The RPC12 (Remorqueurs Portuaires et Côtiers de 12 tonnes de traction au point fixe, "Harbour and Coastal tugboat, 12-tonne bollard pull") is a type of harbour tugboat operated by the French Navy. They utilise Voith propulsion to develop a 12-tonne bollard pull.
Design and description The RPC12 has been classified into three sub-types: the original version, called "Type A" (comprising Fréhel and Saire), was designed as a dual-purpose tugboat capable of supporting shipping operations both in harbours and off the coast. After the two first units, the design was simplified, while retaining most functionalities, to reduce cost, yielding the "Type B" (comprising Armen, La Houssaye, Kéréon, Sicié and Taunoa). The nine remaining units constitute the RP12 type, which is further simplified to operate only within harbours (comprising Lardier, Giens, Mengam, Balaguier, Taillat, Nividic, Port Cros, Le Four and Eckmühl). Because of these differing capabilities, the RPC12 of both types are classified "auxiliaries", with an "A"-prefixed pennant number, while the RP12 are considered "yard vessels", with the corresponding "Y"-prefixed pennant numbers.
The latest in the series, Rascas, is an improved high-sea ship with better sonic isolation and air conditioning, or use in tropical waters, and a different radar.
Ships Ship Pennant Builder Commissioned Home port FateFréhel A675 Lorient Naval Industries (LNI) 23 May 1989 Cherbourg In active serviceSaire A676 LNI 6 October 1989 Cherbourg In active serviceArmen A677 LNI 6 December 1991 Brest In active serviceLa Houssaye A678 LNI 30 October 1992 Brest In active serviceKéréon A679 LNI 5 December 1992 Brest In active serviceSicié A680 LNI 6 October 1994 Lorient (until 1995), Toulon In active serviceTaunoa A681 SOCARENAM 9 March 1996 Brest In active serviceLardier Y638 SOCARENAM 12 April 1995 Toulon In active serviceGiens Y639 SOCARENAM 2 December 1994 Toulon In active serviceMengam Y640 SOCARENAM 6 October 1994 Brest In active serviceBalaguier Y641 SOCARENAM 8 July 1995 Toulon In active serviceTaillat Y642 SOCARENAM 18 October 1995 Toulon In active serviceNividic Y643 SOCARENAM 13 December 1996 Brest In active servicePort Cros Y649 SOCARENAM 21 June 1997 Toulon In active serviceLe Four Y647 SOCARENAM 13 March 1998 Brest In active serviceEckmühl Y646 SOCARENAM In active serviceRascas A682 SOCARENAM 22 November 2003 Toulon In active service
Citations
External links
Remorqueurs côtiers de type Fréhel, French Ministry of Defence.