Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier

The Charles de Gaulle is a nuclear powered aircraft carrier in service with the French Marine Nationale. It is named after the French politician and soldier Charles de Gaulle.

The carrier replaced the Foch conventionally powered aircraft carrier in 2001. The Clemenceau and Foch were completed in 1961 and 1963 respectively, the requirement for a replacement was indentified in the mid 1970s.

The hull was laid down in April 1989 at the DCN Brest Naval shipyard. The carrier was completed in May 1994 and at 35,500 tonnes was the largest warship launched in Europe since HMS Vanguard in 1944.

In 1993, a group of MI6 officers posing as engineers were discovered inspecting the vessel during its construction. It is believed they were evaluating the method of shielding the nuclear reactors.

The Charles de Gaulle entered sea trails in 1999 which identified the need to extend the flight deck to safely operate the E-2C Hawkeye. The carrier was due to enter service in 2000 but, due to the breakage of a propeller in the Western Atlantic, this was delayed until April 2001. This, as well as other incidents, has furthered the reputation of the Charles de Gaulle as a bit of a lemon.

There are ongoing rumours that Charles de Gaulle may be supplemented by a carrier to the same design as the British Royal Navy CVF programme - see Future French aircraft carrier.

General characteristics

• Builder: DCN, Brest
• Power Plant: Two K15 Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) two shafts
• Length: 261.5 m ( ft) overall
• Flight Deck Width: 64 m (ft)
• Beam: 31.5 m ( ft)
• Displacement: 40,500 tons full load
• Speed: 27 knots ( km/h)
• Catapults: Steam, the same models as installed on the Nimitz-class supercarriers.
• Aircraft: 40
  • Intended to operate fighter/attack aircraft including the Rafale, Super Etendard, E-2C Hawkeye and SA365 Dauphin helicopters.
• Cost:
• Crew: Ship's Company: 1,150 - Air Wing: 600
• Armament:
  • Four 8 cell SYLVER launchers carrying the MBDA Aster 15 air to air missile.
  • Two 6 cell Sadral launchers carrying Mistral short range missiles
  • Eight Giat 20F2 20mm cannons.
• Date Deployed: April 2001.