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Bâtiment ravitailleur de forces

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Jacques Chevallier class
Jacques Chevallier, lead ship of the class
Class overview
NameJacques Chevallier class
BuildersChantiers de l'Atlantique, Fincantieri
Operators French Navy
Preceded byDurance-class tanker
In commission2024- (expected)
Planned4
Building2
Completed1
General characteristics
TypeReplenishment ship
Displacement31,000 t (full load)
Length194 m (636 ft 6 in)
Beam27.4 m (89 ft 11 in)
Draught9 m (29 ft 6 in)
Speed
  • 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
  • 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) on electric engines
Range7,000 nmi (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Endurance30 days
Armament

The bâtiments ravitailleurs de forces, or BRF, are a class of future fleet tankers that are to replace the Durance-class units in French Navy service. Until January 2019, the programme was known as Flotte logistique (abbreviated FLOTLOG in military parlance).[1] First ship of the class completed the first stage of her sea trials in January 2023[2] and was formally delivered to the French Navy in July to continue her sea trials.[3][4] The ships are part of the Vulcano-class logistic support ship programme.

History

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Replacement for the Durance type has been considered by the French Navy since 2009, with the military procurement law for years 2009–2014. At the time, the concept was knows as "flotte logistique" ("logistical fleet", or FLOTLOG). The succession was envisioned to take place between 2017 and 2020. The replacement was motivated both by the age of the Durance hulls, and by their non-conformity with current safety standards, notably the lack of a double hull. From 2010, Naval Group (the still named DCNS) proposed a project named BRAVE.[5] This project was carried over to the following procurement law (2014 to 2019), delaying the order of the first unit to 2019. However, after STX France was purchased by Fincantieri, the project by Naval Group was abandoned and it was decided to base the new concept on the Italian fleet tanker Vulcano, then being built by Fincantieri for the Italian Navy.[6] The FLOTLOG programme was further confirmed in the new military procurement law.

On 30 January 2019, OCCAR ordered four units from Chantiers de l'Atlantique and Naval Group for the French Navy.[7] It is anticipated that the first two ships of the class, plus the fourth (Gustave Zédé), will be based at Toulon while the third ship of the class (Émile Bertin) will be based at Brest.[8]

The Bâtiment ravitailleur de forces in planned French Navy of the late 2030s, conducting simultaneous underway replenishment with the Future French aircraft carrier (PA-Ng) nuclear aircraft carrier and with a Frégate de défense et d'intervention

Construction

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The four units of the class are to be constructed in Saint-Nazaire, at Chantiers de l'Atlantique. The first ship was initially planned for delivery in 2022. However, that delivery date subsequently slipped by one year, to 2023.[9] Two additional ships are scheduled for delivery in 2025 and 2027. In 2023, it was decided that a fourth ship of the class was to be delayed beyond 2030.[10]

Steel cutting for the first ship took place on 18 May 2020.[11] A floating hull section was built at Fincantieri, Italy.[12] The ship was launched in April 2022 and named Jacques Chevallier. Sea trials began on 20 December 2022.[13][14] She was formally delivered to the French Navy on 18 July 2023 to continue her sea trials.[15] On 29 March, she carried out her first underway replenishment for the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, having refueled the air defence frigate Chevalier Paul a few days earlier.[16]

These ships are among the largest units of the French Navy, second only to Charles de Gaulle.

Description

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The ships have a length of 194 metres (636 ft 6 in), a beam of 27.4 m (89 ft 11 in) and a draught of 9 m (29 ft 6 in). They have a displacement of 16,000 t (16,000 long tons) empty and 31,000 t (31,000 long tons) at full load. They are powered by diesel-electric propulsion and have a crew of 130 with accommodations for up to 60 passengers. The vessels have capacity for 13,000 m3 (3,400,000 US gal) of fuel.[17]

Up to four ships are scheduled to be commissioned in the French Navy as replacement for the Durance-class tankers. On 18 May 2020, the navy published the names intended for the ships, which honour preeminent French naval engineers: Jacques Chevallier, Jacques Stosskopf, Louis-Émile Bertin and Gustave Zédé.

Defensive weapons will include the Simbad-RC system firing Mistral Mk3 surface-to-air missiles (for at least the first ship in the series) and two 40CT cannon.[18][19] The first guns of the type were installed on Jacques Chevallier in February 2023.[20] In March it was confirmed that two Simbad-RC short-range SAM/SSM systems had been installed on the ship, on a platform located behind the bridge. This was said to represent the first deployment of the Simbad-RC system variant with the French Navy.[21][22]

Ships of the class

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Dates in italics constitute estimates

No.  Name Laid down Launch Delivery Commissioning Notes
A725[23] Jacques Chevallier 24 December 2021[24] 29 April 2022[25][26] 18 July 2023[27][28] 2024[29][30][17] First steel cut 18 May 2020;
forward part of the hull built at Fincantieri, Castellammare di Stabia;[31] sea trials initiated 20 December 2022[13]
A... Jacques Stosskopf 6 December 2022[32] 19 August 2024[33] June 2025[34] First steel cut, February 2022.[18]
Forward section arrived in France in December 2023[35]
A... Émile Bertin 5 December 2023[citation needed] 2027
A... Gustave Zédé TBC Delayed beyond 2030[36]

Operations

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In early October 2023, and still prior to her commissioning, Jacques Chevallier embarked on her first operational deployment into the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The ship was expected to deploy for three months and return to Toulon by the end of the year.[37] She ended up deploying for four months, returning to Toulon in early February 2024.[38]

See also

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Citations

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  1. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (16 January 2019). "La Marine nationale change les appellations de nombreux bâtiments". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  2. ^ "France's lead Jacques Chevallier-class LSS completes first sea trial". Naval Technology. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
  3. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (19 July 2023). "Naval Group Delivers First BRF Supply Ship To French Navy". Naval News. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Chantiers de l'Atlantique delivers first new logistic support ship to French Navy". Janes. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  5. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (23 September 2010). "Brave : Le nouveau bâtiment logistique de DCNS". Mer et Marine (in French).
  6. ^ Lagneau, Laurent (1 February 2019). "Les futurs pétroliers-ravitailleurs de la Marine nationale seront de conception italienne". Opex 360 (in French).
  7. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (1 February 2019). "Gros plan sur les futurs ravitailleurs de la marine française". Mer et Marine (in French).
  8. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (8 December 2022). "Le BCR Somme naviguera jusqu'en 2027" [The BCR Somme will sail until 2027]. Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  9. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (14 April 2021). "Marine nationale : le BRF Jacques Chevallier sera livré en 2023". Mer et Marine (in French). Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  10. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (13 April 2023). "Dernière navigation pour le BCR Marne, qui passe le flambeau au BRF Jacques Chevallier". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Saint-Nazaire. La ministre Florence Parly aux Chantiers de l'Atlantique". Ouest-France (in French). 18 May 2020.
  12. ^ "BRF : la section italienne du Jacques Chevallier est arrivée à Saint-Nazaire" (in French). 6 December 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  13. ^ a b Groizeleau, Vincent (22 December 2022). "En images : première sortie d'essais en mer pour le BRF Jacques Chevallier". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  14. ^ "Launching of first French Logistic Support Ship Jacques Chevallier". Navy Recognition. 29 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  15. ^ "Chantiers de l'Atlantique delivers first new logistic support ship to French Navy". Janes. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  16. ^ "Poursuivant ses essais, le BRF Jacques Chevallier effectue ses premiers ravitaillements à la mer et rallie son port-base". Ministère des Armées. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  17. ^ a b Groizeleau, Vincent (19 December 2022). "A la découverte du Jacques Chevallier, premier BRF de la Marine nationale". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  18. ^ a b Vavasseur, Xavier (7 February 2022). "Fincantieri Cuts Steel For French Navy Second Logistic Support Ship". Naval News. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  19. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (7 January 2022). "Les bâtiments ravitailleurs de forces seront équipés de Simbad-RC". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  20. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (1 March 2023). "Le nouveau canon RAPIDFire Naval embarque sur un premier bâtiment de la Marine nationale". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  21. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (3 March 2023). "BRF Jacques Chevallier : les Simbad-RC à poste". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  22. ^ "SIMBAD-RC". MBDA - Missile Systems.
  23. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (2 May 2022). "BRF : tout savoir sur les futurs ravitailleurs de la Marine nationale". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  24. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (24 December 2021). "Low Key Keel Laying For French Navy's New Class Of Logistic Support Ship". Naval News. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  25. ^ Daheron, Nicolas (29 April 2022). "Saint-Nazaire. Chantiers de l'Atlantique : le navire militaire Jacques-Chevallier mis à flot". Ouest France (in French). Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  26. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (27 April 2022). "French Navy's First BRF Supply Ship to be Launched on Friday". Naval News. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  27. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (19 July 2023). "Naval Group Delivers First BRF Supply Ship To French Navy". Naval News. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  28. ^ "Chantiers de l'Atlantique delivers first new logistic support ship to French Navy". Janes. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  29. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (19 July 2023). "Naval Group Delivers First BRF Supply Ship To French Navy". Naval News. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  30. ^ "ANTARES - Dernier ravitaillement à la mer entre le BCR Marne et le porte-avions Charles de Gaulle". Ministère des Armées (in French). 28 February 2023. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  31. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (16 December 2021). "BRF : la section italienne du Jacques Chevallier est arrivée à Saint-Nazaire". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  32. ^ Vavasseur, Xavier (12 December 2022). "Fincantieri Lays Keel Of French Navy's 2nd BRF Forward Section". Naval News. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  33. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (30 August 2024). "Chantiers de l'Atlantique : nouvelles images de la mise à l'eau du Jacques Stosskopf". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  34. ^ "A Saint-Nazaire, la coque avant du futur bateau militaire est arrivée d'Italie". ouestfrance. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  35. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (22 January 2024). "La section avant du deuxième BRF de la Marine nationale est arrivée à Saint-Nazaire" [The forward section of the second BRF of the French Navy has arrived in Saint-Nazaire]. Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  36. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (13 April 2023). "Dernière navigation pour le BCR Marne, qui passe le flambeau au BRF Jacques Chevallier". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  37. ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (28 September 2023). "Le BRF Jacques Chevallier débute son DLD, première étape à Brest la semaine prochaine". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  38. ^ Caroline, Britz (28 September 2023). "Le BRF Jacques Chevallier de retour à Toulon après son déploiement de longue durée". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 28 September 2023.
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