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Hello everyone and welcome to this new suggestion
Today I’m presenting a rather little-known ship of the French Navy: the BSM Garonne (A617).
Originally designated as a BSL (Bâtiment de Soutien Logistique), the Garonne was the third unit in a series of five vessels built to support the operational needs of the French Navy. Construction began in late 1963, and the ship was launched the following year, entering service shortly afterward. These ships were designed to provide technical and logistical assistance to naval units deployed far from mainland France, allowing fleets to remain operational without constantly returning to major naval bases.
Soon after entering service, the Garonne was assigned to the CEP (Centre d’Expérimentation du Pacifique), the organization responsible for France’s nuclear testing program in French Polynesia. The ship’s first major voyage was the long transit from France to Papeete, where it began supporting the French naval presence in the region. The vessel functioned essentially as a floating workshop. It was equipped with extensive workspaces where engineers and technicians could repair and maintain a wide variety of equipment used by the fleet. The scale of this activity was significant: during 1966 alone, the ship’s crew carried out maintenance on more than 2,000 electric motors, 40 diesel engines, 1,000 fuel injectors, and many other components. The Garonne remained deployed in the Pacific for many years, providing valuable support to the ships operating in the area.
In 1973, the ship returned to Toulon for a major refit and modernization. These upgrades allowed the vessel to remain operational for many additional years and to better adapt to evolving technologies and operational needs. Among the improvements was the installation of a new onboard workshop specialized in electronic systems, reflecting the growing importance of electronics in modern naval equipment. At the same time, the ship received defensive armament, which it had not previously carried.
The remainder of the ship’s career passed without major incident but included several overseas assignments. In the mid-1970s, the Garonne was deployed to the Indian Ocean, before being reassigned during the 1980s to the French Antilles, where it continued to provide maintenance and technical support to naval and military units stationed in the region. Toward the end of its service life, the vessel returned once more to the Pacific, before being transferred to Réunion Island, where it completed the final years of its career.
After 35 years of service, the Garonne was decommissioned in 2003. Shortly afterward, the ship was sunk off the island, bringing to an end the long career of a vessel that had quietly supported French naval operations across several oceans.
Like all BSL and BSM ships, this vessel is named after one of the rivers flowing through France; in this case, the Garonne.
Characteristics
Length : 101.50 m
Width : 13.10 m
Draft : 4.25 m
Mass : 2300 tons
The ship is powered by two SEMT-Pielstick 16 PA 4 V185 VG diesel engines, giving it a total power of 3600 hp. This allows it, with its single propeller, to reach a maximum speed of 15 knots.
Its crew consists of 167 sailors.
Weapons
In 1973, the ship received light armament enabling it to defend itself and engage various maritime and aerial targets. The following armament configuration was used:
- 1 x 40mm Bofors canon (front turret)
- 2 x 20mm Oerlikon canon (side of the bridge)
- 4 x 12.7mm machine gun
In-game, this ship would be an interesting addition to the Francias tech tree, providing a combat vessel modest in armament but of respectable size. It could also be worthwhile to improve the ship’s repair and repair assistance capabilities, given its historical role as a support vessel.
Pictures
