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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
FRANCE
MINE WARFARE SHIPS
SIRIUS coastal minesweepers (1954 - 1958)


Photo



Céphée  1980

Ships


Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Sirius M701   Arsenal de Cherbourg 12/1951 6.10.1952 9/1954 stricken 8.1971
Rigel M702   Arsenal de Cherbourg   13.5.1953 1954 stricken 1974
Antarès M703, 1976- P703   Arsenal de Cherbourg   21.1.1954 1954 patrol 1976, stricken 1981
Algol M704   A C Augustin-Normand, Le Havre   15.4.1953 1954 stricken 1976
Aldébaran M705   A C Augustin-Normand, Le Havre   27.6.1953 1955 stricken 1970
Régulus M706   Penhoët, St-Nazaire   18.11.1952 1954 stricken 1974
Véga M707, 1976- P707   Penhoët, St-Nazaire   14.1.1953 1954 patrol 1976, stricken 1981
Castor M708   A C Augustin-Normand, Le Havre   19.11.1953 1955 stricken 1973
Pollux M709   A C Augustin-Normand, Le Havre   16.7.1954 1955 stricken 1970
Pégase M710   A C Augustin-Normand, Le Havre   21.6.1956 1956 stricken 1974
Croix du Sud M734, 1969- P658   A C de la Seine-Maritime, Le Havre   13.6.1956 1956 patrol 1969, to Seychelles 1979 (Topaz)
Étoile Polaire M735, 1973- P660   A C de la Seine-Maritime, Le Havre   5.3.1957 10/1958 patrol 1973, stricken 1981
Altaïr M736, 1960- P656   Arsenal de Cherbourg   27.3.1954 4/1958 patrol 1960, stricken 1981
Capricorne M737   Arsenal de Cherbourg   8.8.1956 7/1958 stricken 1988
Cassiopée M740   Penhoët, St-Nazaire   16.11.1953 1954 stricken 1976
Eridan, 1977- Aldébaran M741, 1976- P741   Penhoët, St-Nazaire   18.5.1954 1955 patrol 1976, stricken 1981
Orion M742   A C de la Seine-Maritime, Le Havre   20.11.1953 1955 to USA 1970
Sagittaire M743, 1976- P743   A C de la Seine-Maritime, Le Havre   12.1.1955 1955 patrol 1976, stricken 1981
Achernar M744   CMN, Cherbourg   12.8.1954 1955 to USA 1970
Procyon M745   CMN, Cherbourg   12.12.1954 1955 to USA 1970
Arcturus M746, 1969- P650   CNF, Blainville   12.3.1954 11/1954 patrol 1969, stricken 1981
Bételgeuse M747   CNF, Blainville   12.7.1954 1954 auxiliary A474 1977
Persée M748   CMN, Cherbourg   23.5.1955 1956 stricken 1970
Phénix M749, 1989- P749   CMN, Cherbourg   23.5.1955 12/1956 patrol 1989, stricken 1992
Bellatrix M750   A C Augustin-Normand, Le Havre   21.7.1955 1956 stricken 1974
Dénébola M751   CMN, Cherbourg   12.7.1956 1956 stricken 1974
Centaure M752   Penhoët, St-Nazaire   8.3.1955 1956 to USA 1971
Fomalhaut M753   Penhoët, St-Nazaire   24.4.1955 1956 to USA 1970
Canopus M754, 1969- P659   A C Augustin-Normand, Le Havre   31.12.1953 9/1956 patrol 1969, stricken 1986
Capella M755   CMN, Cherbourg   6.9.1955 5/1956 collision 28.2.1987, stricken
Céphée M739   CMN, Cherbourg   3.1.1956 6/1956 stricken 1988
Verseau M757   CMN, Cherbourg   26.4.1956 9/1956 stricken 1988
Ariès M758   Penhoët, St-Nazaire   13.3.1956 1956 to Morocco 1974 (توفيك [Tawfic])
Lyre M759, 1976- P759   Penhoët, St-Nazaire   3.5.1956 2/1957 patrol 1976, stricken 1981


Technical data


Displacement standard, t

365

Displacement full, t

424

Length, m

42.7 pp 46.4 oa

Breadth, m

8.60

Draught, m

2.50

No of shafts

2

Machinery

M701-710, 740-745, 750-753: SIGMA free-piston gas generators, 2 Rateau-Bretagne gas turbines / 1 diesel-generator, 1 electric motor

M734-737, 746-749, 754-759: 2 SEMT-Pielstick diesels

Power, h. p.

M701-710, 740-745, 750-753: 2000 / 500

M734-737, 746-749, 754-759: 2000

Max speed, kts

15

Fuel, t

diesel oil 48

Endurance, nm(kts)

M701-710, 740-745, 750-753: 3000(10)

M734-737, 746-749, 754-759: 2000(15)

Armament

1 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 3, (1 - 2) x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, mechanical, acoustic and magnetic sweeping gear

Electronic equipmentDRBN-31 radar
Complement

38



Standard scale images


<i>Capricorne </i>1975
Capricorne 1975


Graphics


<i>Céphée</i>  1980
Céphée  1980


Project history

Of the 34 French minesweepers completed belonging to this group, 28 were funded under MDAP. Three further vessels were built for Yugoslavia. They had the same general characteristics as the British 'Ton' class and the design was developed in close collaboration with Thornycroft and the Royal Navy, but there were differences in the construction of the hull. The latter was of laminated wood and aluminium, producing a strong, rigid, light body; the keel and stern were of heavy wood. They were fitted with mechanical, magnetic and acoustic sweep gear.

Modernizations

1960, Altaïr;1969, Croix du Sud, Arcturus, Canopus; 1973, Étoile Polaire;1976, Antarès, Véga, Eridan, Sagittaire, Lyre; 1989, Phénix - as patrols: - minesweeping gear

Naval service

No significant events.