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Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I am presenting a somewhat unique vessel from the French armed forces: the Foudre (L9011), the lead ship of the Foudre class of TCDs (Transport de Chaland de Débarquement, or Landing Platform Docks).
TCDs were the predecessors to modern amphibious transport ships. Their defining feature was an internal dock capable of carrying landing craft, which could transport combat vehicles such as tanks, armored vehicles, and trucks from the ship directly to the shore. This allowed troops and equipment to be deployed without relying on a functioning port, making these vessels particularly valuable for amphibious and force-projection operations.
The Foudre class consisted of two ships and was the final class of French TCDs. They were eventually replaced by the Mistral-class PHA (Porte-Hélicoptères Amphibie, or Amphibious Helicopter Carrier), which offered greater capabilities and was better suited to modern amphibious operations.
Construction of the Foudre began at DCNS in 1986, and the ship was commissioned into the French Navy in 1990 as the lead vessel of her class. She entered operational service during a particularly turbulent period, being deployed to Yugoslavia to support NATO efforts to contain and de-escalate the conflict.
Following the end of the Yugoslav Wars, Foudre returned to France, but her operational career was far from over. Between 2000 and 2010, she was deployed on eight occasions, participating in several major French military operations.
Among the most notable were Operation Licorne in Côte d’Ivoire, Operation Balliste in Lebanon, and Operation Corymbe in the Gulf of Guinea. These deployments demonstrated the versatility of the Foudre class, which could be used to transport troops, vehicles, equipment, and landing craft over long distances while supporting French forces deployed overseas. However, Foudre’s service was also marked by tragedy. During one of her operational deployments, one of the ship’s helicopters crashed just after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of eight military personnel.
By 2011, the Foudre class was approaching the end of its career, with the newer Mistral-class amphibious assault ships progressively taking over its role. Rather than being immediately retired, however, Foudre found a new operator.
The Chilean Navy had expressed interest in acquiring a Landing Platform Dock, and in 2011 Chile purchased the ship from France. Renamed Sargento Aldea, she was incorporated into the Chilean Navy, where she continued to perform amphibious transport and support missions.
Characteristics
Length : 168.00 m
Width : 23.50 m
Draught : 5.20 m
Mass : 11,300 tons
The vessel is powered by two diesel SEMT Pielstick engines, delivering a total output of 20,800 hp. This enables a top speed of 21 knots and a range of 11,000 nautical miles at 15 knots.
The crew consists of 160 sailors. Additionally, the ship carries an aviation detachment to operate helicopters and between 450 and 900 Army personnel.
Equipment
The vessel is relatively well-equipped for a ship not primarily designed for combat.
Radar:
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DRBV-21A air/surface search radar
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Decca 2449 navigation radar
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NRBI-26 IFF
Jammer:
- ARBB-36A RWR and radar jammer (x2)
Countermeasures:
- SLQ-25 Nixie towed decoy
Fire Control:
- DIBC-2A Vigy 105 optronic fire control system
Weapons
n terms of armament, the vessel carries only the bare minimum for self-defense; TCDs are not designed for ship-to-ship or ship-to-air combat and therefore possess only the weaponry needed to counter close-range threats.
Initial armament:
- 1 x 40mm Bofors gun (forward upper deck)
- 2 x 20mm guns (aft upper deck)
- 4 x 12.7mm machine guns
- 3 x Simbad anti-aircraft systems (twin Mistral missile launchers)
Post-modernization armament:
- 3 x 30mm Breda-Mauser guns (forward and aft upper decks)
- 4 x 12.7mm machine guns
- 3 x Simbad anti-aircraft systems (twin Mistral missile launchers)
In addition, the ship carries four ALAT combat helicopters, specifically Gazelle, Puma, Super Puma, or Cougar models; since some of these aircraft can be armed, they represent a valuable addition to the vessel, significantly boosting its combat capabilities.
Naturally, this ship should not be added to the game immediately; it would currently be unusable in existing game modes. However, should the game’s naval lineup and technology evolve—for instance, with the introduction of more modern vehicles—it could prove to be a highly interesting addition, offering a helicopter transport vessel capable of defending itself against light naval and aerial threats.
Pictures
