- Yes
- No
Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I present to you probably the most iconic ship of the French Navy after World War II, a ship on which many sailors completed their training: the helicopter-carrying cruiser Jeanne d’Arc.
The Jeanne d’Arc (R97) is a helicopter-carrying cruiser of the French Navy, laid down in 1960 at the Brest shipyards and entered service in 1964. Designed both as a warship and a training vessel, it represented an innovation in the post-war French fleet, combining an aeronautical platform capable of accommodating several heavy helicopters with conventional cruiser armament. With a displacement of approximately 10,000 tonnes and a length of 182 meters, the ship carried helicopters (Super Frelon, Alouette III, Puma, then Lynx) as well as 100 mm cannons and a modern detection and command system. Named in tribute to the French national heroine, it succeeded a light aircraft carrier (formerly a seaplane carrier) which had already borne the name Jeanne d’Arc in the 1930s.
During nearly 46 years of service, from 1964 to 2010, the Jeanne d’Arc was most famous as a training ship for the French Navy, embarking each year the cadets of the Naval Academy for their training campaign around the world. In addition to this educational mission, she participated in real operational operations: humanitarian interventions, evacuations of nationals, overseas presence missions and inter-allied exercises. Capable of deploying heavy helicopters for amphibious assault, troop transport or anti-submarine warfare, she retained a real military utility until the end. Replaced in 2010 by the amphibious helicopter carrier (PHA) Mistral as a training ship, the Jeanne d’Arc was decommissioned after a final world campaign. This emblematic ship embodied, for nearly half a century, the showcase of the French Navy and one of the symbols of French naval training.
Characteristics
-
Length : 181.38 m
-
Width : 24 m
-
Draft : 7.50 m
-
Mass : 13,270 tons
The ship is powered by four boilers connected to four Rateau-Bretagne turbines, providing a total engine power of 40,000 hp and an electrical power of 4,400 kW, allowing the Jeanne d’Arc to reach a top speed of 27 knots. Its propulsion is provided by two four-bladed propellers, each weighing over 6 tons. Its maximum range is 7,500 nautical miles at 15 knots.
As a training ship, the Jeanne d’Arc’s crew is composed of 476 professional sailors and can accommodate an additional 124 cadets.
Equipment
The equipment of the Jeanne d’Arc has evolved throughout its career to meet the needs of each era, initially only equipped with air detection radar to be able to detect threats and guide its helicopters as well as firing radar for its 100mm guns, the ship then received new equipment such as sonars, maritime surveillance radars, targeting radars for Exocet missiles as well as countermeasures to defend itself against more modern threats.
Initial equipment
- Radar :
- 2 x DRBN 34 Navigation radar
- DRBV 22D Air surveillance radar
- DRBI 10 radio altimeter
- DRBC 32A Fire control radar
1984
-
Radar :
- 2 x DRBN 34 Navigation radar
- DRBV 22D Air surveillance radar
- DRBI 10 radio altimeter
- DRBC 32A Fire control radar
-
Sonar :
- DUBV 24 sonar
-
Decoys and threat detection :
- SQS 503 Nixie towed torpedo decoy
- ARBR 16 radar interceptor (RWR)
- ARBX 10 ECM suite
1990
-
Radar :
- 2 x DRBN 34 Navigation radar
- DRBV 22D Air surveillance radar
- DRBI 10 radio altimeter
- DRBV 50 radar Sea Surveillance radar
- DRBV 51 radar Sea search and targeting radar
- DRBC 32A Fire control radar
-
Sonar :
- DUBV 24 sonar
-
Decoys and threat detection :
- SQS 503 Nixie towed torpedo decoy
- ARBR 16 radar interceptor (RWR)
- ARBX 10 ECM suite
2000
-
Radar :
- 2 x DRBN 34 Navigation radar
- DRBV 22D Air surveillance radar
- DRBI 10 radio altimeter
- DRBV 50 radar Sea Surveillance radar
- DRBV 51 radar Sea search and targeting radar
- DRBC 32A Fire control radar
-
Sonar :
- DUBV 24 sonar
-
Decoys and threat detection :
- SQS 503 Nixie towed torpedo decoy
- ARBR 16 radar interceptor (RWR)
- ARBX 10 ECM suite
- 2x Syllex decoy RL
Weapons
Just like the electronic equipment, the ship’s armament has evolved over time, originally comprising only cannons and machine guns allowing it to defend itself against aerial threats or close targets, the armament was later improved to be able to attack targets at longer range with missiles.
Initial weapons
- Guns :
- 4 x 100mm/55 Giat Naval guns
- 4 x 12.7mm machine gun
1975 :
-
Guns :
- 4 x 100mm/55 Giat Naval guns
- 4 x 12.7mm machine gun
-
Missiles :
- 6 x MM38 Exocet
2000
-
Guns :
- 2 x 100mm/55 Giat Naval guns
- 4 x 12.7mm machine gun
-
Missiles :
- 6 x MM38 Exocet
The armament of the Jeanne d’Arc was planned to be much more complete than what was subsequently achieved, in fact it was initially planned to install two additional 100mm guns at the front of the ship (bringing the number of 100mm to 6 pieces). A 305mm anti-submarine mortar similar to that present on many French ships of the time was also considered on the forward platform as well as a Mascura SAM launcher which would have taken the same place. Finally in the 80s a Crotal anti-aircraft system was considered but was abandoned due to the cost of modernization
Finally, it should be noted that the Jeanne d’Arc could carry up to 10 helicopters on its aft deck and in its hangars. The helicopter models used were the Alouette III, the Gazelles (different models of the ALAT), the Lynx and the Super Frelon. These aircraft could be equipped with their weapons to defend the ship from possible threats.
This ship is obviously not to be added immediately to the game, however in the idea of adding a more modern ship with missile firing capabilities, the Jeanne d’Arc would be an extremely interesting addition to the French tree, bringing a ship capable of all missions, whether anti-aircraft with its 100mm cannons or anti-ship with its Exocets missiles.
Video
Le dernier voyage de la Jeanne d’Arc
Le dernier retour du porte-hélicoptères Jeanne d’Arc à Brest
La Jeanne s’en va-t-en mer. Reportage complet, France-3 1997.
Brest, départ hier de la Jeanne d’Arc
En mer sur le PH Jeanne D’arc -1964-
PH Jeanne D’arc-(1964)
Sources
- Revivez l’histoire de la première campagne de la Jeanne d’Arc (1964-1965) grâce à une reconstitution 3D du navire ! | Service historique de la Défense
- JEANNE D’ARC helicopter cruiser (1964)
- POSTE DES CHOUFS - La Jeanne
- Historique du Porte-Hélicoptères Jeanne d’Arc (1954-2008) [in french]
- Porte-hélicoptères Jeanne d’Arc
- Caractéristiques
- FS Jeanne d’Arc R-97 helicopter carrier French Navy Marine Nationale
- Il y a 10 ans, la Jeanne d’Arc achevait son ultime campagne | Mer et Marine