In the introduction to these ships I erronenously stated that the Duquesne (D603) was still in commission. Sadly that's not the case. After having been refitted as a Midships' man training ship (Navire d'Ecole des Cadets) she joined her sister in the reserve and, in 2009 was stricken altoghether with that fearsome act of having her name and pennant numbers painted over, and, like her sister earlier, was reduced to a breakwater, with all weapons removed, radar suite and electronics too unshipped; merely a ghost hulk of past glorious heydays.
Anyhow, though some may think I'm posting these pictures in the completely wrong order, not having yet introduced the class as they appeared before an admiring nautical world in 1970, I give you now the last appearance of the Duquesne, before being reduced into a hulk: