French task force

[Douglas]

What would the composition of a large-ish task force centered around the CVN Charles de Gaulle look like at the present date?

[Thande]

Originally Posted by fenkmaster

What would the composition of a large-ish task force centered around the CVN Charles de Gaulle look like at the present date?

According to the Infallible Wikipedia,

The Carrier Battle Group (Groupe Aéronaval, GAN, in french) is usually composed, in addition to the aircraft carrier, of :

* a carrier air wing (Groupe Aérien Embarqué, GAE, in french), a complement composed of about 40 aircraft :
o Rafale (up to 12)
o Super Étendard (up to 36)
o E-2C Hawkeye (2)
o SA365 Dauphin (3 or more)
* one Rubis Class SSN
* two anti-submarine destroyers (currently F67 or F70 Class)
* one or two anti-air destroyers (currently Cassard Class destroyers, soon helped by Horizon Class destroyers)
* one frigate in forward patrol (usually a La Fayette Class)
* one supply ship

This group is commanded by a rear admiral (Contre-amiral, in French) onboard the aircraft carrier. The commanding officer of the air group (usually a Capitaine de Frégate - equivalent to commander) is subordonate to the commanding officier of the aircraft carrier, a senior captain. The escort destroyers (called frigates in the french denomination) are commanded by more junior captains.

[Douglas]

Thanks, Thande!

[Thande]

Originally Posted by fenkmaster

Thanks, Thande!

I think that's probably a direct translation from the French article, as it says the Horizon class will 'help' the Cassard class, when I think they mean either 'complement' or 'succeed'.

[Electric Monk]

ETA: Beaten. Anyway.

It seems the usual Task Force it sails with (473) includes three destroyers (they call them first rank frigates): A Cassard anti-air, a Tourville anti-sub, and a Georges Leygues anti-sub/multi-role.

The Cassard class is heading for retirement though, as the La Fayette class are their replacements.

In addition the task force includes a Durance class support ship.


If you wanted to beef up the task force a couple extra Georges Leygues class and a few La Fayette class ships seems like the add-on that makes the most sense, along with some Rubis class SSNs.

If you wanted troops you'd add one or both of the Foudre class ships, a couple BATRAL, and perhaps additional escorts.

[Fellatio Nelson]

Originally Posted by fenkmaster

What would the composition of a large-ish task force centered around the CVN Charles de Gaulle look like at the present date?

Depends what you're doing, the enemy composition, etc.

Until the 2 Horizons are in service proper, the CdeG is actually the most effective anti-air surface unit in the FN.

Indeed, these days it could include units from other navies (such as off FYR, when British ships escorted a French carrier).

btw; The La Fayettes aren't eventually replacing the Cassards - that's the air defence FREMM versions, because the Horizons are too pricey for what the FN thinks it needs/can have. The Fayettes are underarmed patrol frigates.


Pretty much as stated for a small carrier strike fleet in blue water; the carrier, a Cassard (perhaps both), and 2-3 first rank frigates, auxiliaries, perhaps with a few lighter frigates (La Fayette, Floreal) to escort auxiliaries, act as decoys, surveillance etc. The inclusion of an SSN is also likely.