Built as a fast attack patrol boat by Chantier des Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN)in Cherbourg, France for the French Navy.
04 October 1984 keel laid down.
08 April 1986 launched as the LA MOQUEUSE (P 688), one of the P 400 type, of which 10 has built.
Displacement 373 ton standard, 477 ton full load, dim. 54.8 x 8 x 2.54m. (draught)
Powered by two SEMT Pielstick PA 4 V200 VGDS diesel engines, each 3,700 hp., twin shafts, speed 24 knots
Range by a speed of 14.5 knots, 4,500 mile.
Bunker capacity 73 ton diesel fuel, 20 ton fresh water and storage for 20 m³ provision and stores.
Armament : 1 – 40mm, 1 – 20mm type F2. 2 – 7.5mm MG AA52.
Crew 29.
16 May 1987 commissioned.
After a short stay at Toulon and Lorient she left for the Far East.
June 1987 rescued 354 boat people in the China Sea, then she headed for New Caledonia.
From the summer of 1987 based at Nouméa, New Caledonia together with her sister the La GLORIEUSE, where she have replaced the former mine sweepers La DIEPPOISE and La DUNKERQUOISE.
There missions was to patrol the waters of the French possessions in the western Pacific including New Caledonia, Wallis and Futune.
Also used in the patrol for fish poaching in this waters, she arrested a Taiwanese longliner in 1989, in 2002 she arrested the LI-SHEN and in 2005 the JIN CHIN 1.
January 1990 she ran aground during a dark night on a reef near the lighthouse of Goro, New Caledonia.
Transported by the BOUGAINVILLE to Tahiti, the repair took 5 months.
1995 was she deployed for three months for French nuclear tests in Operation Nautile in the Pacific.
She visited regular Australia and New Zealand.
1997 Rescued two fishermen who drifted already for 25 days on their boat.
She is also used for looking for wrecks and gathering of wreckage of the La BOUSSOLE and L’ASTROLBE who disappeared in the Solomon Islands, she transported pilgrims between Lifou and Ouvéa, did work together with technicians from Météo France for the maintenance of weather stations on Surprise Island.
She is also used for the dumping of obsolete currency and assisting during the Vaa’s (the traditional dugout races) on the Cicia Island.
During the devastating cyclone Ami in 2003 provided she assistance.
January 2010 she visited New Zealand again.
2010 In service.
Wallis & Futune 1991 42fr. sg578, scott403
Source: http://www.netmarine.net/bat/patrouil/m ... /index.htm