|
|
|
Clemenceau class
Origin: France
Type: Aircraft carrier (CV)
Built: 1955-1963
Class: 2 in service
Displacement: 27,307 tons standard; 32.780 tons full load
Dimensions: Length 869.4ft (265m) oa; beam 104.1ft (31.7m); draught
28.2ft (8.6m)
Propulsion: 2-shaft (2 sets Parsons geared turbines), 126.000shp
Performance: Speed 32 knots;
range 7.500nm at 18 knots, 4,800nm at 24 knots
Weapons: SAM: 4 Naval Crotale at next refit
Guns: 8 100mm in single turrets ( 4 when Naval Crotale has been fitted)
Sensors: Radar: DRBV 50 surveillance; DRBV 23B air surveillance:
DRBV 20C warning; DRBC 31 fire control (2); DRBI 10 heightfinding (2);
Decca, NRBA navigation Sonar: SQS-503 hull-mounted
Complement: 1.338
These two light fleet carriers were laid down in the mid-1950s
and incorporated all the advances in carrier design made in the
immediate postwar period.
They have served the French Navy well. in both European and Pacific
waters, operations in the latter being in support of the remaining
French colonial territories and of nuclear tests. They are also among
the most powerful units in the Mediterranean and at least one carrier
was off Lebanon at all times when French military units were ashore as
part of the international peacekeeping forces in Beirut.
Following the paying-off of the British aircraft carrier Ark Royal
these are now the largest units in any European navy.
The Clemenceau class aircraft carriers are fairly conventional
in design. The flight deck measures 543ft (165.5m) by 97ft (29.5m) and
is angled at 8ш to the ship's axis.
The forward aircraft lift is offset to starboard with one of the
two 170ft (52m) catapults to port; the second catapult is located on
the angled deck, and the after lift is , positioned on the deck edge to
increase hangar capacity. The hangar. which is offset to port, has a
usable length of 499ft (152m) and a width of 72-79ft (22-24m). with
23ft (7m) clearance overhead.
A new generation of aircraft was designed to operate from these
carriers. Two flights. each of ten Etendard IVM ground support fighters
(with integral reconnaissance capability). were initially embarked.
together with a flight of Alize turbo-prop ASW aircraft, while F-8E
Crusaders were purchased from the USA in 1963 and from 1966 made up the
interceptor flight. The Etendard IVM has recently been replaced by the
Super Etendard. which can carry Exocet anti-ship missiles and has a
nuclear strike capability. but the relatively small size of the ships,
together with the limited capacity (20 tonnes) of the lifts and
catapults. has made it difficult to find a replacement for the F-8Es.
A further limitation on the effectiveness of these ships is
their lack of integral airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft. and they
would have the same problem as the British Task Force in the 1982 South
Atlantic war if the were to deploy against a reasonably sophisticated
enemy. Both carriers normally embark two Super Frelon ASW helicopters
and two Alouette Ills.
 Future: The French
Navy plans to construct two Charles de Gaulle (PAN-1) class nuclear
powered aircraft carriers. the first of which was laid down in 1986 and
will join the fleet in 1995. Of 36,000 tons full load displacement,
these carriers will have two independent nuclear reactors giving a
maximum speed of 27 knots. The weapons fit will include an air defence
missile system (three SADRAL fire units with Matra Mistral missiles)
and an unspecified anti-missile defence system. and the PAN-1 class
will carry a strike group, probably a mix of Super Etendard and a
navalized version of the ACT, and their decks will be capable of
operating AEW aircraft.
Under present plans Clemenceau is due to payoff in 1995. followed by
Foch in 1998, but this obviously depends upon satisfactory progress
with the new nuclear carriers.Meanwhile, both are to be upgraded at
their next refits, which will include replacing four 100mm guns by
Naval Crotale SAM launchers.
Weapons
A 100mm dual-purpose gun Modele1953(2x1)
B 100mm dual-purpose gun Modele 1953 (2x1 )
C 100mm dual-purpose gun Modele 1953(2x1)
D 100mm dual-purpose gun Modele 1953(2x1 )
Electronics
1 SQS-505 hull-mounted sonar
2 DRBC-32Agunfire control radar
3 DRBN-32 navigation radar (Decca 1226)
4 DRBI-10 Cheightfinding radar
5 DRBV-23 Bairsurveillance radar
6 DRBV-50surface search radar
7 SRN-6 Tacan antenna
8 DRBV-20C long-range search radar
9 DRBI-10 Cheightfinding radar
10 Carrier Control Approach (CCA) radar
|
|
