cold war French ships

Conventional Attack Submarines (S635, 636, 639, 640). Service 1957-1987: Aréthuse, Argonaute, Amazone, Ariane We continue our dive in cold war French submarines, with a second postwar conventional design, the Aréthuse class. Unlike the previous Narval class, designed as “sous-marins de patrouille” or patrol submarines, the Arethuse were the first “sous marins de chasse” literrally “hunting … Read more

Conventional Attack Submarines (S631 – S638). Service 1957-1987: Narval, Marsouin, Dauphin, Requin, Espadon, Morse. For this new cycle about French cold war submarines, we will start with an introduction, the situation in 1945 and the leased training submarines, the rebuilt, streamlined La Creole class, and the first purpose-built French postwar “submarines”, the Narval class. Symbolically, … Read more

Helicopter Carrier (R97), ex-La Résolue. Service 1964-2010 14 of July/Bastille Day update: “Jeanne d’Arc” (Joan of Arc) was a helicopter cruiser of the French Navy, 6th of the name. She was designed as a hybrid helicopter cruiser for peacetime as a training vessel, and in emergency or crisis as a fully capable ASW helicopter cruiser … Read more

Guided missile Frigates 1976-2022: FS Georges Leygues, Dupleix, Montcalm, Jean de Vienne, Primauguet, La Motte-Picquet, Latouche-Tréville D-640-646 The Georges Leygues class (Type F70 AS) were anti-submarine multi-role destroyers having Exocet and Crotale missiles among others for multiple missions of strategic locations, show the flag, escort a task force, and evolved from a simple ASW corvette … Read more

Guided missile Frigates 1971-2013: FS Tourville, Duguay-Trouin, De Grasse D610-612 +2 more cancelled Called the F67 type, also known as the Tourville class, these ships were a class of three large high-sea (blue water) Frigates specialized in anti-submarine warfare, but keeping anti-air and anti-surface capabilities (ASUW). Large enough to be cruisers, like the previous Suffren … Read more

ASW Frigate, F65 1973-1997 FS Aconit was a planned class of cheap but well armed, versatile Frigate, but ended as a single frigate built for the Marine Nationale in the Cold War when the program was cancelled. She was built in 1968-73, in commission until 1997. She was designed around the idea of a cheap, … Read more

Aircraft Carrier 1946-1974 The Aircraft Carrier Arromanches was the ex-HMS Colossus, lead ship of the famous 1942 light fleet aircraft carrier program. She was loaned in 1946 for five years to the Marine Nationale, made two tours of duties over Indochina until purchased in 1951, refitted. She served for two more tours and was back … Read more

FS Suffren, FS Duquesne 1962-2008 The Suffren class were two missile fleet escorts of the French Navy, assigned to the new French aircraft carrier groups based around Foch and Clemenceau. They had to protect the fleet against air, surface and submarine threats and first French ships specifically designed as guided missile destroyers. Ordered in 1960, … Read more

French Navy (1962-95), T56 design, D638 The T53 (Duperré) class destroyers succeeded to the the T47 or (Surcouf class), five being built before developments on missiles urged the conversion of what became the first French missile destroyer, La Galissonnière (1960), sole of the T56 class, initially the 6th of these. They were testbeds before the … Read more