From: Steven.Schultz <Steven.Schultz@mixcom.mixcom.com>
Subject: Re: French Carriers, Charles de Gaulle class
Organization: Milwaukee Internet Xchange BBS, Milwaukee, WI U.S.A.
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 17:45:41 GMT


From Steven.Schultz <Steven.Schultz@mixcom.mixcom.com>

In <C1F7AH.LBq@law7.DaytonOH.NCR.COM> Chad Barret Wemyss <chadwemy@wpi.wpi.edu> writes:

>Does anyone have any hard data on the French carriers?  I have some information
>that states that they will carry around twenty-thirty aircraft, and will have 
>a top speed of 29 knots (a little slow for a nuke carrier), but this info is 
>over two years old.  
 
French Navy Charles de Gaulle-class
 
Charles de Gaulle (R 91)  Laid down: April 14, 1989; Launch: May 1994 (?);
                          Commission: was projected for October, 1998, 
                          but will be beyond (Future dates projected)

Builder: DCN, Brest, Department of Finistere, France
Displacement: 34,500 tons (36,000 full load)
Top Speed: 27 knots
Dimensions:
Length: 261.50m (856.44 ft)
        238.00m between perpendiculars (780.84 ft)
Beam: 64.36m (approx. 209.974 ft)
      31.50m at waterline (103.3465 ft)
Draft: 8.50m (27.887 ft)
Flight deck: 261.50m (856.44 ft) long; 195 m (639.76 ft) long angled deck,
             8.3 degrees; max. width 64.36m (approx. 209.974 ft); 12,300 
             square meter area; two 75m U.S. Type C13 F steam-catapults, one
             one angled deck, other port side bow; three arestor wires; 
Air Group: 35-40 aircraft (fixed-wing fighters and helicopters)
Armament: 32 SAAM vertical launch SAM (16 in twin mounts) with 32 Aster
          missiles; 2 Sadral point-defense SAM launchers (6 missiles); 8 
          20-mm F2 AA
Electronics: 
Radar: 2 Decca navigation; 1 DRBJ 11B height-finder; 1 DRBV 15C air/surface 
       search; 1 DRBV 26D early warning; 1 Arabel fire-control
EW: ARBR 17 intercept; 2 ARBB 33 jammers; 4 Sagaie RL
IR: DIBV 10 Vampir
Communications: Syracuse SATCOMM; NATO Link II, 14 and 16 data link; SISC 
                data systems
Decoys: SLAT rocket launched torpedo decoy system
Propulsion: 2 150 megawatt type K15 pressurized reactors; double-reduction 
            geared steam turbines; 2 five-bladed propellers; 83,000 s.h.p.
Electric: 20,000 kW (4 4,000 kW turbo alternators; 4 1,000 kW diesel sets
                     1 800 kW diesel emergency set)
Crew: 1,950 total (177 officers, 890 petty officers, 833 non-rated including 
                   the 550 person air group) Can also carry 800 troops
Endurance: 45 days
Design: Based on Clemenceu-class, with better overall construction and 
        protection systems. 4 fin stabilizers, rudder rool stabilization, 
        and air-filtration. May recieve modular hospital when troops are 
        embarked. Propulsion in five compartments. Able to handle aircraft 
        up to 22 tons.  
Notes:
Ordered February 4, 1986 as Richelieu (R 91) since changed. Was to launch May
1, 1992, but in June 1989, it was announced the commission date of 1996 was
pushe dback two years. Second ship announced November 21, 1988, to be
completed not before 2005. R 91 will replace Clemenceau (R 98), follow on ship
will replace Clemenseau sister Foch (R 99).
 
Due to size of flight deck, aircraft cannot take-off and land at the same
time. Two 36 ton deck edge elevators, starboard amidships. Island far forward,
past elevators. Hangar is 138m long, 29 m wide 6.1 m high (4,600 m). Hangar
lower than Clemenceau, but more space and better protected, with 23 aircraft
and 2 helicopters at one time being able to fit. Aircraft will be
Super-Etendard, possibly ACM by 1999. Hawkeyes may be acquired, maybe 4. 
 
3,000 cubic meter aviation fuel capacity, 4,900 cubic meters for ammunition.
 
Aster/Arabel will be able to track 100 targets, and control missiles aimed at
10. 
 
As part of the development of the ship, a 20 ton, 19.83 m long model was made
by Le Perriere, Lorient, Department of Morbihan, France. Ordered April 22,
1986, laid down August 3, 1986, launched January 30, 1987, delivered February
1987. Powered by 2 50 kW electric motors, and manned by a crew of 3.    
-- 
Steve Schultz     Steven.Schultz@mixcom.com