Naval ensign of France

This is a list of active French Navy ships.[1][2][3] The French Navy consists of nearly 100 vessels of the Force d'action navale (Naval action force)[4] and the 9 submarines of the Forces sous-marines (Submarine force). Primary assets include one nuclear aircraft carrier, three amphibious assault ships, four air-defence-focused destroyers, six anti-submarine (ASW)/land attack mission-oriented destroyers, five general-purpose frigates, and six surveillance frigates. The Navy also operates some 15 patrol ships, supplemented by additional coast guard/Maritime Gendarmerie vessels. The surveillance frigates and a significant number of the patrol vessels are based in France's overseas territories.

The submarine force consists of five nuclear attack submarines and four nuclear ballistic missile submarines.

Integral to supporting the Force d'Action Navale at sea are the French Navy's 2 replenishment oilers, 16 mine countermeasure vessels and 8 support ships. In addition to the above units, the Navy operates five survey vessels, four experimentation ships, four ocean tugboats, 14 training vessels as well as numerous smaller vessels and tugs.

The main base for French naval forces in the Atlantic is located at Brest while the principal base in the Mediterranean is Toulon.[5][6]

The French Navy does not use the term "destroyer" in vessel names. Instead, surface combatants of the first rank (such as the Aquitaine class) are named "frigates", though they are registered as destroyers (with hull numbers "Dxxx").

Submarine fleet (Forces sous-marines)

Main articles: Submarine forces (France) and List of submarines of France

Nuclear ballistic missile submarines

Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
Triomphant class Triomphant S616 1997 14,335 tonnes Ballistic missile submarine Four boats constituting the strategic component of France's nuclear deterrent, the Force de dissuasion.
Téméraire S617 1999
Vigilant S618 2004
Terrible S619 2010

Nuclear attack submarines

Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
Suffren class Suffren S635[7] 2020 5,300 tonnes Nuclear attack submarine S636 working up to full operational status; six planned in total
Duguay-Trouin S636 2023[8]
Rubis class Émeraude S604 1988 2,660 tonnes Being incrementally replaced by the Suffren class.
Améthyste S605 1992
Perle S606 1993

Surface fleet (Bâtiments de combat)

Aircraft carrier

Class Ship No. Comm Displacement Type Note
— Charles de Gaulle R91 2001 42,500 tonnes Aircraft carrier Nuclear powered CATOBAR aircraft carrier

Amphibious warfare

See also: List of active French Navy landing craft
Class Ship No. Comm Displacement Type Note
Mistral class Mistral L9013 2006 21,500 tonnes Amphibious assault ship
Tonnerre L9014
Dixmude L9015 2012

Major surface combatants

The French Navy does not use the term "destroyer". While officially classed as "frigates", the larger major surface combatants of the first rank are nevertheless registered as destroyers (with hull numbers "Dxxx"; though, as of 2023, French Navy vessels are incrementally having hull numbers removed from display on all ships).[9][10]

Class Ship No. Comm Displacement Type Note
Horizon class Forbin D620 2008 7,050 tonnes Air-defence destroyer
Chevalier Paul D621 2009
Aquitaine class Aquitaine D650 2012 6,040 tonnes Anti-submarine warfare (ASW)/land-attack mission destroyer
Normandie D651 2020
Provence D652 2015
Languedoc D653 2017
Auvergne D654 2018
Bretagne D655 2019
Alsace D656 2021 Air defence/ASW destroyer
Lorraine D657 2023
Amiral Ronarc'h class Amiral Ronarc'h D660 Projected 2024[11][12] 4,500 tonnes ASW destroyer D660 fitting out as of mid-2023; five ships planned by 2035
La Fayette class La Fayette F710 1996 3,900 tonnes General-purpose frigate
Surcouf F711 1997
Courbet F712
Aconit F713 1999
Guépratte F714 2001
Floréal class Floréal F730 1992 2,950 tonnes Surveillance frigate Class has anti-ship missiles removed and functions in a second-rank "surveillance frigate" role for French overseas territories.
Prairial F731 1992
Nivôse F732
Ventôse F733 1993
Vendémiaire F734
Germinal F735 1994

Patrol

Class Ship No. Comm Displacement Type Note
— L'Astrolabe P800 2017 4,000 tonnes Icebreaker/support vessel/offshore patrol Based in Réunion; co-operated by the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) Administration and the French Navy.
D'Entrecasteaux class D'Entrecasteaux A621 2016 2,300 tonnes Offshore patrol/support vessel Based in Noumea
Bougainville A622 Based in Papeete
Champlain A623 2017 Based in Réunion
Dumont d'Urville A624 2020 Based in Fort-de-France[13]
D'Estienne d'Orves class Premier-Maître L'Her F792 1981 1,250 tonnes Offshore patrol vessel Originally entered service as avisos (sloops / light corvettes), reclassified as OPVs in 2012.[14] To be replaced from 2026 as part of the acquisition of a new class of patrol vessels (“Patrouilleurs Hauturiers” - PH).[15][16]
Commandant Blaison F793 1982
Enseigne de Vaisseau Jacoubet F794
Commandant Ducuing F795 1983
Commandant Birot F796 1984
Commandant Bouan F797
Confiance class La Confiance P733 2017 700 tonnes Based in Guiana
La Résolue P734
La Combattante P735 2020 Based in Fort-de-France
Félix Éboué class Auguste Bénébig P779 2023[17][18] 1,300 tonnes Based in Noumea;[19] 5 additional vessels to enter service in 2024 and 2025

Coastguard

See also: Maritime Gendarmerie
Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
— Le Malin P701 1997 1,300 tonnes Coastal patrol vessel An ex-trawler based in La Reunion. To be replaced by a Patrouilleur Outre-mer (POM)-class patrol vessel[20][21][22]
Lapérouse class Arago P675 1988 980 tonnes An ex-hydrographic survey vessel. Extension of role in French Polynesia until 2024 pending arrival of POM-class OPVs.[23]
— Fulmar P740 1991 550 tonnes An ex-trawler based in Saint Pierre
Flamant class Flamant P676 1997 390 tonnes Patrol boat To be replaced from 2026 as part of the acquisition of new class of "PH" patrol vessels.
Cormoran P677
Pluvier P678

Mine countermeasures

Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
Éridan class Andromède M643 1984 615 tonnes Minehunter To be replaced by Système de lutte anti-mines futur (SLAM-F) starting in 2023[24]
Pégase M644 1985
Orion M645 1986
Croix du Sud M646
Aigle M647 1987
Lyre M648
Céphée M652
Capricorne M653
Sagittaire M650 1996
Vulcain class Vulcain M611 1986 490 tonnes Clearance diving To be replaced by SLAM-F
Pluton M622 1986
Styx M614 1987
Achéron A613
Antarès class Antarès M770 1993 340 tonnes Sonar towing vessel To be replaced by SLAM-F
Altaïr M771
Aldébaran M772 1994
Ophrys class Ophrys Y6040 2022 105 tonnes Diving support vessel (VSP) Part of SLAM-F program, total of eight units planned up to 2026.[25][26][27]

Auxiliary fleet

Replenishment

Class Ship No. Comm Displacement Type Note
Jacques Chevallier class Jacques Chevallier A725 Projected 2024[28][29] 31,000 tonnes Replenishment oiler Delivered to the Navy in July 2023; continuing post-acceptance sea trials;[30] two additional ships planned to enter service by 2027; fourth projected after 2030[31][32][33]
Durance class Marne A630 1987 17,900 tonnes Being replaced by Jacques Chevallier class
Somme A631 1990

Intelligence, research and experimentation

Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
— Monge A601 1992 21,040 tonnes Tracking ship
— Dupuy de Lôme A759 2006 3,600 tonnes SIGINT
— Alizé A645 2005 1,600 tonnes DGSE diving support Also used to test new equipment and diving procedures
Lapérouse class Thétis A785 1988 1,050 tonnes Mine-warfare experimentation To be replaced by SLAM-F

Survey

Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
— Pourquoi Pas? — 2005 6,600 tonnes Oceanographic survey Operated by IFREMER (55%) and the French Navy (45%) with civilian crew.[34]
— Beautemps-Beaupré A758 2003 3,600 tonnes
Lapérouse class Lapérouse A791 1988 980 tonnes Hydrographic survey To be replaced from 2025 to 2027 by 2 new hydro-oceanographic vessels.
Borda A792
Laplace A793 1989

Ocean tugboats

Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
UT515 Abeille Bourbon - 2005 4,600 tonnes Oceangoing tug Operated under charter
Abeille Liberté -
VS-491 CD Abeille Normandie - 2010 3,978 tonnes
Abeille Méditerrannée -

Port and coastal tugboats

Class Ship No. Commissioned Displacement Type Note
RPC12 class Fréhel A675 1989 220 tonnes Harbour tugboat
Saire A676
Armen A677 1991
La Houssaye A678 1992
Kéréon A679
Sicié A680 1994
Taunoa A681 1996
Lardier Y638 1995
Giens Y639 1994
Mengam Y640
Balaguier Y641 1995
Taillat Y642
Nividic Y643 1996
Port Cros Y649 1997
Le Four Y647 1998
Eckmühl Y646 —
Rascas A682 2003
RPC30/RPC50 classes Céladon Y6051 2023 275 tonnes Harbour tugboat Program includes 5 RPC50 variants with longer range;[35] 17 additional vessels planned; replacing RPC12 boats[36][37]
Zinzolin A6652
Turquin TBD
Maito class Maito A636 1984 228 tonnes Harbour tugboat Maito based in Fort de France; Maroa and Manini in Pape'ete[38][39]
Maroa A637 1985
Manini A638 1984

Support

Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
— Argonaute — — ~4,000 tonnes Support and pollution control Operated under charter
Jason —
Pionnier —
Sapeur —
Loire class Loire A602 2018 2,960 tonnes Offshore support and assistance
Rhône A603 2019
Seine A604
Garonne A605 2020

Training

Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
UT712 class Rebel — — 2,900 tonnes Training ship Operated under charter
UT745 class Partisan — — 2,340 tonnes
Léopard class Léopard A748 1982 470 tonnes
Panthère A749
Jaguar A750
Lynx A751
Guépard A752 1983
Chacal A753
Tigre A754
Lion A755
Glycine class Glycine A770 1992 295 tonnes Navigation training
Églantine A771
Paimpolaise class Étoile A649 1932 275 tonnes Sail training Schooner
Belle Poule A650


For a complete list of Bâtiments de soutien (Auxiliaries) see Bâtiments de soutien at the official Marine Nationale website.

Silhouettes

Silhouettes of major fleet units:

French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Mistral-class amphibious assault ship
Mistral 		Mistral-class amphibious assault ship
Tonnerre 		Mistral-class amphibious assault ship
Dixmude
Horizon-class frigate
Forbin 		Horizon-class frigate
Chevalier Paul
FREMM multipurpose frigate
Aquitaine 		FREMM multipurpose frigate
Normandie 		FREMM multipurpose frigate
Provence 		FREMM multipurpose frigate
Languedoc
FREMM multipurpose frigate
Auvergne 		FREMM multipurpose frigate
Bretagne 		FREMM multipurpose frigate
Alsace 		FREMM multipurpose frigate
Lorraine
La Fayette-class frigate
La Fayette 		La Fayette-class frigate
Surcouf 		La Fayette-class frigate
Courbet 		La Fayette-class frigate
Aconit 		La Fayette-class frigate
Guépratte
Triomphant-class submarine
Triomphant 		Triomphant-class submarine
Téméraire 		Triomphant-class submarine
Vigilant 		Triomphant-class submarine
Terrible
Barracuda-class submarine (France)
Suffren 		Barracuda-class submarine (France)
Duguay-Trouin 		Rubis-class submarine
Émeraude 		Rubis-class submarine
Améthyste 		Rubis-class submarine
Perle

See also

References

  1. ^ "Forces sous-marines" (in French). defense.gouv.fr. 12 March 2012. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  2. ^ "Liste des bâtiments de combat de la Marine nationale par unité" (in French). defense.gouv.fr. 19 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  3. ^ "Liste des bâtiments de soutien par unité" (in French). defense.gouv.fr. 21 October 2014. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  4. ^ "Force d'action navale".
  5. ^ "Toulon Naval Base". Naval Technology. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  6. ^ "Arsenal de Brest". Naval Technology. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  7. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (27 November 2021). "Naval Group Rolls Out 2nd Barracuda Type Submarine". Naval News. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  8. ^ "French Navy Receives 2nd Barracuda Type Submarine". navalnews.com. 12 August 2023.
  9. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (17 March 2023). "Marine nationale : l'anonymisation n'ira pas jusqu'aux bâchis". Mer et Marine. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  10. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (6 March 2023). "Deux frégates du type FREMM anonymisées l'une à côté de l'autre, trouvez les différences !". Mer et Marine. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  11. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (17 December 2021). "En présence des Grecs, la France met sur cale sa première FDI". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  12. ^ "France accelerates the FDI frigates program". navyrecognition.com. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  13. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (20 April 2020). "French Navy Final D'Entrecasteaux-Class BSAOM Vessel 'Dumont D'Urville' Enters Active Service". Naval News. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  14. ^ Between 2011 and 2017 heavy armaments have been removed.
  15. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (13 March 2023). "La Marine nationale n'obtiendrait que 7 nouveaux patrouilleurs hauturiers au lieu des 10 prévus". Mer et Marine.
  16. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (25 June 2020). "French Navy Ageing PHMs And PSPs Patrol Vessels To Be Replaced With 10 New OPVs". Naval News. Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  17. ^ Lagneau, Laurent (26 July 2023). "Premier patrouilleur outre-Mer, l'Auguste Bénébig a été admis au service actif par la Marine nationale". zone militaire (in French). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  18. ^ "Départ de l'Auguste Bénébig, premier des six POM, pour Nouméa; Ministère des Armées". 18 January 2023.
  19. ^ "EN IMAGES. L'arrivée du patrouilleur "Auguste-Bénébig" à Nouméa". nouvellecaledonie (in French). 3 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  20. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (21 May 2021). "La livraison du premier patrouilleur d'outre-mer repoussée à 2023". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 14 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Patrouilleurs de la Marine nationale - Sénat". www.senat.fr. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  22. ^ "SOCARENAM Shipyard Selected to Deliver 6 French Navy OPVs for Overseas Territories". 3 December 2019.
  23. ^ "Extension of patrol vessel Arago's operations in French Polynesia until 2024". Archived from the original on 2020-10-21.
  24. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (6 November 2020). "France Launches SLAMF Mine Warfare Program but Many Questions Remain". Naval News.
  25. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (20 March 2023). "Plongeurs-démineurs : Merré lance la construction en série des VSP". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  26. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (6 September 2022). "La nouvelle vedette de support à la plongée en route pour la base navale de Toulon". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  27. ^ "Le Fauteuil de Colbert: Marine nationale : Chantier de la VSP n°1 « Ophrys » (2021 - 2022)". May 2022.
  28. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (19 July 2023). "Naval Group Delivers First BRF Supply Ship To French Navy". Naval News. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  29. ^ "ANTARES - Dernier ravitaillement à la mer entre le BCR Marne et le porte-avions Charles de Gaulle". Ministère des Armées (in French). 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  30. ^ "Chantiers de l'Atlantique delivers first new logistic support ship to French Navy". Janes. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  31. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (13 April 2023). "Dernière navigation pour le BCR Marne, qui passe le flambeau au BRF Jacques Chevallier". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  32. ^ "Marine nationale : Le BRF Jacques Chevallier sera livré en 2023". 14 April 2021.
  33. ^ "Construction Begins for French Navy's Next Gen Replenishment Tanker Chevallier-class 'BRF'". 18 May 2020.
  34. ^ Forces de surface - Les bâtiments hydrographiques et océanographiques Archived 2013-08-03 at the Wayback Machine, defense.gouv.fr, Retrieved 28 June 2014
  35. ^ Cogné, Gaël (26 May 2023). "Zinzolin : à la découverte de la nouvelle génération de remorqueurs de la Marine nationale". Mer er Marine (in French). Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  36. ^ "Piriou Wins Contract To Deliver 20 Harbor Tugs To The French Navy". Naval Technology. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  37. ^ "DGA : Réception du Céladon, premier remorqueur portuaire 30 tonnes". asafrance.fr (in French). 9 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  38. ^ "Livret de la flotte" (PDF). ecole.nav (in French). 2021. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  39. ^ "Remorqueur côtier Maito". netmarine (in French). 2012. Retrieved 2023-03-11.

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