French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91)
- 4 × SYLVER rocket launcher ( MBDA Aster 15)
- 2 × Sadral systems ( Mistral )
- 8 × 2.0 cm Giat 20F2
- 40 aircraft
The Charles de Gaulle is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and is the flagship of the French Navy. It replaces the aircraft carrier Foch and Clemenceau and is named after the French general and statesman Charles de Gaulle.
The Charles de Gaulle is the largest ship of the French Navy.
General
The Charles de Gaulle ( R 91 NATO number ) is relatively small compared to the aircraft carriers employed by the United States. It is 261.5 m long, 64.36 m wide and 75 m high. With a displacement of 40,600 tons, has a crew of about 1,950 people and can additionally record as a troop transport 800 soldiers. The area of the flight deck is approximately 12,000 m², the hangars have an area of approximately 4,600 m².
The Charles de Gaulle is - nuclear powered and can be used without restrictions to travel 1000 kilometers a day - the only aircraft carrier outside the U.S. Navy. The carrier can operate autonomously theoretically up to 45 days.
Equipped it is usually with 40 aircraft types:
- Fighter aircraft: Dassault Rafale Marine
- Fighter-bomber: modernized Dassault Super Étendard
- Air surveillance Grumman E-2 Hawkeye
- Helicopters from Eurocopter AS 565 Panther for rescue and anti-submarine defense missions
With a service life of seven days maximum of 100 flights per day can be taken. The minimum time interval between two starts and landings is 30 seconds.
History
Context
The Charles de Gaulle replaced the conventionally powered aircraft carrier Clemenceau and Foch, which were put into service in 1961 and 1963 respectively. Already in the 1970s, was first discussed on a replacement, because time and again caused problems on both aircraft carriers.
Construction
Construction of the Charles de Gaulle was on 25 November 1987. The shell was composed in April 1989 in the DCN shipyard in Brest. End of construction was in May 1994; with 42,500 tons was the Charles de Gaulle, the largest warship in Western Europe since the commissioning of the British HMS Ark Royal in 1950.
By using the shipyard in Brest, the maximum length of the ship was limited, forcing to unusual solutions. Thus, the flight deck was very general in order to obtain the necessary freedom of movement on deck. Thus, the use of active stabilization ( SATRAP ) was necessary, which is further supported by twelve sliding weights of each 22 t ( system COGITE ).
To drive serve two pressurized water reactors of the type K- 15, as they are also used in French submarines. They also supply the steam for the operation of the two catapults. This catapults match the U.S. model C13, but are only 75 meters long ( compared to 90 m on the U.S. carriers). Even the three- safety cables landing system complies with those of the U.S. Navy.
The carrier was in 1996 christened Richelieu, but was renamed in the year on the then President Jacques Chirac in Charles de Gaulle.
Espionage
1993, according to media reports, a group of MI6 officers unmasked, who had been posing as engineers. It is assumed that they wanted to spy on the nuclear reactor.
Testing and technical problems
The first tests in January 1999 show that it was necessary to extend the runway to allow landing the E-2C Hawkeye. These works had already been necessary on the Foch and Clemenceau to allow then the landing of the F-8 Crusader. This fact was not appreciated by the French public, because the construction had already become twice as expensive at this time as originally estimated. The cost of the extension in the amount of 5 million francs, however, correspond to a mere 0.025 % of the total budget of the Charles de Gaulle.
On 28 February 2000, a test triggered the nuclear reactors from a fire insulating materials, which led to a lot of smoke.
On the night of November 9 to November 10, 2000, while the carrier to Norfolk (Virginia) was traveling broke the port propeller; the ship had to return to Toulon, for replacement of the propeller. The subsequent investigation revealed that the spare propeller had the same structural error. The culprit was the supplier. Pending a final solution the obsolete propeller of Clemenceau and Foch were used provisionally what the top speed from 27 to 25 knots lowered, air operations, however, not restricted.
On 5 March 2001, the carrier stood out with two older propellers again to sea and reached a top speed of 25.2 knots. 2009 new propellers were installed, as the optimum carrier speed is 27 knots for the operation of the new version of the Rafale combat aircraft.
On 18 May 2001, the Charles de Gaulle was officially armed. At this time, they already had the reputation of being a grave billion.
From July to October 2001 had the Charles de Gaulle again into the dock because one of the propeller volume of about 100 dB produced, which made the rear of the ship uninhabitable.
Active Duty
On 16 September 2001, the press reported abnormal radioactivity readings on board the carrier. Presumably this was due to a defective insulation pipe.
While the United States organized the response to the attacks of 11 September 2001 in the form of Operation Enduring Freedom, the French press complained about a lack of its own military clout. At the same time reported the Defence Commission, the quality of maintenance of the fleet was defective. In this context, the Charles de Gaulle was, which was again in repair, again target of criticism. Former President Valéry Giscard d' Estaing spoke of a " demi porte- avions " (half aircraft carrier ). Subsequently, the Charles de Gaulle took with several other French warships participated in the operation " Heracles " (see below) and supported with their planes of type Super Étendard the coalition forces in Afghanistan. Overall, this mission took seven months for the Charles de Gaulle pulled in again in Toulon on 10 July 2002.
In the years following inserts were regularly carried out, mainly in the Indian Ocean.
On July 31, 2007, Charles de Gaulle was moved to a longer break overhaul in dry dock in Toulon. Main points were the renewal of the electronic infrastructure, adjustment of ship technology to the F3 version of the Rafale and the replacement of the reactor fuel rods. The replacement of the replacement screws part of the program, which paralyzed the support until March 2009. After problems with vibration and premature wear of the drive system, the recommissioning delayed, however, on December 2009.
Link 16
On 11 October 2001, the frigate Cassard, four AWACS aircraft and the Charles de Gaulle successfully took part in the test of the link 16, a new specially secured network. The network enables real-time monitoring of air traffic between southern England and the Mediterranean. The data were transmitted in real time the Jean Bart via link 11.
Gas incident
On 8 November 2001 was a sailor, who carried out maintenance work, due to a gas leak in a swoon. Another sailor was trying to save him and also fainted. Both were rescued by medical teams and taken to a hospital in Toulon. Both sailors survived the incident, but the Charles de Gaulle came under renewed massive public criticism.
The operation Heracles in Afghanistan
On 21 November 2001 France, to send Charles de Gaulle to the Indian Ocean and to support the operation Heracles the United Nations in Afghanistan decided.
The Task Force 473, with 2900 men under the command of Rear-Admiral François Cluzel began on December 1. The Task Force consisted of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, frigates La Motte -Picquet, Jean de Vienne and Jean Bart, the nuclear attack submarine Rubis, the supply ship Meuse and the Aviso Commandant Ducuing.
The French air forces within the task force consisted of 16 473 Super Étendards, an E-2C Hawkeye, two Rafale and several helicopters.
On 17 December 2001, the Task Force was 473 integrated into the international forces on the side of the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS John C. Stennis and the Italian Giuseppe Garibaldi. The armed forces consisted of more than 100 French, U.S., Canadian, British, German, Italian, Dutch, Australian, Spanish and Japanese ships under the international Allied Command in Bahrain.
The Super Étendards launched their first mission in Afghanistan on 19 December 2001 with the Enlightenment and bombing targets over 3,000 km away. A total of 140 missions were carried out, on average twelve per day. The aircraft could fend off attacks from a total of five FIM -92 Stinger missiles.
On 18 February 2002, the observation satellite Helios registered abnormal activities in Gardez. After special units of the U.S. Army had this confirmed on the spot, two reconnaissance aircraft of the type Super Étendards from the Charles de Gaulle were started the next day. On February 20, invaded British and U.S. forces in the valley, and on 2 March began Operation Anaconda.
In March Super Étendards and six land-based Mirage 2000 attacked targets of Al- Qaeda. Some targets proposed by the Americans were rejected out of concern for civilian casualties. " Our good ally of France, who turned a quarter of its fleet available for Operation Enduring Freedom ": nevertheless, the U.S. President George W. Bush on 11 March 2002 praised the commitment of the words. At this time, the impact force on 16 Super Étendards, six Mirage 2000 D, five Rafale and two aerial surveillance aircraft Grumman E-2 Hawkeye had been extended. Two land-based tanker aircraft from Boeing KC -135 extended the service life of the machines throughout Afghanistan considerably. As of February, the Charles de Gaulle and the John C. Stennis aircraft exchanged among themselves in order to deepen the bond between the Allies.
On May 2, the Charles de Gaulle Singapore reached in order for a stopover and continue on May 18 in the direction of Oman. At the same time tensions began at the Iraq question. Vice - Admiral François Cluzel told the press: "France is directed against any actions against Iraq. Should anything be done France will most likely not be part of the coalition ".
Rescue Mission
On 9 October 2009, the CrossMed (Regional Operational Centre for Monitoring and Rescue in Mediterranean Sea ) received an emergency call the Babolin, a leaky 8 -meter boat. The Charles de Gaulle, who was on a maneuver, sent a helicopter in the sector, despite the heavy seas, wind speeds of 35 knots and poor visibility could save the three men of the crew.
Port visit in Cuxhaven
On April 9, 2010, the Charles de Gaulle visited accompanied by the two frigates Forbin and Cassard first time a German port. The aircraft carrier was from 9 to 11 April, 2010 at Steubenhöft in Cuxhaven and subsequently took on NATO exercise Brilliant Mariner in the North Sea part.
Trivia
- The Charles de Gaulle has a presence in 13 Gemo, a French action- spy film.
- In the book of Matthew Reilly operation Elite the Charles de Gaulle has also made an appearance.