Tampion frigate Jean Bart

The Jean Bart frigate, of the Cassard class (type F70), is an anti-aircraft frigate of the French Navy, launched in 1985 and commissioned in 1989. Identified by the call sign D615, it is sponsored by Dunkirk, the hometown of the privateer Jean Bart. After its last mission in March 2021, it was withdrawn from service in July 2021 to be replaced by the FREMM DA Lorraine.

Its armament consists of:

- Exocet MM40 Block 2 missiles: 8 missiles.

- Mistral missiles: Two SADRAL systems of 6 missiles each.

- Tartar/SM-1 missiles: Main anti-aircraft system, replaced by the RIM-66 SM-1MR.

- Other armaments: 100 mm turret, 20 mm cannons, machine guns, MU90 torpedoes, and a Panther AS-565 helicopter.

Electronics

- Radars: SMART-S Mk2 three-dimensional radar for air and surface surveillance, SPG-51 C radars, and other detection and navigation systems.

- Electronic warfare: Jammers, detectors, decoy launchers, and transmission systems.

Operational career

- 2001: Operation Heracles, protection of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle after the September 11 attacks.

- 2004: Operation Agapanthe in the Indian Ocean.

- 2006: Operation Baliste, evacuation of 270 people from Lebanon.

- 2011: Operation Harmattan, support against Colonel Khadafi in Libya.

- 2014: Operation Chammal in the Persian Gulf.

- 2016-2018: Operation Chammal in the Levant.

- 2019-2020: Deployment in the Eastern Mediterranean and Indian Ocean to combat maritime trafficking and secure the Straits of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb.

- 2020: Operation Irini in the Central Mediterranean.

- 2021: Withdrawal from service and proposal of donation to Greece.

Awards

-2011: Military Valor Cross for its actions during Operation Harmattan.

- 2012: Old Crows Association Award for its electronic warfare capabilities.

After its withdrawal, the Jean Bart was decommissioned in August 2021.