Marine Nationale (French Navy)

[40 deg south]

French Navy Received d'Entrecasteaux First of Four B2M Multi Mission Vessels

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classe_d'Entrecasteaux

There will be a couple of additions to French forces in the Pacific, with the second vessel going to Tahiti.

It looks like a handy little workhorse, produced with minimum armament and a complete absence of gold-plating.

 

[KiwiRob]

French Navy Received d'Entrecasteaux First of Four B2M Multi Mission Vessels

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classe_d'Entrecasteaux

There will be a couple of additions to French forces in the Pacific, with the second vessel going to Tahiti.

It looks like a handy little workhorse, produced with minimum armament and a complete absence of gold-plating.

They look like anchor handling tugs, not patrol vessels.

 

[youpii]

The French navy has ordered 5 FTI to replace the La fayette class.
Frégates de taille intermédiaire : Gros plan sur la Belharra et sa version française | Mer et Marine

• 4300 tons
• 76mm main gun
• 2x20mm remote guns
• 8 Exocet MM40
• 2 Sylver A70 launchers for 16 Aster 30 missiles
• Space for 2 extra Sylver A70 launchers
• MU90 torpedoes
• Hangar for one NH90 helicopter and one UAV
• Sea Fire 4 planes radar
• Captas 4 towed sonar

It looks much more tightly packed than the French FREMMs.
But I wonder why not put all the Sylver A70 launchers from the beginning.
Also it lacks short range missiles like Mica-VL or Simbad-RC.

 

[ASSAIL]

The French navy has ordered 5 FTI to replace the La fayette class.
Frégates de taille intermédiaire : Gros plan sur la Belharra et sa version française | Mer et Marine

• 4300 tons
• 76mm main gun
• 2x20mm remote guns
• 8 Exocet MM40
• 2 Sylver A70 launchers for 16 Aster 30 missiles
• Space for 2 extra Sylver A70 launchers
• MU90 torpedoes
• Hangar for one NH90 helicopter and one UAV
• Sea Fire 4 planes radar
• Captas 4 towed sonar

It looks much more tightly packed than the French FREMMs.
But I wonder why not put all the Sylver A70 launchers from the beginning.
Also it lacks short range missiles like Mica-VL or Simbad-RC.

It would seem like a perfect fit for the RNs T 31 programme. It's a pity that the two countries could not cooperate for their mutual advantage.

 

[StobieWan]

Never again, not after the last one

 

[ASSAIL]

Never again, not after the last one

Ah, I see, the spirit of Trafalgar is not yet dead.

 

[40 deg south]

http://navy.mil.nz/downloads/pdf/navy-today/nt209.pdf

A small piece on p14 of RNZN's monthly magazine describes an overhaul of the Noumea-based light frigate Vendemaire at Devenport naval base in Auckland. It included swapping out the 100mm gun and turret, so more than an oil change and filters!

Nice to see MN using a facility in the Pacific.

 

[ngatimozart]

:daz

http://navy.mil.nz/downloads/pdf/navy-today/nt209.pdf

A small piece on p14 of RNZN's monthly magazine describes an overhaul of the Noumea-based light frigate Vendemaire at Devenport naval base in Auckland. It included swapping out the 100mm gun and turret, so more than an oil change and filters!

Nice to see MN using a facility in the Pacific.

The impressive bit was that it didn't take long. Blink and you missed it. Well less than 1/2 an hour for replacement.

 

[kato]

Nice to see MN using a facility in the Pacific.

Vendemiaire is the only one that actually has to sail from its homeport - since Noumea doesn't have the necessary facilities. It's her second maintenance in Auckland under the current contract, first was in 2014. Full overhaul takes around 70 days.

DCNS and STX France SA Win Maintenance Contract for French Surveillance Frigates Based Overseas

It's always subcontracted locally. There's a team of about 40 people with DCNS and STX that deploys globally for the maintenance contract.

 

[DaveS124]

Just a heads-up for ASSAIL in Darwin.

French LHD Mistral is currently doing the rounds, working with US and Japanese forces and with UK air elements embarked.

Heading to Darwin very soon, with her escort, FS Courbet.

Approx nine months ago her sister Tonnerre and escort swung by FBW after an ADF PASSEX.

Those Marine Nationale boys and girls throw great parties, ASSAIL, so maybe time to ring around for an invite.

 

[t68]

French LHD Mistral is currently doing the rounds, working with US and Japanese forces and with UK air elements embarked.

Can you elaborate on this please, is it a French lead task group with US/JPN escorts and what is the make up of the UK air element please.

 

[hauritz]

Just a heads-up for ASSAIL in Darwin.

French LHD Mistral is currently doing the rounds, working with US and Japanese forces and with UK air elements embarked.

Heading to Darwin very soon, with her escort, FS Courbet.

Approx nine months ago her sister Tonnerre and escort swung by FBW after an ADF PASSEX.

Those Marine Nationale boys and girls throw great parties, ASSAIL, so maybe time to ring around for an invite.

A little embarrassing for us in Australia at the moment ... given that both our new LHDs are laid up with mechanical problems.

 

[Vulcan]

Can you elaborate on this please, is it a French lead task group with US/JPN escorts and what is the make up of the UK air element please.

UK element is 2 Merlin HC4 plus a few dozen personnel

 

[DaveS124]

TG is MISTRAL and frigate COURBET. It's a 6-month job.

Some bumph on embarked A Flight, 845 NAS Jungly det here - Commando fliers make the French connection on unique deployment to Far East

Both ships were in Sasebo the other day, where the LHD embarked USMC ground elements. Some footage here - https://youtu.be/6jpjgMsg1kE

Currently in Guam.

 

[ASSAIL]

A French catarmaran Landing Craft ran aground during the exercises in Guam which were temporarily suspended. There's no information on how or why.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/hawaii/articles/2017-05-11/us-japan-france-uk-practice-amphibious-landings-on-guam

 

[ASSAIL]

Just a heads-up for ASSAIL in Darwin.

French LHD Mistral is currently doing the rounds, working with US and Japanese forces and with UK air elements embarked.

Heading to Darwin very soon, with her escort, FS Courbet.

Approx nine months ago her sister Tonnerre and escort swung by FBW after an ADF PASSEX.

Those Marine Nationale boys and girls throw great parties, ASSAIL, so maybe time to ring around for an invite.

Thanks, I'll try to get some pics during her stopover.

 

[Volkodav]

Thanks, I'll try to get some pics during her stopover.

If you are too busy driving give me a yell and i'll come along with my DLSR

 

[ASSAIL]

If you are too busy driving give me a yell and i'll come along with my DLSR

Sounds like a plan Paul.

 

[aussienscale]

A little embarrassing for us in Australia at the moment ... given that both our new LHDs are laid up with mechanical problems.

Why is it embarrassing ? are people still not getting and understanding what IOC, OT&E and FOC are all about ?

 

[StobieWan]

Ah, I see, the spirit of Trafalgar is not yet dead.

Bit more recent than that - NFR90 and then Horizon - it wasn't a happy time and the summary of the outcome of the common frigate program was that "it wasn't common and it wasn't a frigate."

While notionally there should be some good points to a collaboration, recent experience in attempting it wasn't much fun.