Thread: A quick look at the French Navy(Marine Nationale)

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!!!!