Moroccan frigate Mohammed VI

Mohammed VI (701) (Arabic: محمد السادس) is a FREMM multipurpose frigate of the Royal Moroccan Navy.[1][2]

Mohammed VI underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 25 April 2018
History
Morocco
Name
  • Mohammed VI
  • (محمد السادس)
NamesakeMohammed VI of Morocco
Ordered24 October 2007
BuilderDCNS, Lorient
Laid down2008
Launched14 September 2011
Commissioned30 January 2014
HomeportKsar es-Seghir
Identification
StatusActive
General characteristics
Class and typeFREMM multipurpose frigate
Displacement6,000 tons
Length466 ft (142.0 m)
Beam65 ft (19.8 m)
Draught16 ft (4.9 m)
Propulsion
Speed27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph); max cruise speed 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph)
Range6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement145
Sensors and
processing systems		Héraklès multi-purpose passive electronically scanned array radar
Armament
Aviation facilitiesSingle hangar

Development and design

Three original variants of the FREMM were proposed; an anti-submarine variant (ASW), a general-purpose variant (GP), and a land-attack variant (AVT) to replace the existing classes of frigates within the French and Italian navies. A total of 27 FREMM were to be constructed - 17 for France and 10 for Italy - with additional aims to seek exports, however budget cuts and changing requirements has seen this number drop significantly for France, while the order for Italy remained unchanged. The land-attack variant (AVT) was subsequently cancelled.

On 24 October 2007 it was announced that the Royal Moroccan Navy had ordered one FREMM to replace its Descubierta-class corvette.[3] The contract was signed on 18 April 2008 and construction of the Moroccan FREMM began in the summer 2008 with delivery expected in 2012 or 2013.[4] The Moroccan ship is similar to the French anti-submarine version, without SYLVER A70 tubes for SCALP Naval, and cost €470m.[5]

Construction and career

Mohammed VI is the largest and most powerful frigate in Africa (with the Egyptian frigate Tahya Misr, of the same class). Mohammed VI was launched on 14 September 2011 and handed over on 30 January 2014.[5] The ship was commissioned on 30 January 2014.[5] Her homeport is Ksar es-Seghir.

References
  1. "Aquitaine class FREMM Frigate French Navy Marine Nationale". www.seaforces.org. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  2. "Royal Moroccan Navy FREMM Frigate / FREMM Marocaine - Mohammed VI". far-maroc.forumpro.fr (in French). Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  3. "Accord conclu pour la vente d'une frégate française au Maroc". Mer et Marine (in French). Archived from the original on 20 November 2007.
  4. "La construction de la FREMM marocaine débute à Lorient". Mer et Marine (in French). Archived from the original on 22 April 2009.
  5. Djama, Nasser (30 January 2014). "A Brest, le Maroc prend possession de sa frégate Fremm Mohammed VI". L'Usine Nouvelle (in French). Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.

Media related to Mohammed VI (701) (ship, 2011) at Wikimedia Commons

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