 or 2 officers, 2 instructors, and 18 students.

Performance

• Maximum speed: 15 knots.
• Maximum range: 5000 nautical miles @ 12 knots.
• Turning circle: 140 yard @ 15 knots
• Distance required to stop at 15 knots: 50 meters.
• Endurance: 14 days.

Armament

Two 12.7 mm machine guns or two 20 mm auto cannons.

Capacities

• Fuel: 98 cu.m.
• Freshwater: 47 cu.m.
• Food: 3 cold rooms with 33.9 cu.m. storage space
• Oil dispersant = 12 cu.m. for two removable applicators on fore deck (below sea state 3)

History

The 20th division school was formed on 20 January 1983 in Brest, and dissolved on 13 July 1993. Since the school's dissolution, building depends on the admiral commanding the Naval Academy. 1993 was also the last year during which the commander lieutenant took over during his entire command. Now the commander of construction, except Léopard, takes office during his last days at the rank of lieutenant first class, but will actually be a lieutenant during almost his entire command (from 1 August after taking command).

During periods of one to three weeks at sea, students become familiar with the basic functions of chief officer on watch, running lines in navigation groups or solo, life on board, and teamwork.

School ship duty is usually at the end of the school year, during June. Second-year students from the Naval Academy, the "Aspis", participate before leaving for graduation and the Joan of Arc campaign. The corvette is called "White Gloves" because they must not touch anything on the bridge, focusing instead only on the conduct and management of the team. This training occurs in southern Brittany, to baptise the white outfits used by students. In July, first-year students, so-called "Fistots", participate in a summer voyage in northern Europe, where the weather and sea conditions are usually mild at that time.

Ships

Three Léopard class ships moored at South Quay in London in 2018

Eight Léopard-class training ships were built between 1978 and 1983 and commissioned for the French Navy:

Ship	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Built by
Léopard (A 748)	6 Apr 1981	4 Jun 1981	4 Dec 1982	SICNAV, Saint-Malo
Panthère (A 749)	9 Jun 1981	3 Sep 1981	4 Dec 1982	SICNAV, Saint-Malo
Jaguar (A 750)	27 Sep 1981(?)	29 Oct 1981	18 Dec 1982	SICNAV, Saint-Malo
Lynx (A 751)	23 Jul 1981	22 Feb 1982	18 Dec 1982	La Ferrière, Lorient
Guépard (A 752)	11 Oct 1982	21 Dec 1982	1 Jul 1983	SICNAV, Saint-Malo
Chacal (A 753)	15 Oct 1982	11 Feb 1983	10 Sep 1983	SFCN, Villeneuve La Garenne
Tigre (A 754)	16 Apr 1982	8 Oct 1982	1 Jul 1983	La Ferrière, Lorient
Lion (A 755)	27 Feb 1982	13 Dec 1982	10 Sep 1983	La Ferriere, Lorient

All the ships are based in Brest.

Notes

1. http://www.meretmarine.com, Lion: Le cadet des bateaux écoles de la marine fête ses 25 ans, 24 September 2008

External links

• https://web.archive.org/web/20140407082717/http://netmarine.net/bat/ecole/be/leopard/index.htm