Left to right:

FS CHARLES DE GAULLE R91,    The pride of the French Fleet at anchor in Halifax Harbour (the fin of the French submarine, RUBIS can just be seen in the distance - to the left of the small sailboat - moored alongside the Shearwater Air Base).

This nuclear powered carrier was built at the DCN Brest Naval Shipyard, was launched in 1994 and commissioned in September, 2000. The ship has an overall length of 858 ft and displaces 35,500 tons (40,600 tons fully loaded). Twin reactors provide 56,000 kW to twin screws for a speed of 27 knots. The ship can operate up to 40 aircraft (Rafale M, Super Etendard, Hawkeye airbourne early warning aircraft and helicopters). The carrier has an angled flight deck, two aircraft elevators, two catapults and has a complement of 1,950.

FS JEAN BART D615    This Cassard-class destroyer, of 4,668 tons displacement, was launched in March, 1988 from the Lorient Naval Dockyard of DCN and was commissioned in 1991. Unusual among modern warships of this type, she is powered totally by diesels, rather than gas turbines or a combination of gas turbines and diesels. Four, SEMT-Pielstick motors (42,300 total bhp) driving twin screws provide a top speed of 29.5 knots and a cruising range of 8,000 nm at 17 knots. Length is 455 ft on a beam of 46 ft and the crew numbers 224. JEAN BART is heavily armed with MM 40 Exocet anti-ship missiles (8 launchers), SM 1 surface to air missiles launched from a single Mk 13 Mod 5 Tartar launcher and sea-skimming surface to air Mistral missiles from two Matra Sadral sextuple launchers. In addition, a 100 mm gun is mounted, AA guns, torpedo launchers and a lynx helicopter armed with Honeywell MK 46 torpedos for anti-submarine warfare.

HMS NOTTINGHAM D91    - is a Batch II, Type 42 British Destroyer, launched by Vosper Thorneycroft, Woolston, in February, 1978 and commissioned in April, 1983. The NOTTINGHAM was the only Royal Navy escort attached to the carrier group. Batch II, Type 42 air defence destroyers have a standard displacement of 4,500 tons, a length of 410 ft, a beam of 47 ft and a complement of 271 officers and men. They are powered by 2 Rolls-Royce Olympus gas turbines as main engines (30 knots) and two R-R Tyne gas turbines for cruising (18 knots). Principal armament is a twin Sea Dart surface to air missile launcher and a Vickers 4.5 inch Mk 8 automatic gun. A Westland Lynx MK 8 helicopter is carried.

FS TOURVILLE D610    In this general view of the ships berthed at the Halifax Naval Dockyard, TOURVILLE with 100 mm guns in A and B position (JEAN BART moored alongside) occupies the centre of the field. The oiler, MEUSE A607 (17,800 tons loaded displacement / commissioned 1980), is to the left of the photo and the bow of the NOTTINGHAM is visible to the right.

TOURVILLE is the name ship of a class of powerfully armed destroyers (classed by the French Navy as anti-submarine frigates). Built by the Lorient Naval Dockyard, the ship was launched in May, 1972, and was commissioned in June, 1974. Displacement is 4,580 tons (standard) / 6,100 tons (loaded) on a length of almost 502 ft and a beam of 50 ft. Two Rateau geared steam turbines supplied by 4 boilers provide 58,000 shp on two shafts for a speed of 32 knots. Main armament comprises 6, MM38 Exocet SSM launchers, 1 octuple Crotale missile launcher with an additional 18 rounds in reserve and 2 100mm guns. Anti-aircraft guns, torpedo launchers and two Lynx helicopters armed with MK 46 torpedos complete the weapons fit. This class has a complement of 299. Range is 4,500 nm at 18 knots.

Further information on French warships can be found at http://www.netmarine.net/bat/listes/alphabet.htm

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