French, US Navy test compatibility of landing ship

French Ministry of Defence website ^ | 05/16/2007 | French Navy

[Atlantic Friend]

The French Navy, the General Directorate for Armaments (DGA) and the US Navy have completed a test launch of US landing crafts from the brand-new Landing and Command Ships (BPC) commissioned by the French Navy.

The test campaign happened out of Norfolk, Virginia, from May the 7th to May the 12th, and involved the BPC "Tonnerre" (Thunder) and units from the US Navy's Second Fleet. These trials at sea have allowed both Navies to verify the complete compatibility of the French BPC with American landing crafts such as the LCAC hovercrafts and with the operation of heavy MH-53E SUper Stallion hélicopters.

The "Tonnerre" has been built with international amphibious operations in mind. She can debark 60 militray vehicles, including taks, and up to 450 Marines. She can also operate up to 20 helicopters. The "Tonnerre", and her sistership the "Mistral" have both been built by the French shipyard DCNS.

The BPC concept has been met with interest from a variety of countries, including South Africa, Germany, Australia, Canada, Malaya and Sweden.

The "Tonnerre" has been commissioned by the DGA and the French Navy in February 2007. With her 22,000 tons of displacement, she is the second-heaviest ship of the French Navy after the nuclear carrier "Charles de Gaulle". She is currently finishing her trial period in the Atlantic (in American and African waters) before being fully operational.

[Atlantic Friend]

I recommend you to pay the French Navy website a visit, there are many good pictures of its ships.

[1rudeboy]

And they’re floating! [obligatory comment out of the way—thread over]

[old patriot]

If anyone starts to squirm about the possibility of the USN buying similar vessels from France, it must be remembered that during WW-II and later, that almost ALL of the landing craft used by the USN were designed by Royal Navy shipyards. From the lowly Landing Craft Auxiliary (LCA) to the very large Landing Craft Tank (LCT), all came from British naval designs.

If the French design IS better, and fits ALL of our USN's needs, then I would have no problem working out a joint-venture for complete French buys, or at least semi-finished vessels to be built here. I would base all of this on a very strict evaluation of these tests for what out navy's needs are in the coming next quarter of a century.

Old Patriot

[Incorrigible]

Is this in preperation for the Forces Françaises Libres to take posession of the Tonnerre in an alliance with the Americans after Sarkozy (Sarkozy faces 'grapes of wrath' terror threat) is toppled by the vignerons and Islamic immigrants?

;-)

Just joking with you Atlantic Friend!

.

[Atlantic Friend]

I saw that thread, and I commented on it. I don’t get why the journalist wasted any time or ink writing on this fringe group, so I hope he at least got a few bottles of plonk out of it !

As for the Tonnerre and the Mistral, not only do they float (as US citizens evacuated from Lebanon by the Mistral last year can tesify), but they are indeed very fine ships, and their full compatibility with US helos and hovercrafts make them a very valuable contribution to NATO navies.

[Non-Sequitur]

If the French design IS better, and fits ALL of our USN's needs, then I would have no problem working out a joint-venture for complete French buys, or at least semi-finished vessels to be built here. I would base all of this on a very strict evaluation of these tests for what out navy's needs are in the coming next quarter of a century.

Ingalls builds all U.S. amphibious ships in Pascagoula. They're not going to share the wealth with a French shipyard.

[James W. Fannin]

Open borders, free trade, and rudeness to our French friends. You're a real piece of work. Now wipe your nose and remember who saved the Republic and helped us win the Revolutionary War when the issue was still quite uncertain.

[asp1]

Very cool photos! You should ping Vicomte 13 as I think he was in the US Navy and would probably appreciate these.

P.S. I would do it myself if I knew how. :O)

[Atlantic Friend]

They are not aiming at sales to the US Navy anyway, even if that would indeed be a nice and stunning surprise to have the US Navy express interest for the design.

These two ships were built with other countries’s needs in mind, to provide them with landing capabilities compatible with other Western navies.

[Atlantic Friend]

Goodness, he’s still around ? Great ! I’ll ping him.

[asp1]

I just assumed Vicomte 13 was still around, did he leave? I’m sorry, I just don’t know.

[Atlantic Friend]

I sure hope not ! But I haven’t read from him in a while, so let’s see.

[battlegearboat]

Moan do.

[Atlantic Friend]

“Moan do.”

Sorry, but I’m not sure I get your meaning here.

[real saxophonist]

My dad was a 22 year old Lt (j.g.) in command of one of those LCTs on UTAH Beach. He had bulldozers and TNT. He and his boat were on their way to the Pacific, in preparation for the invasion of Japan, when the war ended.

To transport LCTs (Landing Craft, Tank) long distances like that, they would load them onto LSTs (Landing Ship, Tank). There's a picture somewhere. I'll try to find it.

[asp1]

Oops left for breakfast. I can’t remember the last time that I saw a post from Vicomte 13. I searched his screen name and it said his account has been suspended or banned. I can’t imagine what he did or said to be banned, I have never known him to be rude or obnoxious. I shall be sorry if he is no longer here, as his posts are always lucid and informative.

[Captain Rhino]

La campagne de tests a été conduite du 7 au 12 mai 2007 au large de Norfolk (Virginie) avec le BPC Tonnerre et des unités de la Deuxième Flotte de l’US Navy. Ces essais à la mer ont montré la complète interopérabilité du BPC avec les engins de débarquement américains les plus imposants, à savoir les hydroglisseurs LCAC et les hélicoptères lourds MH-53E Super Stallion.

Le BPC Tonnerre possède d’importantes capacités de commandement lui permettant de diriger une opération amphibie internationale. Il peut embarquer, 60 chars et véhicules militaires et jusqu’à 450 hommes de troupe, ainsi qu’une vingtaine d’hélicoptères. Il est mis en œuvre par un équipage réduit de 160 marins. Il a été construit, ainsi que son sistership BPC Mistral, selon des normes de la construction navale civile, par DCNS.

Le concept du BPC intéresse d'autres pays, comme l'Afrique du Sud, l'Allemagne, l'Australie, le Canada, la Malaisie et la Suède.

The underlined portion lists some of the ships capacities: 60 military vehicles, 450 troops, and a detachment of helicopters. US navy equivalent ships (LHA and LHD) can embark about 130 vehicles (depending on their size), 1600 Marines and a composite squadron of helicopters and Harriers (@20 aircraft).

More tellingly, it says that BPC Tonnerre only has a crew of 160 sailors and is constructed to commercial shipbuilding standards. The small crew size limits the ship's ability to conduct simultaneous operations over a long period. (LHA and LHD crews typically number @900-1000 each, IIRC.) The use of commercial shipbuilding standards makes the ship lighter in displacement, and faster and cheaper to build. But it but it also makes the ship much more vulnerable to battle damage. While this ship is armed and operated as a warship, it is not really designed to operate in anything except a permissive to low threat environment. By contrast, US Navy warships must operate in all threat environments and our amphibious warship trends are toward faster, stronger and larger ships.

Still, as the last paragraph indicates, this type of ship does have its place and South Africa, Germany, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, and (!) Sweden have indicated an interest in it.

[britemp]

I’m very glad to see that everyone on this thread has been sufficiently restrained to not link the democrats desperate need to surrender in Iraq with the assessment of French land craft for the US Navy. . . . . . . :D

[battlegearboat]

Mon dieu!

[1rudeboy]

Hey, n00b. Get to know my positions or STFU.