Navy of France: submarines and modern warships

The armed forces of France include the army, navy (navy), aviation (air force) and national gendarmerie. The French Navy consists of more than one hundred and eighty surface ships. This is the only European country with an atomic aircraft carrier in the fleet. Its submarine fleet consists of ten nuclear submarines, four of which are armed with ballistic nuclear missiles.

Place of the Navy in the overall structure of the Armed Forces of France

The total number of French aircraft in 2014 was:

• In the army - 115 thousand people;
• In aviation - 45,5 thousand people;
• On the fleet - 44 thousand people (at the moment);
• Medical staff and quartermasters - 17,800;
• In the gendarmerie - 98.2 thousand people.

The naval forces of France are completed on a contract basis. Officers for them are trained at the Naval Academy, admission to which is made through a competition after two years of service. The total annual budget of the fleet exceeds 6 billion euros. The French Navy occupies the 5th place in the world among fleets in tonnage.

The motto of the fleet: "Honor, Fatherland, valor, discipline" is engraved in white letters on blue plates, fixed on the superstructures of all ships.

Organizational structure

The chief of the Main Naval Staff is Vice-Admiral Squadron Arnaud de Tarle. The French Navy consists of four main operational components:

• Operational naval forces (forces of influence - FAN) - surface fleet;
• Submarine fleet (FSM);
• Naval aviation (ALAVIA);
• Marine Corps and Special Forces (FORFUSCO).

In addition, the National Gendarmerie of France supports the naval forces with its patrol boats, which fall under the operational command of the French Navy.

The surface fleet (FAN)

This component of the Navy has 12,000 men and about 100 ships, which is the backbone of the French fleet. Combat ships are divided into seven categories (groups):

• An aircraft carrier group based on the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle;
• A group of landing ships (amphibians) (now ships of the Mistral class);
• Frigates that act either as protection for strategic groups, or alone in observation, reconnaissance, rescue missions or deterrence;
• Minesweepers;
• The warships deployed abroad, and act as forces of presence and deterrence;
• Support courts;
• Hydrographic and oceanographic vessels.

The carrier group of ships of the surface fleet

This group is the backbone of the French Navy and one of the components of the nuclear deterrent forces , since the Super Ettenard and Rafal can carry nuclear munitions.

At least the tactical group of ships of the French Navy includes an aircraft carrier (now the Charles de Gaulle), an air defense frigate and auxiliary vessels. As a rule, this group also includes several anti-submarine and anti-aircraft frigates, a torpedo nuclear submarine (such as the "Ryubi" or a prospective type "Barracuda") designed for torpedoing surface ships and submarines and, possibly, additional support ships.

The air connection can include up to 40 units: Rafal, Super Ehtendar and E-2 Hokai, as well as NHI NH-90, AS365 Dauphin and AS565 Panther helicopters. This composition varies depending on the mission and tactical situation, and can include air assets from both the army and the air force.

Group of amphibious assault ships

As part of the French Navy, there are three large Mistral-class landing ships, commonly referred to as "helicopter carriers", carrying various landing gear. On their board there are helicopters, troops, and ground vehicles. This connection also includes five smaller vessels that are in Fort-de-France, Toulon, Papeete, Noumea, and Reunion.

The amphibious assault connection also includes one or more TCD ships carrying landing craft, vehicles and helicopters, and one or more light transport vehicles such as BATRAL that are capable of delivering motorized rifle units directly to the coast. They can carry sea transport helicopters such as "Puma" and "Cougar" or combat helicopters "Gazelle" and "Tiger", means for trawling, as well as maritime assault units or army units.

Navy ships of the French frigate class

They provide freedom of air and sea space and allow other components of the Navy to operate. The frigates are subdivided according to the threat they are meant to reflect, and usually are accompanied by other forces (aircraft-carrying or amphibious groups of ships, submarines or civil ships).

• Four air defense frigates: two of them are of the type "Horizon" and two are of the "Kassar" type, are designed to protect the carrier group from air threats. They also carry helicopters that can be used to fight submarines.
• Nine anti-submarine torpedo frigates (two types of Tourville + seven types of Georges Legia) carry towed sonars and helicopters, and also have anti-ship and anti-aircraft weapons.
• Eight multi-purpose frigates such as "Aquitaine" are designed in the future to replace the existing anti-submarine frigates.
• Five frigates of the Lafayette class are used mainly for patrolling national and international waters. They carry helicopters AS565 "Panther" or "Lynx".

Underwater fleet (FSM)

Submarine forces are (as of the beginning of 2010) of their following compounds:

• Squadrons of nuclear submarines (NPS) for a torpedo attack of the "Ryubi" type, which do not have missile silos (they are designated by the national classification plane and SSN by "NATO"). These are the smallest nuclear submarines in the world. They are based in the military port of Toulon on the Cote d'Azur. The number of submarines in the squadron is six
• Squadrons of nuclear submarines with ballistic missiles (designated by SSBN according to the national classification and SSBN by "NATO"). It includes four Triumphan-class nuclear submarines equipped with 16 Moulettes of M45 or M51 launchers. The squadron is based on the Ile-Long operational base near Brest, where earlier (from 1972 to 2007) there were the first French SSBMs of the Redutabl type.

Range of firing missiles M45 is 6000 km, M51 - 9000 km. Both missiles are capable of carrying six nuclear warheads at 100 kilotons of TNT each.

French Naval Aviation (ALAVIA)

This component of the Navy contains four components:

• Air group of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle consisting of 16 multi-purpose fighters of the fourth generation of Dassault Rafal, 8 supersonic deck attack aircrafts Dassault Super-Ehtendard, and two-decked aircraft of the long-range radar detection Grumman E-2 Hokai.
• 16 (for 2015) long-range naval aircraft of the Atlantic-2 type. They perform patrolling functions. The fight against submarines, the setting up and detection of mines, long-range reconnaissance.
• Helicopters types "Dauphin", "Panther", "Lynx", "Aluette III" on the sides of the ships.
• Service units.

The main division of the French naval aviation is a flotilla (39 in all), usually consisting of 12 aircraft.

Marines and Special Forces (FORFUSCO)

They are grouped at the base in Lorient (Brittany region) and number 1,700 people. These forces are involved in ground operations with intervention from the sea, operations of special forces, protection of sensitive areas. It includes two components:

1. Naval commandos, which include six specialized units: Jober (attack and release of hostages), Trepel (attack and release of hostages), Penfeneno (reconnaissance and reconnaissance), Montfort (support and destruction of the offensive), "Huber" (actions of submarines) and "Kiffer" (command and struggle against new threats). They are often used by the French Special Operations Command (COS).
2. Marine riflemen, specializing in the protection and protection of ships and key sectors of the French Navy on land. Their number is about 1900 people.