CHARLES DE GAULLE CLASS CVN

The CVN Charles de Gaulle (R 91) during its sea trials. (Marine Nationale)

CVN CHARLES DE GAULLE R 91

CVN ... R 92

1/ CHARLES DE GAULLE

The first name of this aircraft carrier was "Richelieu" but for political reasons it has been renamed Charles de Gaulle (under Jacques Chirac's government) after the famous WWII general. This aircraft carrier was built to replace the CV Clemenceau and the second one should replace the CV Foch. The program has been launched in 1980, the construction began in November 1987 at the DCN Brest naval shipyard in Brittany ; it's the first French nuclear aircraft carrier. France chose this kind of engine because of the unlimited range of the nuclear reactors.

The construction of the CVN ended in November 1998 and it has been tested until January 25st 1999. The construction of the Charles de Gaulle was stopped four times because of the budget (in 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1995). It cost 3,33 billions $ (3 billions of Euros) .

The Charles de Gaulle will be the main warship of the French Navy for the next century, she will be the masterpiece of the French Naval Action Force and the French Carrier Group (Groupe Aéronavale) gathered around the carrier, her CAW and the FF Horizons ; a second one would be built (in 2010-2015). She is now homeported at NS Toulon. She cast off on October 24th 2000 in order to conduct an ultimate test cruise over the world (calls at Norfolk/ Fort-de-France/ Naples and Casablanca).

2/ THE SECOND SHIP (UNAMED YET)

France must build this second carrier, to stay the most powerful navy in Europe (UK only operates three CVS with a dozen of limited-range planes). Moreover, the ship is docked during 40% of her life. The second ship should be commissioned by 2010.

The French Navy viewed many solutions :

• Build a second De Gaulle class carrier with or without nuclear reactors, this solution would cost 2, 16 billions $. In 2000, France spends 33, 33 millions $ to study a new conventional propulsion mode.
• Build a new carrier class with the UK. Indeed, the RN will build two new CV's to replace the Invincible class CVS (the new carriers will be 46,000 t conventional carriers, almost like the Charles de Gaulle). This project is known as the CV(F).

Specifications	(US)	(FR)
Dimensions	857. 94 ft (length) x 211. 155 ft (width)	261. 50 m (length) x 64. 36 m (width)
Range	unlimited	unlimited
Speed	27 knots	27 knots
Horsepower	83 000 hp	61 000 kW
Washington displacement	35 500 t	35 500 t
Displacement	40 600 t	40 600 t

1/ Aeronautical installations and carrier air wing

The ship is equipped with :

• A deck (261. 50 m long x 64. 36 m wide) of 12 000 m² (40% more than the Clemenceau's class). The main runway angled 8. 3° to the ship's axis.
• Two lifts (19 m long x 13 m wide) situated on the right side of the ship behind the island, each one can carry a 36 t fighter or two 15 t fighters.
• Two USN C 13 catapults (length : 75 m) able to launch one aircraft per minute.
• A hangar for parking and for repairing aircraft (138 m long x 29 m wide x 6. 1 m height and 4 600 square m) able to accommodate 23 planes and 2 helicopters.
• Three arresting wires.

The CAW (forty aircraft and helicopters) is composed by :

• Rafale M.
• Super Etendard.
• E 2C Hawkeye.
• AS-365F Dauphin.
• AS-565 SA Panther.
• NH-90 NFH.

2/ Weapons

The weapons are managed by the SENIT 8/ 05, it can track up more than 2,000 targets(100 times more than the old generation). It is armed with :

• ASTER 15 surface-to-air missile (range: 15 km) for anti-missile defence.
• SADRAL systems for DCA.
• Eight 20 mm guns (720 rounds/ minute) for self-defence.

3/ Propulsion and stabilisation system

The Charles De Gaulle is equipped with two nuclear pressure water reactors, PWR Type K15, which provide a speed of 27 knots. The 61 MW turbines are from GEC Alsthom. The propulsion system has the capacity to provide five years continuous operation at 25 knots before refuelling. The carrier is fitted with the SATRAP computerised, integrated stabilisation system designed to maintain stabilisation to within 0.5 degrees of horizontal, allowing aircraft to be operated up to Sea State 5/6. As well as the carrier's two pairs of active stabilising fins and twin rudders, the system has two computer controlled compensation units which consist of two rail tracks for trains carrying 22 tonnes of deadweight. These tracks run transversely below the flight deck. This system is designed to compensate for wind and heel and control roll, yaw and surge.

4/ Electronic equipment

Radars :

• Navigation - 2 DRBN-34A Radal-Deccas.
• Air search - DRBJ-11B.
• Air search - DRBV-26D Jupiter.
• Air/ surface search - Thomson CSF DRBV-15C Sea Tiger Mk 2.
• Fire control - Thomson CSF Arabel 3D (SAM).

Miscellaneous :

• IR search - 1 Vampir DIBV-2A system.
• IR search - 2 CT optronic DIBC-2As (Vigy-105).

Decoys:

• Radar detector - 1 ARBR 21.
• Jammer - 2 ARBR 33s.
• 4 CSEE Sagaie 10-barrel launchers.
• Torpedo attack warning - 1 SLAT system.
• Transmission interceptor - 1 ARBG-2 MAIGRET.

TACAN :

• VRBP-20A

Command and Control Systems :

• SENIT 8/ 05 (including link 11, 14 and 16).

Communications :

• Syracuse 2.
• Fleetsatcom.
• Inmarsat.

4/ Machinery and crew

Machinery :

• Two K15 nuclear reactors.
• Two propellers.

Crew :

• 177 officers.
• 890 petty officers.
• 883 men.