Tag Archives: carrier Charles de Gaulle

The Globetrotting French

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While the Royal Navy has been increasingly in doldrums, its love/hate sister fleet across the Channel has been hard at work.

The French Navy celebrates its 400th anniversary this year, and you can tell they are going big.

Big Chuck

On 18 May, while deployed in the Indian Ocean, the sole French aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle (R91) celebrated 25 years of entering active service.

How it started:

Since 2001, she has been holding down deployments around the world in Operations Heracles, Agapanthe, Harmattan, Arromanches, Clemenceau 19/21/22/25, etc., and has traveled in excess of  865,000 nautical miles, and logged more than 60,000 catapult traps.

She had sailed from Toulon in late January for the multinational ORION 26 exercise in the Baltic, then had been shifted to a more war-adjacent deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean and now the Indian Ocean/Arabian Sea.

While scheduled for long-term maintenance for July 2026, this could very well be bumped.

Le vendredi 15 mai, sur le pont d’envol du porte-avions Charles De Gaulle, lors du catapultage d’un E2C Hawkeye ainsi que plusieurs Rafale marine. Le porte-avions Charles de Gaulle et ses escorteurs ont franchi le canal de Suez le 6 mai 2026, sur ordre du Président de la République, afin de rapprocher le groupe aéronaval de la zone du détroit d’Ormuz. 

Le samedi 13 juin, sur le pont d’envol du porte-avions Charles De Gaulle, lors du catapultage d’un E2C Hawkeye ainsi que plusieurs Rafale marine. Le porte-avions Charles de Gaulle et ses escorteurs ont franchi le canal de Suez le 6 mai 2026, sur ordre du Président de la République, afin de rapprocher le groupe aéronaval de la zone du détroit d’Ormuz.

Le samedi 13 juin, sur le pont d’envol du porte-avions Charles de Gaulle, lors du catapultage d’un E2C Hawkeye ainsi que de plusieurs Rafales marines. Le porte-avions Charles de Gaulle et ses escorteurs ont franchi le canal de Suez le 6 mai 2026, sur ordre du Président de la République, afin de rapprocher le groupe aéronaval de la zone du détroit d’Ormuz.

At least three French frigates, the replenishment ship Jacques Chevallier, and an SSN have deployed with CdG. Several allied frigates (Spanish, Dutch, and even a Brit, HMS Dragon) have tagged along as well.

Meanwhile, two Mistral-class LHDs and five other frigates are active in the Eastern Med and Red Sea, performing tanker and container ship escorts among assorted taskings under the EU’s Operation Aspides.

On June 10, a French FREMM-class multi-mission frigate escorted the largest container ship sailing under the French flag, the 24,212 TEU CMA CGM Notre Dame, through the Bab el Mandeb Strait as part of the Aspides mission.

Mission Jeanne D’Arc

Back in February, the French Navy Mistral-class LHD Dixmude (L9015) and the La Fayette-class frigate Aconit (F713) set sail for an extended deployment dubbed Mission Jeanne D’Arc, in an ode to the training cruiser of the same name, which made 800 port calls in 84 countries and traveled 1.7 million miles around the globe in her 30-year career.

The two ships are carrying 160 officer cadets on their summer cruise, a detachment from the 34F Flotilla equipped with an AS565 Panther helicopter, a 36F Flotilla detachment with S-100 Camcopter drones, and a group of 3e RIMa Marines to rotate out the 400 deployed members of the Guadeloupe-based 33rd RIMa.

Also present on board the Fourth Air Combat Brigade (4e BAM) with two NH90 Caiman helicopters and two Gazelles from the 3rd Combat Helicopter Regiment (3e RHC). Also carried are Flexrotor UAVs and a Sirehna unmanned surface vessel.

Le 03 mars 2026, lors du passage du détroit de Bab El-Manded, un poste aviation a lieu pour effectuer de la surveillance maritime. Du 17 février au 14 juillet 2026, le groupe amphibie, composé du porte-hélicoptère amphibie (PHA) Dixmude et de la frégate de type La Fayette (FLF) Aconit, est déployé en Méditerranée orientale, mer Rouge, ainsi qu’à travers l’océan Indien, dans le cadre de la mission « Jeanne d’Arc  

Le 03 mars 2026, lors du passage du détroit de Bab El-Manded, un poste aviation a lieu pour effectuer de la surveillance maritime. Du 17 février au 14 juillet 2026, le groupe amphibie, composé du porte-hélicoptère amphibie (PHA) Dixmude et de la frégate de type La Fayette (FLF) Aconit, est déployé en Méditerranée orientale, mer Rouge, ainsi qu’à travers l’océan Indien, dans le cadre de la mission « Jeanne d’Arc 

They first sortied to the Indo-Pacific, where they took part in Balkatan 26, Papangue 26, and La Perouse 26, then doubled back to the Americas for Operation Atlantia, conducting port calls and exercises all the way, making sure to stop by every French colony within striking distance to show the flag.

This has included taking part in Caraibes 2026 with Barbados, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and Tobago, and Marambaïa 26 with Brazil.

Dixmude at Guadelupe

FS Dixmude (L9015) and FFH Aconit (F713) arrived in Halifax on May 29

What a recruiting poster! Dixmude at Guadelupe, with her 160 embarked naval cadets, no doubt loving life

Mistral-class amphibious assault ship FNS DIXMUDE docked at Cape Town harbour

FS Dixmude (L9015) i FS Aconit (713) widać FS Confiance (P733) off Guyana

Le PHA Dixmude en Atlantique Nord, lors d’un phénomène météorologique créant des nuages en surface, le 28 mai 2026. Du 17 février au 14 juillet 2026, le groupe amphibie, composé du porte-hélicoptère amphibie (PHA) Dixmude et de la frégate de type La Fayette (FLF) Aconit, est déployé en Méditérannée orientale, mer Rouge, ainsi qu’à travers l’océan Atlantique, dans le cadre de la mission “Jeanne d’Arc 

FS Dixmude (L9015) in Mombasa

This has seen her embarked marines hold and seize beaches from St. Pierre and Miquelon off the coast of Canada to Brazil, Guadeloupe, and the Philippines.

Forces armées aux Antilles, French Op Caribes, Dixmude’s landing craft and 33 RIM marines

Un EDAR s’apprête à débarquer des véhicules du GTE, à Marie Galante, le 17 mai. Du 17 au 21 mai 2026, le Groupement Tactique Embarqué participe à la première phase de l’exercice Caraïbes 26, qui les opposent à des membres du 33e RIMA, entre Marie Galante et Basse-Terre. Du 17 février au 14 juillet 2026, le groupe amphibie, composé du porte-hélicoptère amphibie (PHA) Dixmude et de la frégate de type La Fayette (FLF) Aconit, est déployé en Méditérannée orientale 

Débarquement par EDA-S des soldats du 3e RIMA à Basse-Terre pour un exercice de prise de fort, le 19 mai.
Du 17 au 21 mai 2026, le Groupement Tactique Embarqué participe à la première phase de l’exercice Caraïbes 26, qui les opposent à des membres du 33e RIMA, entre Marie Galante et Basse-Terre. Du 17 février au 14 juillet 2026, le groupe amphibie, composé du porte-hélicoptère amphibie (PHA) Dixmude et de la frégate de type La Fayette (FLF) Aconit, est déployé en Méditérannée orientale, m

Un EDA-S s’apprête à débarquer des véhicules du GTE à Marie-Galante, le 17 mai. Du 17 au 21 mai 2026, le Groupement Tactique Embarqué participe à la première phase de l’exercice Caraïbes 26, qui les opposent à des membres du 33e RIMA, entre Marie Galante et Basse-Terre. Du 17 février au 14 juillet 2026, le groupe amphibie, composé du porte-hélicoptère amphibie (PHA) Dixmude et de la frégate de type La Fayette (FLF) Aconit, est déployé en Méditérannée 

Un VBL de la section PEI en progression dans les pistes de Marie Galante, en recherche de la FORAD, le 17 mai.
Du 17 au 21 mai 2026, le Groupement Tactique Embarqué participe à la première phase de l’exercice Caraïbes 26, qui les opposent à des membres du 33e RIMA, entre Marie Galante et Basse-Terre. Du 17 février au 14 juillet 2026, le groupe amphibie, composé du porte-hélicoptère amphibie (PHA) Dixmude et de la frégate de type La Fayette (FLF) Aconit, est déployé en Méditérannée orientale

Assaut de l’entrée du fort par une section de soldats brésiliens, dirigées par deux sous-officiers français, à Basse Terre le 19 mai, lors d’un exercice de prise de fort. Du 17 au 21 mai 2026, le Groupement Tactique Embarqué participe à la première phase de l’exercice Caraïbes 26, qui les opposent à des membres du 33e RIMA, entre Marie Galante et Basse-Terre. 

Un EDAR du Dixmude rejoint la plage pour le rembarquement des troupes à l’issue de l’exercice, sous la surveillance d’une soldat française, posté à l’entrée du fort Delgrès, à Basse Terre le 19 mai. Du 17 au 21 mai 2026, le Groupement Tactique Embarqué participe à la première phase de l’exercice Caraïbes 26, qui les opposent à des membres du 33e RIMA, entre Marie Galante et Basse-Terre.  

Entrainement du groupement tactique embarqué à terre, comportant une désignation de cible pour frappes aéroportées, et simulation d’évacuation médicale par hélicoptère, sur l’ile de Miquelon, le 06 juin 2026. 

Le 6 mars 2026, pendant l’opération ATALANTA, les 2 EDA-S à bord du PHA Tonnerre réalisent un déradiage simultanée, avec une mer défavorable.  

Le 06 juin 2026, Le groupe Jeanne d’Arc 2026 arrive en escale à St Pierre et Miquelon. C’est l’occasion pour le PHA Dixmude et l’Aconit de réaliser différentes cérémonies auprès de la population, dépose de gerbes, cérémonie du 06 juin et cérémonie des 400 ans.  

They just wrapped up exercises with the U.S. Marines and Navy off Little Creek, which included cross-decking an MV-22 and an LCAC, and is due back in France for Bastille Day.

Dixmude with an American V-22 on her deck while working out with U.S. Marines off the Virginia Capes last week

Stosskopf

Intermittently, Dixmude and Aconit have teamed up with the brand new 31,000-ton replenishment ship BRF Jacques Stosskopf, which was recently commissioned and just completed a 155-day, 38,000nm independent cruise that included trialing the new H160M Guépard helicopter and conducting 40 replenishments at sea.

Jacques Stosskopf sailing between the frigate Aconit and the amphibious assault ship Dixmude

Jacques Stosskopf sailing between the frigate Aconit and the amphibious assault ship Dixmude

Jacques Stosskopf sailing between the frigate Aconit and the amphibious assault ship Dixmude a

She has also teamed up with other French and allied assets around the hemisphere.

Jacques Stosskopf  Dutch De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate Zr. Ms. De Ruyter (F804) and the British Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless (D33) during ORION 26 in February.

Shadow Fleet Grief

French naval commandos seized another oil tanker from Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” in the Mediterranean Sea near Sicily this week. Flying the Cameroonian flag, the MT Deliver was sailing from Russia’s Baltic port of Primorsk and boarded on Tuesday after allegedly violating maritime law.

Deliver was the fifth tanker seized by France since it launched an enforcement campaign against Russia’s shadow fleet last September in what Moscow calls “another act of piracy.”

In late May, French authorities, with British help, detained the Tagor in the Atlantic on suspicion of flying a false flag and arrested her Russian master.

In January, French forces impounded another suspected Russian tanker, the Grinch, and in March, the Deyna, sailing from Murmansk under a Mozambican flag, was detained in Marseille.

Last September, the French navy boarded the Boracay, which claimed to be flagged in Benin.

Roaming paradise

The new 262-foot/1,300 ton Félix Éboué class patrouilleur outre-mer (overseas patrol boat) Jean Tranape (P782) just made it to her first homeport, the French colonial capital of Noumea in New Caledonia.

She did so after a nearly three-month unescorted sortie that saw her leave Brest in April, cruise across the Atlantic to the colony of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, visit Halifax, the Bahamas, and cross through the Panama Canal before participating in Exercise Marara with her sister Teriieroo a Teriierooiterai (P780) in French Polynesia.

The new patrol boat, armed with a 30mm Nexter Narwal autocannon, two .50 cals, two FN MAGs, and  Aliaca UAVs, has a crew of 30 but can accommodate a platoon of marines if needed.

Jean Tranape joins her sister, Auguste Bénébig (P779), in Nouméa and is one of six POMs ordered to replace the much smaller (179-foot/400-ton) P400 class OPVs formerly used for the task.

Sister POMs Jean Tranape (P782) and Auguste Bénébig (P779) are French patrol boats at Noumea in New Caledonia

Tall ship fever

Meanwhile, the French Navy’s windjammer, the 123-foot, two-masted schooner Belle Poule, is actively participating in the Sail 250 flotilla and is set to sail into Baltimore this week.

From there, she will continue on to port calls in New York and Boston for the 4th.

French going big with new 80,000 ton CATOBAR CVN

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As any navy expert will concede, having just a single aircraft carrier in your fleet is essentially having a carrier in name only, as the prospect of keeping it continuously ready to deploy is a farce. A carrier strike force “in-being.” An exercise in carrier theory. A headquarters float for a naval parade.

Sure, there have been many countries that tried the single-carrier concept during the Cold War —Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Thailand, the Netherlands —but they all decided that the money would be better spent on more escorts, submarines, and perhaps an LPH/LPD or two.

The juice just wasn’t worth the squeeze. At best, a sole carrier allowed them to go to sea for a few week-long workups one year and a short 4-6 month deployment the next, then have to go totally offline for most of a year every six or seven years for refit and refurbishment in a pretty big dry dock that they may not have. Then there is the problem of keeping a carrier air wing operational, sans carrier.

A few other navies briefly operated two (even conceptually three) carriers then downshifted to a single flattop due to budgetary reasons (Canada and Australia), but, as witnessed by the Royal Navy’s ups and downs when it comes to keeping two-three CV/CVLs since the 1970s (albeit with a zero carrier gap from 2014 to 2017), the Soviet’s four 40,000-ton Kiev class (Project 1143 Krechyet) Yak-38 carriers in the 1980s, Italy’s own two-top policy since 2009, and India’s decision to operate at least two since 2013, that figure is the bare minimum to ensure that, maybe, there would be one ready when needed.

France was an early adherent to this rule, having operated 2-4 carriers almost continuously from 1932 to 1997, 65 years (with a gap from November 1942 to April 45).

Pre-WWII, they had the 12,000-ton cruiser-armed seaplane carrier Commandant Teste (which could carry 26 aircraft and had four catapults) and the small (598-foot, 22,000 t) carrier Bearn, the latter of which was really just a Treaty-era use of an incomplete Normandie-class battleship hull. Two planned 35,000-ton Joffre-class carriers never made it off the drawing board before 1940.

French Aircraft Carrier Béarn, in exile in Martinique, Feb 1941, LIFE David E. Scherman

During WWII, the Free French picked up the U.S.-built escort carrier Dixmude (A609) (ex-HMS Biter, ex-Rio Parana) in April 1945, then soon added the 18,000-ton British Colossus-class carrier Arromanches (R95).

French Douglas SBD Dauntless au-dessus du porte-avions Arromanches.

The French carrier force grew to four with the loan of two 15,000-ton Independence-class light carriers in the early 1950s: Bois Belleau (R97) (ex-USS Belleau Wood) and La Fayette (R96) (ex-USS Langley), and would operate through 1960.

By 1961, the first of two 32,000-ton French-built Clemenceau-class CATOBAR carriers, Clemenceau (R98) and Foch (R99), entered service, while a larger 45,000-ton CV, Verdun, was only canceled later.

French carrier Arromanches in her 1960s Commando Carrier role. The ex-HMS Colossus (15), Arromanches served in the French fleet from 1946 to 1974, transitioning from fixed-wing fleet carrier off Indochina and Algeria, then in a commando LPH role, and finally as a training carrier (AVT)

From 1963, when Foch entered the fleet through 1974 when Arromanches was decommissioned and returned to the British, the French had two brand-new fleet carriers and a third legacy training/commando carrier on hand.

French aircraft carriers Foch (R99) and Clemenceau (R98) in 1977

It was only in October 1997 that the French reduced to a single carrier (something they hadn’t done since Commandant Teste joined Bearn back in 1932) when Clemenceau struck. The worn-out Foch herself was retired in November 2000, leaving France with zero carriers for six months until the 42,000-ton CVN Charles de Gaulle commissioned in May 2001.

Charles de Gaulle at Goa, December 2025

Since then, France has been the only country in history to run a CVN other than the U.S. (even the Chinese and Russians have only operated conventionally powered flattops), which is an accomplishment. She has had several gaps in her career, leaving France sans carrier aviation, including a 15-month refit in 2007-08 (just six years after entering service) and an 18-month midlife upgrade and refit in 2017-18.

Still, she has conducted at least 11 extensive overseas deployments to the Indian Ocean/Pacific, the latest being Clemenceau 25.

Curiously, Charles de Gaulle was at sea when the latest combat in the Middle East broke out earlier this month, off Sweden, and has now been redeployed to the extended region (Cyprus), even while both British flattops (which are much newer) are sidelined for months.

So, surprisingly, Paris is moving forward with a sort of super-Charles de Gaulle as a replacement for the now 25-year-old CVN, rather than two smaller ships (ala HMS Queen Elizabeth), which arguably would be more capable of providing continuous coverage.

At least the new French carrier will be a big one. A super carrier by any post-1945 definition.

At 78,000 tons with two K22 nuclear reactors, the planned France Libre (Free France), pennant R92, is set to replace CDG in 2038ish, with the first steel plate being cut in 2031. Like CDG and the Clemenceaus, she will be CATOBAR and will be able to carry a 70-80 aircraft CVW.

The sizzle reel from Nava Group:

Clemenceau and Clemenceau, in a way, ~40 Years Apart

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Here we see the current flagship of the French Navy, the nuclear-powered carrier Charles de Gaulle, and her strike group in the Mediterranean including Horizon-class air defense frigate Forbin, Aquitaine-class FREMMs Normandie, and Alsace; Durance-class tanker Marne, Greek HS Hydra, and the Burke USS Ross. The CSG is on its “Clemenceau 22” deployment.

Now rewind the clock to 1983, and we see the smaller conventionally powered Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier Foch with Super Etendards and Atlantiques on deck, along with her escorts in the Mediterranean. These include two Tourville-class ASW frigates (Aconit and Duguay Trouin), two George Leygues-class ASW frigates, two Durance-class tankers (some things never change), the missile cruiser Colbert, and the destroyer Du Chalya (D630).

And yes, De Gaulle has the characteristic delta wing arrow on her deck as well, as seen in this great shot from a Dassault Rafale.

Happy 100 For U.S. Navy Carrier Air and what it Brings

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While the Centennial of U.S. Naval Aviation — traditionally recognized as the moment Eugene B. Ely’s Curtiss pusher lifted off from USS Birmingham (Scout Cruiser # 2) in 1910– is a historic milestone that was passed over a decade ago, we are now in the Centennial of United States Navy Aircraft Carriers.

On 20 March 1922, following a two-year conversion at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, the former USS Jupiter (Navy Fleet Collier No. 3) was recommissioned as the United States Navy’s first aircraft carrier USS Langley (CV 1). 

1931 Jane’s, showing a plan for the carrier Langley

Named in honor of Samuel Pierpont Langley, an American aircraft pioneer, and engineer, “The Covered Wagon” started as an experimental platform but was quickly proven an invaluable weapons system that changed how the U.S. Navy fought at sea.

As noted by the Navy:

In the nearly 100 years since, from CV 1 to CVN 78, aircraft carriers have been the Navy’s preeminent power projection platform and have served the nation’s interest in times of war and peace. With an unequaled ability to provide warfighting capabilities across the full spectrum of conflict, and to adapt in an ever-changing world, aircraft carriers, their air wings, and associated strike groups are the foundation of US maritime strategy.

SECNAV Carlos Del Toro’s official message celebrating 100 years of U.S. Navy Carrier Aviation.

About those big decks…

Today, the U.S. Navy has more big deck flattops than any other fleet in the world– a title it has held since about 1943 or so without exception– including 10 beautiful Nimitz-class supercarriers (all of which have conducted combat operations) plus one Gerald R. Ford-class carrier in commission (and finally nearing her first deployment) and two more Fords building.

It is expected the Fords will replace the Nimitz class on a one-per-one basis. Of the current 10, five are in PIA, DPIA, or RCOH phases of deep maintenance, leaving just five capable of deployment. Still, even with half these big carriers tied down, the five large-deck CVNs on tap are capable of more combat sorties than every other non-U.S. flattop currently afloat combined.

For reference, check out this great series of top-down shots by MC3 Bela Chambers of the eighth Nimitz-class supercarrier USS Harry S Truman (CVN-75), the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R 91), and the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (C 550) transiting the Ionian Sea during recent NATO tri-carrier operations.

Commissioned in 1998, HST, like her sisters, is over 100,000-tons full load and is capable of carrying 90 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. Currently embarked with CVW-1 aboard, you can see her deck filled with over 30 F-18E/Fs from VFA-11 (Red Rippers), VFA-211 (Fighting Checkmates), VFA-34 (Blue Blasters), VFA-81 (Sunliners), and EA-18Gs of VAQ-137 (Rooks) along with MH-60S/Rs of HSC-11 (Dragonslayers) and HMS-72 (Proud Warriors) and E-2D “Advanced” Hawkeyes of VAW-126 (Seahawks). The current wing is deployed with 46 F-18E/F, 5 EA-18G, 5 E-2Ds, 8 MH-60Ss and 11 MH-60Rs. Once an F-35C squadron gets integrated with CVW-1, replacing one of the Rhino units, it makes all sorts of other changes. Add to this MQ-25 Stingray drone refuelers and you see big things on the horizon.

For comparison, Charles de Gaulle, commissioned in 2001, is the only nuclear-powered carrier not operated by the U.S. Navy. At 42,000 tons she is smaller than the conventionally-powered Chinese carriers or the new Royal Navy QE2 class vessels, but the French have been operating her for two decades (off and on), including combat operations, and she is probably at this point the most capable foreign carrier afloat. However, she typically deploys with only around 30 aircraft, including the navalised Dassault Rafale (M model), American-built E-2C Hawkeyes, and a mix of a half-dozen light and medium helicopters. Her current “Clemenceau 22” deployment includes just 20 F3R Rafales of 12F and 17F.

The newest of the three vessels seen here, is the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (C 550), commissioned in 2008. Some 30,000-tons full load, she was built with lessons learned by the Italians after operating their much smaller (14,000-ton) “Harrier Carrier” Giuseppe Garibaldi, which joined the Marina Militare in 1985. Whereas Garibaldi was able to carry up to 18 aircraft, a mix of helicopters and Harriers, Cavour was designed for STOVL fixed-wing use with 10 F-35Bs (which Italy is slowly fielding) and a dozen big Agusta AW101 (Merlins). She is seen above with a quartet of aging Italian AV-8Bs, which explains why Garibaldi, currently in Norway on a NATO exercise there, is there sans Harriers.

It should be noted that, when talking about smaller but capable carriers such as Charles de Gaulle and Cavour, the U.S. Navy also has a fleet of “non-carriers” that can clock in for such power projection as well.

Further, there are seven remaining Wasp-class and two America-class amphibious assault ships, which can be used as a light carrier of sorts, filled with up to 20 AV-8Bs or F-35Bs (after updates), with the latter concept termed a “Lightning Carrier.” A slow vessel, these ‘phibs are not main battle force ships, and they cannot generate triple digits of sorties per day, but they are a powerful force multiplier, especially if they free up a big deck carrier for heavier work. While not as beefy or well-rounded an airwing as a Nimitz or (hopefully) Ford-class supercarrier, these LHD/LHA sea control ships can provide a lot of projection if needed– providing there are enough F-35Bs to fill their decks.

Thirteen U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), are staged aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) as part of routine training in the eastern Pacific, Oct. 8, 2019. (U.S. Marine Corps photo illustration by Lance Cpl. Juan Anaya)

Speaking of which, USS Tripoli (LHA-7), is set to fully test the Lightning Carrier concept next month, drawing 20 F-35Bs from VMX-1, VMFA-211, and VMFA-225. 

Supporting Notre Dame

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The French Navy posted this in the past few days, with the crew of their flagship, FS Charles de Gaulle (R91) assembling in support of the country’s iconic cathedral.

Note her Rafales and Hawkeyes. Notably, she is the only non-U.S. nuclear-powered attack carrier in commission.

Bon chance!

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While the Mississippi Dixiecrat lawmaker John C. Stennis and the founder of the Fifth Republic of France Charles de Gaulle probably wouldn’t have played well together in many cases, their namesake modern nuclear-powered supercarriers seem to do just fine.

A great series of images were released this week from a passing exercise held Monday (15APR), where the John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Strike Group/Carrier Strike Group 3 was able to maneuver and cooperate with the French Marine Nationale’s Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group in the Red Sea. Commanded by Rear Adm. Olivier Lebas (Fr) and Rear Adm. Michael Wettlaufer (USN), besides the two carriers their escorts included the guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74), and the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) on the U.S. side, and the French air defense destroyer FS Forbin (D 620) along with the attached Royal Danish Navy frigate HDMS Niels Juel (F 363) accompanying De Gaulle. (Below U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joshua L. Leonard and Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Skyler Okerman)

Enjoy!

Note the spread of U.S. and French E-2 Hawkeyes as bookends, sandwiching F-18Es and Dassault Rafale Ms. Of note, while De Gaulle was in her refit over the past several years, the French worked up on U.S. carriers, so there is a lot of common knowledge between the two forces