Marine Nationale
| French Navy | |
|---|---|
| Marine nationale | |
.svg) |
|
| Active | 1624 – present |
| Country |
 France
|
| Type | Navy |
| Size | 36,331 personnel (2016) 90 ships 179 aircraft |
| Garrison/HQ |
Main: Brest, Île Longue, Toulon Secondary: Cherbourg, Lorient French overseas territories: Fort de France, Degrad des Cannes, Port des Galets, Dzaoudzi, Nouméa, Papeete Overseas: Dakar, Djibouti, Abu Dhabi |
| Nickname(s) | La Royale |
| Motto(s) |
Honneur, patrie, valeur, discipline ("Honour, Homeland, Valour, Discipline") |
| Colours | Blue, white, red |
| Ships | Current Fleet |
| Website | www |
| Commanders | |
| Chief of staff | Admiral Christophe Prazuck |
| Major-Général | Admiral Denis Béraud |
| Insignia | |
| Insignia | Ranks in the French Navy |
| Naval Ensign |
 |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Rafale M |
| Electronic warfare |
Hawkeye |
| Fighter | Rafale M |
| Helicopter | NH90, Eurocopter Lynx, Panther, Dauphin |
| Utility helicopter | Alouette III |
| Patrol | Atlantique 2, Falcon 50, Falcon 200 |
| Trainer | Mudry CAP 10, MS-88 Rallye, Falcon 10, Xingu |
The French Navy (French: Marine nationale, "national navy"), informally La Royale, is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces. Tracing foundation along with the Ministère de la Marine dating back to 1624, La Royale is one of the world's oldest naval forces and historically played a key part in establishing the French colonial empire. Since the early foundings, its roles have been defined as maintaining intelligence, protecting populations, preventing crises, intervening wherever necessary to reestablish peace, and dissuading any threats against vital French interests. The Marine nationale consists of four branches: the Force d'Action Navale, the Forces Sous-marines, the Aéronavale and the Fusiliers Marins (including Commandos Marine). As a blue-water navy the Marine nationale operates a wide range of fighting vessels, including a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, nuclear-powered submarines, frigates, patrol boats and support ships. The French Navy does not use prefixes of the names of its ships (such as the Royal Navy uses HMS, for instance). Foreign commentators sometimes use the prefixes "FS" (for "French Ship") or FNS (for "French Navy Ship"); these are not official, however.
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Wikipedia