Another warship on the way back from service in the gulf has hit up Samoa for a little R&R. Can't really blame them, can you?

Unlike the other recently arrived frigate from Canada, this boat, the F730 Floreal has huge guns on its foredeck and there's no doubt what the thing was built for.

The French could probably take over this country with this rinky dinky boat. I'm sure they have thought of it. They'd probably like nothing more than to excercise their congenital urge to nuke every island in the South Pacific.

Here are the specs on the boat:

Floreal class small patrol frigates
Displacement: 2,950 tons full load
Dimensions: 93.5 x 14 x 4.3 meters (307 x 46 x 14 feet)
Propulsion: 4 diesels, 2 shafts, 8,800 bhp, 20 knots
Crew: 80
Aviation: Aft helicopter deck and hangar for 1 Panther helicopter
Troops: 24 special forces
Radar: DRBV 25 air/surface search
EW: ARBR 17 intercept, 2 Dagaie decoy
Armament: 2 Exocet SSM, 1 100 mm DP, 2 20 mm
Low-cost patrol vessels for overseas service, fisheries patrol,
etc. Built to commercial standards.

Number Name Year FLT Group Homeport Notes
F730 Floreal 1991 IO ZMOI La Reunion
F731 Prairial 1992 PAC PAC Papeete
F732 Nivose 1992 PAC -- Noumea
F733 Ventose 1993 ATL -- Fort-de-France
F734 Vendermaire 1993 PAC -- Noumea
F735 Germinal 1994 ATL