Drummond-class corvette


The Drummond class were three corvettes designed and built in France based on the A69 s. The ships were commissioned in the Argentine Navy between 1978 and 1982.
The ships, when operational, served in the "Atlantic Area of Operations" of the Argentine Navy, based on Mar del Plata Naval Base, province of Buenos Aires. Their mission was to patrol Argentina's exclusive economic zone and to enforce fishing regulations, but according to reports in November 2012 they "hardly sail because of lack of resources for operational expenses". As of 2020 only Granville, which had been refitted in mid-2019, was reported operational, with the other ships of the class in reserve. In 2024, Granville was retired while the other two vessels of the class were put up for auction.

Design

Although its designers considered the A69 D'Estienne d'Orves class to be avisos, Argentina classified the ships as corvettes.
The Drummond-class ships were equipped mostly with German and Dutch electronic systems for better compatibility with the two MEKO classes in Argentine service, and integrated with the indigenous "Miniaco" combat system.

History

The first two ships of the class were built in 1977 in France for the South African Navy. The sale was embargoed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 418 during sea trials and the ships bought by Argentina instead on 25 September 1978. A third ship was ordered and entered service as on 22 June 1981, in time for the Falklands War the following year. There were minor differences in equipment fit compared to her sisters, for instance Granville had French Dagaie decoys rather than the British Corvus chaff launchers.
On 28 March 1982 Granville and sailed from Argentina and took up station northeast of Port Stanley to cover the main amphibious landings on 2 April. Meanwhile, covered the assault on South Georgia, sustaining significant damage from the Royal Marines in the process. After repairs she joined her sister ships north of the Falklands as Task Group 79.4, hoping to catch ships detached from the British task force. On 29 April the corvettes were trailed by the submarine whilst she was looking for the Argentine aircraft carrier.
The Drummond class carried pennant numbers P-1 to P-3 until the introduction of the s in 1985 when they became P-31 to P-33. In 1994, they participated in Operation Uphold Democracy, the United Nations blockade of Haiti. During this time, they were based at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico.
ARA Granville was reported as active in the South Atlantic following a maintenance period which concluded in 2019. However, in the same year it was also reported that all three Drummond-class vessels could be decommissioned and that consideration was being given to the potential transfer of the ships to the Uruguayan Navy. In 2024 it was reported that both Drummond and Guerrico would be auctioned off while Granville was formally retired at the end of August 2024.

Specification

  • Displacement: 1,170 tons ; 1,320 tons
  • Length:
  • Beam:
  • Draught:
  • Propulsion:
  • *2 shafts / propellers
  • *2 SEMT Pielstick 12 PC2.2 V 400 diesel engines, tot.
  • *Max shaft horsepower: n/a shp max
  • Speed:
  • Range: 4,500 nautical miles at
  • Armament
  • *4 × Aérospatiale MM 38 Exocet SSM
  • *1 × 4in/55 Creusot-Loire CADAM turret DP automatic fast-firing gun
  • *1 × twin 40 mm 70-cal. OTO Melara AA guns
  • *2 × 20 mm L/ 90 Oerlikon automatic guns
  • *2 × 12.7 mm machine guns
  • *2 × triple 324 mm ILAS-3 ASW torpedo tubes
  • Aircraft: None
  • Complement: 95
  • Radar:
  • *Air/Surface Search: Signaal DA08.
  • *Surface Search & helicopter control: Signaal ZW06.
  • *Fire Control: Signaal STIR
  • *Navigation: Decca TM 1226
  • Sonar: Thomson Sintra Diodon
  • Electronic Warfare:
  • *Decoys:
  • Datalink:
  • Weapons Control System: Thomson-CSF System Vega, CSEE Panda MK2 director, NASA director.
  • Concept/Program: French designed and built general purpose avisos.
  • Builder: n/a shipyard, Lorient, France.
  • Designer: n/a, France.