Poster PHM D'Estienne d'Orves

The A69 type avisos, Estienne d'Orves class come from a large series of French Navy ships, with 17 units built (and three others for export)

Between 2011 and 2017, the Estienne d'Orves class avisos are modified and lightened: the withdrawal of Exocet missiles, sea-sea 38 or sea-sea 40 missiles reclassifies them as "High Seas Patroller"

 
The crew consists of 90 sailors, occupying a building more than 80 meters long and 1400 tons fully loaded

Their armament, substantial for a ship of this tonnage, allows them to manage a wide spectrum of missions. Equipped for anti-submarine warfare, the poor performance of their sonar however limited their range of action during the Cold War.

Their role as patrol boats now consists essentially of patrols and assistance missions, as well as participation in UN missions (blockade, flag checks) or similar maritime policing tasks (fight against drugs, extraction of nationals, fisheries control, etc.). They also carry several machine guns and machine guns, more suited to their new missions.

In 2022, six units are still active in Brest and Toulon