A quick look at the French Navy(Marine Nationale)

[rickusn]

Beginning Post-War a plan for a fleet was put into place that has been continually evolving.

The Basics:

3 Carriers (one a training ship, ASW and eventually Helo Assault)
3 Cruisers (one a training ship)
18 Destroyers(Fleet escorts)
27 FFL(variously termed corvettes or light frigates for use in convoy escort, patrol, ASW tasks and overseas possesssion protection)
18 SSK

With the demise of the Arromanches in 1974 the "(one a training ship, ASW and eventually Helo Assault)" ship has not been realised. Although when the new Mistal LHD's are commissioned it will with the exception of fixed wing aircraft training.

And of course only one carrier is now in-comission the nuclear -powered Charles de Gaulle after the decommissioning of the contionally-poiwered carriers Foch and Clemenceau.

The two cruiser requirement evolved into the two large AAW destroyers of the Suffren class one now decommissioned and the other with its AAW armamnet deactivated to be replaced in the next coupla a years by the Forbin class AAW destroyers.

The training cruiser Jeanne D'Arc will be replaced by a Mistral LHD.

It took thiry years for the 18 1950's built Surcouf destroyer variants to be replaced 1971-2000. Starting with the Cruiser Colbert conversion(decommissioned 1990) to an AAW missle ship continuing with the Aconit, the three Tourville class DDs, the seven G. Leygues class DDs (these 11 DD's evolved from the same requirements) plus the two Cassard class DDG's built on G. Leygues class hulls with recycled missle systems from converted Surcouf class destoyers. Then in the mid-late 1990s the five La fayette class ships (typed Frigates-FF) finished the cycle.

The goal of twenty surface combatants fell as low as 15 in the early 1990s and now stands at 17.

The Aconit and one of the Tourvilles(Duguay-Trouin) along with the Suffren AAW were decommissioned either prematurely or in the case of the Suffren before its replacement could be built.

The next cycle will see the FREMM class multi-purpose destroyers enter service along with the AAW Forbins.

The Submarine level has fallen to six Rubis class SSN's to be replaced by the new Barracuda class.

Its interestting to note that the French primarilly have grouped their ships in threes(ie three ship divisions) more from historical habit starting pre-war than anything else apparently.

The FFL analysis plus some future musings will follow tomorrow.

[rickusn]

The French built 18 ocean-going convoy escorts of the E-50/52 classes in the mid-late 1950s and nine of the Commandant Riviere class in the early-mid 1960s. Which were replacements for war-built ex-UK River class frigates and ex- USN DE's.

The ocean-going escort E-50/52 class ships were replaced by 17 of the much smaller coastal escorts of the A-69 class from the mid 1970s to the early 1980s.

Only nine of the A-69s remain in commission and there is no program to replace this class. To retire 2009-2016.

The nine Commadant Riviere class were replaced by the six Floreal class Patrol ships in the first half of the 1990s.

The Future

The French will now build all four of the originally envisioned Forbin class AAW DDGs.

The French plan to build 17 FREMM class destroyers. Most navies with the exception of Japan would type these ships as Frigates but in any case the cruiser/destoyer/frigate classifications have blurred to the point of near meaninglessness.

Eight of the 17 Fremm class ASW destroyers have been ordered to replace six of the seven G. Leygues and two of the original three Tourville class ASW destroyers.

The remaining nine were to nominally replace the the two ships of the two classes not being replaced by the first batch, the two Cassard DDGs(now to be replaced by the Forbin class) and eventually the five relatively young(Commissioned 1996-2001) La fayette class frigates. I think that now at least unofficially they are seen more as quite upgraded replacements for the remaining nine A-69 class FFL ships.

These nine ships will be optomised for land-attack having lesser ASW suites than the preceding eight. The first eight will also be outfitted for land-attack.

Some dont think all 17 ships will be built but the French still maintain that the program will be completed as envisioned.

The two programs(FREMM(17) & Forbin(4)) would increase the major surface combatant force levels from the existing 17 to 21. And would see the virtual phase out of the minor surface combatant force.

What actually happens to the Lafayettes when the programs are completed is not clear to me. I guess it depends how long and drawn out the FREMM program is and if there is a down-sizing in general.

The Mistral class LHDs will continue the French drive for a more credible amphibious/expeditionary force begun with the procurement of the two Foudre class LSD's in the 1990s. It will also allow the Charles de Gaulle to focus on Aviation as in the latest NATO exercise she is carrying 800 Marines. Not to mention providing a much needed replacement for the long serving Jeanne D'Arc(41 years old) helicopter carrier/training ship.

Another carrier is needed but not yet ordered.

The submarine force will be maintained at its present level of six SSN's at best. The first Barracuda replacement of the Rubis class is to commission in 2014 and the last in 2024!!!!