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French Navy Carrier Strike Group Deploys, Will Be Joined by Royal Navy ASW Frigate HMS Kent

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Naval Forces News - France, UK
 
 
 
French Navy Carrier Strike Group Deploys, Will Be Joined by Royal Navy ASW Frigate HMS Kent
 
The French Navy issued a statement to announce that the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) left Toulon naval base (Southern France) this morning for a deployment named "Arromanches". Planned months ago, the CSG deployment in the north of the Indian Ocean is intended to ensure an operational presence mission and pre-positioning in this strategic area for France. It will also develop and maintain the French Navy relationships and interactions with the various allied countries and their armed forces. In particular, it will participate in the Indian-French naval air exercise Varuna, off India.
     
The French Navy issued a statement to announce that the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) left Toulon naval base (Southern France) this morning for a deployement nammed "Arromanches". Planned months ago, the CSG deployment in the north of the Indian Ocean is intended to ensure an operational presence mission and pre-positioning in this strategic area for France...
The French Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (CVN) Charles de Gaulle (R91)
Picture: French Navy

     
For the "Arromanches" deployment, the French CSG is composed of:
» The nuclear powered aircraft carrier (CVN) Charles de Gaulle
» An on-board command staff
» An Embedded Air Group (EAG), comprising 12x Rafale M, 9x Super Etendards Modernisés, 1x E-2C Hawkeye and 4x helicopters
» The Forbin class Air Defense Destroyer (DDG) Chevalier Paul (with 1x NH90 Caïman helicopter)
» The Durance class Replenishment Oiler (AOR) Meuse
» A Rubis class Nuclear Attack Submarine (SSN)
» The Royal Navy Type 23 Duke class Anti-Submarine Frigate HMS Kent (to join the French CSG in the Red Sea.)
     
According to French website Mer et Marine, France is about to deploy the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf where it would join coalition operations against the Islamic State in Iraq.
Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Kent will join the French Carrier Strike Group in the Red Sea and provide ASW protection. Picture: Royal Navy / Crown Copyright
     
The CSG is a strategic military tool, able to adapt and modify its program in line with developments in the crisis in Iraq and according to the needs of the coalition to respond quickly to the decisions of political authorities.

As in 2014, during its last deployment made in the Indian Ocean, the CSG will have to operate under US operational control to test and enhance the level of interoperability and cooperation between the two navies and thus maintain the ability to jointly conduct high intensity operations.

Similarly, the Royal Navy frigate HMS Kent, who will participate in the anti-submarine protection of the aircraft carrier, will be fully integrated to the French CSG, illustrating the confidence that unites the British and French navies and their high level of interoperability.

In 2014, the CSG deployment was called Bois Belleau (Belleau Wood), referring to the centenary of the First World War and cooperation with France's American allies. This year, the mission is named "Arromanches", after the town in Normandy where an artificial harbor was built during the D-Day in June 1944. In memory of the first French aircraft carrier built after the war and 70 years after the end of the Second World war, the "Arromanches" mission will honor the cooperation between France and her American and British allies.

The CSG offers France and her political and military decision-makers a strategic asset and a key military tool. Affirming the presence and power of France, it can simultaneously contribute to the control of air-sea areas, maintaining the capacity for autonomous situation assessment and power projection. It offers the capacity of versatile and proportionate action adapted to the needs of the political authorities.