The
A69 type Avisos are small warships mainly designed for coastal anti-submarine defence, but are also available for high sea escort missions (notably in support missions with the
FOST). Built on a simple and robust design, they have an economical and reliable propulsion system which allows them to be used for overseas presence missions.
Ships in the class
A total of 17 ships of this class were built and named after the heroes of the
Second World War. Eight of these ships have since been decommissioned and six of them were sold to the
Turkish Navy where they were redesignated as the
B Class corvette.
The 9 ships remaining in French service will have their heavy weapons removed and be reclassified as oceanic patrol ships. They will replace the
P400 class patrol vessels in this role.
Decommissioned or transferred
- F782 Amyot d'Inville (decommissioned in 1999, now Turkish TCG Bartin.)
- F783 Drogou (decommissioned in 2000, now Turkish TCG Bodrum)
- F784 Détroyat (decommissioned in 1997)
- F785 Jean Moulin (named after Jean Moulin, decommissioned in 1999)
- F786 Quartier-Maître Anquetil (decommissioned in 2000, now Turkish TCG Bandirma)
- F787 Commandant de Pimodan (decommissioned in 2000, now Turkish TCG Bozcaada)
- F788 Second-Maître Le Bihan (decommissioned in 2002, now Turkish TCG Bafra)
In service in the French Navy
- F789 Lieutenant de vaisseau Le Hénaff
- F790 Lieutenant de vaisseau Lavallée
- F791 Commandant L'Herminier
- F792 Premier-Maître L'Her
- F794 Enseigne de vaisseau Jacoubet
In service in the Argentinian Navy

ARA Granville (P-33) corvette
The
Argentine Navy also operates three
D'Estienne D'Orves-class ships, locally known as the
Drummond-class corvettes. The first two ships were originally ordered by the
South African Navy, but due to
UN sanctions against
South Africa, they were not delivered and were bought by the Argentine Navy in 1978. The third ship of the class was ordered by Argentina and was delivered in 1981.