Latouche Tréville is a George Leygues class and she is a F70 type anti-submarine frigate of the French Marine Nationale. They are polyvalent (multi-role), due to their Exocet and Crotale missle complement, making them especially suitable for defense of strategic positions, demonstrations, or highseas escorts.
The superstructures were built as to optimise resistance against nuclear explosion blasts.
The F70 is internationally labelled an "anti-submarine destroyer" (hence the "D" in the hull numbers), though the French don't use the term and refer to the ships as "frigates".
The last three ships of the class had their bridges raised one deck to overcome problems experienced by the first four in bad weather, as well as being equipped with DSBV 61 passive linear towed array sonar and several other upgraded systems.
The Cassard class AA frigates are an air defence variant of the Georges Leygues class.
Latouche Tréville is the third French vessel named after the 19th century politician and admiral Louis René Levassor de Latouche Tréville.
She is seen here arriving in Leith early today (around 06:45am!) 23 April 2010
