[Alter Kaker]

It's actually the Commandant Bouan, a small frigate intended for littoral combat. One of the lowest-tech French warship designs - most ships of its class have been sold to Turkey or decomissioned - but perfectly adequate for dealing with Somali pirates.

[Mr. Silverback]

Yeah, OK...she's an ASW frigate (and as you pointed out, a littoral ship) but I think the pirates will take the 100mm gun, the CIWS, the 20mm cannons and the machine guns seriously, unless they're totally brain dead. Of course, how much use those weapons will be in a hostage situation is a big question mark. This sounds more like the sort of thing the commandos marine should handle...hopefully a transport is carrying them and their gear to a port somewhere between Afghanistan and the target area right now so they can board Bouan. No helicopter pad, though.