- Yes
- No
Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I am presenting the last TCD (Transport de Chalands de Débarquement, or Landing Platform Dock) to serve in the French Navy: Siroco (L9012), the second and final ship of the Foudre class.
TCDs were the predecessors to modern amphibious transport ships. Their defining feature was an internal well deck capable of housing landing craft, which could transport combat vehicles such as tanks, armored vehicles, and trucks directly from the ship to the shore. This system allowed troops and equipment to be deployed without relying on an operational port, making these vessels particularly valuable for amphibious operations and long-range force projection.
The Foudre class consisted of two ships and represented the final generation of French TCDs. They were eventually replaced by the Mistral-class PHAs (Porte-Hélicoptères Amphibie, or Amphibious Helicopter Carriers), which offered greater capabilities and were better suited to modern amphibious operations.
Commissioned into the French Navy in 1996, six years after her sister ship Foudre, Siroco quickly entered active service. One of her first major assignments was in West Africa, where she was deployed as part of Operation Corymbe. This long-running French naval presence mission aimed to maintain a continuous military presence in the Gulf of Guinea while protecting French interests and supporting regional security. Siroco would repeatedly return to the region throughout her career, completing a total of nine Corymbe deployments. These missions made extensive use of her amphibious and logistical capabilities, allowing her to transport troops, vehicles, and equipment while supporting French forces deployed overseas.
In 2014, Siroco took part in two very different operations in quick succession. She was first deployed as part of Operation Atalanta, the European Union’s counter-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia, during which she participated in the interception of a suspected pirate vessel. Later that same year, the ship was deployed in support of Operation Chammal, the French contribution to the international campaign against the Islamic State. In this role, Siroco was used to support the deployment and sustainment of French forces operating in Iraq and Syria.
By this point, however, Siroco was approaching the end of her planned service life. She had originally been expected to remain in French service until being replaced by a fourth Mistral-class PHA, with the replacement initially planned for around 2022.
However, budget constraints ultimately led to the cancellation of the fourth ship. With no replacement planned for Siroco, the French Navy began looking for a foreign buyer. Several countries expressed interest in acquiring the vessel, and Brazil ultimately purchased her in 2015. After nearly two decades under the French flag, Siroco therefore left French service and began a new career with the Brazilian Navy.
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:
-
DRBV-21A air/surface search radar
-
Decca 2449 navigation radar
-
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.
