R-98 Clemenceau

Country:  France

Class, [Type]: Clemenceau, [CV].

Builder: Brest Naval Dockyard, France.

Launch date: 21 December 1957.

Commission date: 22 November 1961.

Decommission date: 03 March 1998.

Displacement ( tons ): 27.307 standard, 32.780 full load.

Dimensions ( metres ): 265 x 31,7 x 8,6

Main machinery: 6 x boilers, 2 x Parsons turbines ( 12.6000 hp ).

Speed ( knots ): 32.

Range ( miles ): 7.500 at 18 knots, 4.800 at 24 knots, 3.500 full power.

Complement: 1017 ( 47 officers ) + 672 aircrew.

Guns: 4 x DCN 100mm/55 Mod. 1953 ( original, all removed in 1985 ), 5 x Browning M2 12,7mm.

Missiles:  SAM: 2 x Thomson-CSF Crotale EDIR octuple launchers ( 52 missiles ).

Radar: Air Search: Thomson-CSF DRBV 23B, D band, 201km range; Air/Surface Search: 2 x DRBI 10, E/F bands, 256km range. DRBV 15, E/F bands; Navigation: Racal Decca 1226, I band; Fire Control: 2 x Thomson-CSF DRBC 32B, I band ( guns ), 2 x Crotale, I band ( missiles ); TACAN: SRN-6.

Sonar: Westinghouse SQS 505, hull mounted, active search, medium frequency.

Countermeasures: Decoys: 2 x CSEE Dagaie chaff/flare launchers; ESM: ARBR 17 ( radar warning ); ECM: ARBB 33 ( jammer ).

Helicopter: 2 x SA 365F Dauphin 2.

Aviation: 18 x Super Etendard, 4 x Etendard IVP, 8 x F-8P Crusaders, 7 x Alizé.

Callsign: FBAW ()

Comment: The Clemenceau and his sister ship, Foch, were the first aircraft carriers designed as such and built from the keel to be completed in France. It was refitted in 1978 to accomodate Super Etendard aircraft and nuclear weapons. Refitted again in 1985, guns removed and installed the Crotale system, major engine overhauls, improved lifts and catapults. Retired in 1998.