Editing French frigate Surcouf (section)

==Service history==
On 14 May 2001, ''Surcouf'' rendered assistance to the skipper of ''Biscuits La Trinitaine-Team Ethypharm'', who had to abandon his ship after her starboard hull was seriously damaged.  The catamaran's crew of five were airlifted to safety by helicopter.

On 14 October 2004, ''Surcouf'' assisted ''Sara 2'', a Panamanian cargo ship which ran aground near [[Yemen]]. The 16-man crew was successfully airlifted by the Panther helicopter, and later transferred from the frigate to the Yemeni coast guard.

Between 17 and 21 May 2008, ''Surcouf '' participated in Exercise KhunjarHaad, a multi-national exercise held in the [[Gulf of Oman]].  Other participating warships included the American destroyer {{USS|Russell|DDG-59|6}}, the British frigate {{HMS|Montrose|F236|6}}, the British [[Replenishment oiler|fleet replenishment tanker]] {{ship|RFA|Wave Knight|A389|6}} and four other coalition ships conducted air defense; surface warfare operation; [[Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure|visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS)]]; and joint gunnery exercises, which focused on joint interoperability training and proficiency.<ref name="Lt. j.g. Courtney Thraen, USN">{{cite web | first=Courtney |last=Thraen | title= USS Momsen Visits Cyprus  | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=38920 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20121212024535/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=38920 | url-status= dead | archive-date= 12 December 2012 | work= NNS080805-04 | agency= USS Momsen Public Affairs |publisher=United States Navy | date= 8 August 2008 | access-date=27 December 2010}}</ref>

In November 2012 ''Surcouf'' deployed to the [[Horn of Africa]] as part of the European Union's Naval Operation in the area.{{Update after|2013}} A British [[Westland Lynx|Lynx HMA.8]] helicopter of [[815 Naval Air Squadron|815 Squadron]] was on board for the whole four-month deployment, along with 12 personnel including 2 [[Royal Marine]] snipers.<ref name=NavyNews>{{cite news | url=https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/6115 | title=From frigate to frégate… Lynx team joins French warship on deployment | date=19 October 2012 | newspaper=Navy News | access-date=7 December 2012 | archive-date=13 August 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813234033/https://navynews.co.uk/archive/news/item/6115 | url-status=dead }}</ref>  This was the first extended deployment of a [[Royal Navy]] helicopter on a French warship and was the result of a treaty between the [[United Kingdom]] and [[France]] to share military resources and conduct more joint operations.<ref name=NavyNews /> 

During a 2017–18 refit, the frigate was equipped with a Thales Bluewatcher sonar as part of a two-year trial that was subsequently extended through 2022. ''Surcouf'' was the first ''La Fayette''-class ship to receive an active sonar capability.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/la-fregate-surcouf-conserve-son-sonar-bluewatcher | title=La frégate Surcouf conserve son sonar BlueWatcher |language=fr |work=Mer et Marine | date=10 July 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/markets/defence-and-security/naval-forces/underwater-warfare/bluescan/hull-mounted-sonars | title=Hull Mounted Sonars | date=18 October 2022 }}</ref>

In 2021, ''Surcouf'' deployed to the Pacific accompanying the French Navy helicopter assault ship {{ship|French ship|Tonnerre|L9014|2}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/02/french-amphibious-ready-group-set-sails-for-the-indo-pacific/|title = French Amphibious Ready Group Set Sails for the Indo-Pacific|date = 18 February 2021}}</ref>

In April 2022, ''Surcouf'', with a Panther helicopter embarked, again deployed to the Indian Ocean to relieve her sister ship {{ship|French frigate|Guépratte||2}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/la-fregate-surcouf-part-pour-un-deploiement-de-longue-duree-dans-le-gap |title=La frégate Surcouf part pour un déploiement de longue durée dans le GAP |work=Mer et Marine |language=fr |date=21 April 2022 |access-date=29 April 2022 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> From 26 until 30 May 2022, ''Surcouf'' trained with the [[Kuwait Naval Force]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bahtić |first1=Fatima |title=French frigate Surcouf trains with Kuwaiti Navy |url=https://www.navaltoday.com/2022/06/10/french-frigate-surcouf-trains-with-kuwaiti-navy/ |access-date=22 September 2022 |publisher=Naval Today |date=10 June 2022}}</ref>

In October 2023 ''Surcouf'' was deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean during the [[Gaza war]], joining the helicopter assault ship ''Tonnerre'' and the frigate {{ship|French frigate|Alsace||2}} which were also deployed to the region.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/10/france-deploys-one-lhd-two-frigates-to-the-eastern-mediterranean/ |title=France Deploys One LHD, Two Frigates To The Eastern Mediterranean  |publisher=Naval News |last=Vavasseur |first=Xavier |date=26 October 2023 |access-date=27 October 2023}}</ref>

''Surcouf'' had been scheduled to undergo a modest structural and technical upgrade (with the elderly Crotale SAM to be removed from the vessel) and, given somewhat reduced general purpose capability, be re-assigned to offshore patrol duties prior to her planned withdrawal from service in 2027.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/renovation-des-la-fayette-la-premiere-livree-la-seconde-entre-en-chantier|title = Rénovation des la Fayette : La première frégate livrée, la seconde en chantier|date = 21 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/content/marine-nationale-les-programmes-qui-vont-faconner-la-future-flotte-francaise|title=Marine nationale : les programmes qui vont façonner la future flotte française|date=1 February 2021|website=Mer et Marine}}</ref> However, subsequently it was decided to retain the ship in the frigate role despite her not having received a mid-life upgrade.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/le-reclassement-de-certaines-la-fayette-en-patrouilleurs-n-est-plus-a-l-ordre-du-jour |title=Le reclassement de certaines La Fayette en patrouilleurs n’est plus à l’ordre du jour |work=Mer et Marine |language=fr |last=Groizealeau |first=Vincent |date=17 April 2024 |access-date=17 April 2024 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>