Birot’s Last Ceremony: Honoring a Veteran Opinion Commander

French Navy Retires Veteran A69 Patrol Vessel, Commander Birot

A pivotal era in French naval history drew to a close on Friday, October 3, with the official decommissioning of Commander Birot, a long-serving A69-type patrol vessel. The retirement of the ship marks a important transition as the French Navy prepares to integrate a new generation of patrol craft.

The Commander Birot concluded its final major mission in March and was released to its former commanders,including the current Marine Staff Chief,Admiral Vaujour,in May. The vessel’s final color ceremony took place in Toulon, where the national pavilion was lowered for the last time and the pennant of the unit was transferred to Counter-Admiral Pierre-Yves Grente, organic assistant in Toulon of the admiral commanding the naval action force.

Did you know? – The A69-class patrol vessels were originally designed for a variety of missions,including fisheries protection,maritime surveillance,and limited amphibious operations. Their adaptability contributed to their long service lives.

Commissioned in March 1984, Commander Birot amassed an impressive record over 41 years of service, traveling over a million nautical miles and spending more than 4,000 days at sea. The vessel began its career based in Brest, later operating in New Caledonia, before ultimately settling in Toulon in 1995.

The decommissioning of Commander Birot is part of a broader trend within the French Navy. Of the original 17 A69-type vessels, only three remain operational. This year also saw the retirement of commander Ducuing, which had been in service since 1983. Toulon now operates only one remaining A69, Commander Bouan (1984), slated for decommissioning in 2026. the final two A69 vessels based in brest, Commander Blaison and Vaisseau Jacoubet, both entering service in 1982, are scheduled to be retired in 2026 and 2027, respectively.

Pro tip: – Naval vessel decommissioning isn’t simply scrapping. Ships often undergo extensive environmental remediation to remove hazardous materials before recycling or repurposing.

These vessels,measuring 80.5 meters in length with a 10.3-meter beam and a displacement of 1,300 tonnes, are capable of speeds up to 23 knots and operate with a crew of 85 sailors. Their armament includes a 100 mm turret,two 20 mm cannons,and 12.7 mm machine guns, alongside a short-range SIMBAD system with two Mistral missiles. In 2009,the EXOCET anti-ship missiles and torpedo launcher tubes were removed from the last nine units of this class following their reclassification as high seas patrollers (PHM).

The aging A69 fleet will be replaced by the new Future high seas patrollers (PH). The first two of these vessels are currently under construction at Piriou in Concarneau and CMN in Cherbourg, with deliveries expected to Brest in 2027 and 2028. An additional five PH vessels have been ordered, bringing the total to seven.

Reader question: – With the retirement of these long-serving vessels,what specific new capabilities will the Future high seas patrollers bring to the french Navy?

Why did it end? The commander Birot and its sister ships are being retired due to their age and the French Navy’s modernization efforts. The A69-class vessels are reaching the end of their operational lifespan, and the Navy is transitioning to a newer, more capable fleet.

Who was involved? The French Navy, specifically the crews of the A69-class vessels, Admiral Vaujour (Marine Staff Chief), Counter-Admiral Pierre