R-91 Charles de Gaulle

Country:  France

Class, [Type]: Charles de Gaulle, [CVN].

Builder: DCN, Brest, France.

Launch date: 14 May 1994.

Commission date: 18 May 2001.

Displacement ( tons ): 40.600 full load.

Dimensions ( metres ): 261,5 x 64,36 x 8,7

Main machinery: Nuclear: 2 x PWR Type K15 ( 300 MW ); 2 x GEC Alsthom turbines ( 76.200 hp ).

Speed ( knots ): 27.

Complement: 1950 ( 177 officers ) + 800 marines.

Guns: 8 x GIAT F2 20mm/90.

Missiles:  SAM: 2 x Sylver A50 VLS (32 x Aster-15 missiles), 2 x Sadral systems ( Mistral missiles ).

Military lift: aviation fuel: 5.000m³. Ammunitions: 2.100 tm.

Radar: Air search: Thomson-CSF DRBJ 11B, 3D, E/F bands, range 366 km; Thomson-CSF DRBV 26D Jupiter, D band, range 183 km; Air/Surface search: Thomson-CSF DRBV 15D Sea Tiger Mk 2, E/F bands, range 110 km; Navigation: 2 x Racal 1229, I band; Fire Control: Thomson-CSF Arabel 3D, I/J bands (for Aster), range 70 km.

Countermeasures: Decoys: 4 x CSEE Sagaie chaff and flare launchers, Dassault LAD offboard decoys, SLAT torpedo decoys; ESM: Thomson-CSF ARBR 21 ( intercept ), 2 x SAT DIBV 2A Vampir MB; ECM: 2 x ARBB 33 ( jammers ).

Helicopter: 2 x Super Frelon, or 3 x Dauphin, or 2 x Panther, or 2 x Cougar.

Aviation: 12 x Rafale M, 20 x Super Etendard, 2 x E-2C Hawkeye.

Callsign: FBCG ()

Comment: Ordered in February 1986. Was expected to be operative in 1996, but significant delays moved that date till late 1999. During it´s sea trials in 2000 lost a propeller blade and had to return to Toulon for repairs, which did not end until January 2001, when it had one from decommissioned Clemenceau ( then had it´s speed limited to 23 kt ), pending a new blade for 2003 . The ship entered service in 2001, at that point in time, the ship was to embark 4 x Rafale-M and 29 x Super Étendard fighters, 2 x E-2C Hawkeye, and 2 x Super Frelon and 2 x Dauphin helicopters. Ultimately, the ship is intended to carry 32 x Rafale fighters, 3 x E-2C Hawkeye, and 4 helicopters.