Built as a maintenance ship by the Lorient Dockyard, Lorient, France for the French Navy.
November 1963 keel laid down.
08 August 1964 launched under the name LA GARONNE (A 617).
Displacement 2.320 tons standard and 2.375 tons full load. Dim. 101.5 x 13.8 x 3.7m. (draught).
Powered by two SEMT-Pielstick diesels, geared to one shaft, 3.300 bhp, speed 16 knots.
Armament: 3 – 40mm AA guns.
Complement 10 officers, 211 men and 100 technicians.
01 September 1965 completed.
When built she was part of a class of five maintenance ships, all having the same characteristics for hull and machinery.
The LA GARONNE was designed for overseas service and is equipped with one extra deck with lower overhead, larger metalwork and carpentry workshops, has a 30 ton crane mounted in the center of her fantail and a heavier displacement as the other ships of her class.
She has no helicopter facilities.
Her maiden voyage she made under command of Captain François Valdaux.
Assigned to the Pacific Nuclear Experimental Station (CEP), Mururoa, Pacific Ocean, from 1965 till 1973.
Then based at Djibouti and La Réunion from 1974 till 1976.
After her return to Brest in 1977, she sailed to the French Antilles and Guyana and was stationed there from 1977 till 1981. Then she returned to the Indian Ocean in 1981 before she was stationed at Martinique from 1982 till 1986.
1987 In support and command of some minesweepers in the Persian Gulf.
From 1988 till 1989 at La Réunion and Djibouti before she was stationed at New Caledonia for one year.
Then again based at La Réunion from 1996 till 2003.
2003 Disarmed, and dismantled, thereafter taken out from Réunion to sea, and scuttled in a position 100 nautical miles off the coast of Réunion on 09 October 2003.
Walles et Futuna 1992 20f sg614, scott437.
Source: Combat fleets of the World 1980-81. http://www.netmarine.net/bat/bat/bsm/garonne/index.htm
Some copied from Log Book Vol. 35 page 86.