French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91)

Charles de Gaulle

Charles de Gaulle, 2009
History
France
Name:	Charles de Gaulle
Namesake:	Charles de Gaulle
Operator:	Marine Nationale
Ordered:	3 February 1986
Builder:	DCNS
Laid down:	14 April 1989
Launched:	7 May 1994
Commissioned:	18 May 2001
Renamed:	Ordered as Richelieu on 3 February 1986, renamed Charles de Gaulle 18 May 1987
Homeport:	Toulon, France
Identification:	R91
Nickname(s):	CDG
Honours and awards:	Jack with the colours of the Free French Forces (front) and the ribbon of the Ordre de la Libération (back)
Status:	In Dry Dock for 18 month refit/overhaul
General characteristics
Class and type:	Unique aircraft carrier
Displacement:	42,500 tonnes (full load)
Length:	261.5 m (858 ft) overall
Beam:	64.36 m (211.2 ft) overall
Draught:	9.43 m (30.9 ft)
Propulsion:	2 × Areva K15 pressurised water reactors (PWR), 150 MWt(32 MWe) each. 2 × Alstom steam turbines with a total 61 MW shaft power 4 × diesel-electric 2 × shafts
Speed:	27 knots (50 km/h)
Range:	Unlimited distance; 20–25 years
Endurance:	45 days of food
Capacity:	800 commandos, 500 tonnes of ammunitions
Complement:	Ship's company: 1,350 Air wing: 600
Sensors and processing systems:	DRBJ 11 B tridimensional air search radar DRBV 26D air search radar DRBV 15C low altitude air search radar Arabel target acquisition radar
Electronic warfare & decoys:	ARBR 21 Detector ARBB 33 Countermeasures suite ARBG2 MAIGRET Interceptor 4 × Sagaie decoys launcher SLAT (Système de lutte anti-torpille) torpedo countermeasures
Armament:	4 × 8 cell A-43 Sylver launchers carrying the MBDA Aster 15 surface-to-air missile. 2 × 6 cell Sadral launchers carrying Mistral short range missiles 8 × Giat 20F2 20 mm cannons.
Aircraft carried:	28–40 aircraft, including Rafale M E-2C Hawkeye SA365 Dauphin EC725 Caracal AS532 Cougar

Charles de Gaulle is the flagship of the French Navy (Marine Nationale) and the largest western European warship currently in commission. She is the tenth French aircraft carrier, the first French nuclear-powered surface vessel, and the only nuclear-powered carrier completed outside of the United States Navy. She is named after French statesman and general Charles de Gaulle.

The ship carries a complement of Dassault Rafale M and E‑2C Hawkeye aircraft, EC725 Caracal and AS532 Cougar helicopters for combat search and rescue, as well as modern electronics and Aster missiles. She is a CATOBAR-type carrier that uses two 75 m C13‑3 steam catapults of a shorter version of the catapult system installed on the U.S. Nimitz-class aircraft carriers, one catapult at the bow and one across the front of the landing area.Charles de Gaulle is the only non-American carrier-vessel to operate American aircraft such as the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and the C-2 Greyhound.

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

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