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Fridtjof Nansen vs La Fayette

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Specifications
Fridtjof Nansen La Fayette
Origin 🇳🇴 Norway 🇫🇷 France
Category Frigate Frigate
Type Multi-role frigate General-purpose frigate
Manufacturer Navantia DCNS
Year introduced 2006 1996
Number built 5 units 20 units
Estimated unit price $489 million $325 million
Displacement 5,290 tons 3,200 tons
Maximum speed 27.0 knots 25.0 knots
Range 4,500 nm at 16 knots 9,000 nm at 12 knots
Length 134.0 m 125.0 m
Beam 16.8 m 15.4 m
Crew 120 164
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Fridtjof Nansen La Fayette
Armament
  • 1 or 2 × 8-cell Mk 41 VLS (32 × RIM-162 ESSM)
  • 8 × Naval Strike Missile SSMs
  • 4 × torpedo tubes for Sting Ray torpedoes
  • Depth charges
  • 1 × 76 mm OTO Melara Super Rapid gun
  • 3 × 12.7 mm Browning M2HB machine gun in Sea Protector mounts
  • 2 × 7.62mm MG 3 machine gun
  • 1 x 100 mm TR automatic gun
  • 2 x 20 mm modèle F2 guns
  • 8 x Exocet MM40 block II anti-ship missiles
  • 1 x Crotale CN2 CIWS
  • 2 x 6 Sadral launchers with Mistral Mk 3 SAM/SSM
  • 2 x 2 manually operated Simbad/Mistral
Propulsion Combined diesel and gas turbine (CODAG): Two BAZAN BRAVO 12V 4.5 MW diesel engines, one GE LM2500 21.5 MW gas turbine, two shafts driving controllable pitch propellers, 1 MW Brunvoll retractable bow thruster 4 diesel SEMT Pielstick 12PA6V280 STC2, 21,000 hp (16,000 kW)

Overview

The Fridtjof Nansen and the La Fayette are both Frigate classes.

Displacement is 5,290 tons for the Fridtjof Nansen vs 3,200 tons for the La Fayette. The Fridtjof Nansen reaches 27 knots vs 25 knots for the La Fayette. Operational range is 4,500 nautical miles for the Fridtjof Nansen vs 9,000 for the La Fayette. The Fridtjof Nansen carries a crew of 120 vs 164 for the La Fayette.

The Fridtjof Nansen was produced in 5 units vs 20 for the La Fayette. Cost per hull is $489M for the Fridtjof Nansen vs $325M for the La Fayette. The Fridtjof Nansen was commissioned in 2006, 10 years after the La Fayette (1996).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Fridtjof Nansen-class or La Fayette-class?
The Fridtjof Nansen-class has greater displacement at 5,290 tons compared to the La Fayette-class's 3,200 tons.
Which is faster, the Fridtjof Nansen-class or La Fayette-class?
The Fridtjof Nansen-class is faster with a maximum speed of 27 knots compared to the La Fayette-class's 25 knots.
Which has longer range, the Fridtjof Nansen-class or La Fayette-class?
The La Fayette-class has a longer range at 9,000 nautical miles compared to the Fridtjof Nansen-class's 4,500 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Fridtjof Nansen-class or La Fayette-class?
The Fridtjof Nansen-class is longer at 134.0 meters compared to the La Fayette-class's 125.0 meters.
How many crew members do the Fridtjof Nansen-class and La Fayette-class have?
The La Fayette-class has a larger crew complement of 164 compared to the Fridtjof Nansen-class's 120 crew members.
Which is more expensive, the Fridtjof Nansen-class or La Fayette-class?
The Fridtjof Nansen-class is more expensive at approximately $489 million per unit compared to the La Fayette-class at $325 million.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Fridtjof Nansen-class or La Fayette-class?
The La Fayette-class has been built in greater numbers with 20 vessels compared to 5 vessels of the Fridtjof Nansen-class.