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French Navy Received the "Bougainville" Second of Four B2M Multi Mission Vessels

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Naval Forces News - France
 
 
 
French Navy Received the "Bougainville" Second of Four B2M Multi Mission Vessels
 
The Bougainville multi-mission vessel was delivered to the French Navy (Marine Nationale) on September 22 2016. It is the second B2M (for bâtiment multi-missions) vessel intended for the overseas missions of sovereignty. Bougainville will soon join its home port of Tahiti in the Pacific. First ship of the class D'Entrecasteaux recently joined its home port of Noumea in New Caledonia.
     
The Bougainville multi-mission vessel was delivered to the French Navy (Marine Nationale) on September 22 2016. It is the second B2M (for bâtiment multi-missions) vessel intended for the overseas missions of sovereignty. Bougainville will soon join its home port of Tahiti in the Pacific. First ship of the class D'Entrecasteaux recently joined its home port of Noumea in New Caledonia.
 File picture of first ship of the class d'Entrecasteaux during sea trials. Picture: DGA
     
Three multi-mission vessels of the class were ordered in December 2013 by the DGA to the corporate group Kership, co-owned by Piriou shipyard and DCNS. The second and third B2Ms are intended to French Polynesia in the Pacific and the Island of Reunion. The latest and updated military planning law provides for the order of a fourth B2M.

These vessels are designed to ensure the overseas missions of sovereignty: presence, monitoring and protection of French interests in exclusive economic zones, projection forces, logistical support and backup and support for the populations.

The class has a top speed of 12 to 15 knots. They have a long endurance of approximately 30 days of operation without replenishment. They carry a work boat of about 8 metres long and semi-rigid boats, and will have a crane for loading and unloading containers. They will also be capable of deploying divers and carrying weapons and munitions.

According to the French Procurement Agency (DGA), these vessels:
- have the ability to project 20 personnel (joint, police or gendarmerie) with two 4x4 vehicles along with their weapons and ammunition.
- will ensure the evacuation of citizens and have the ability to deploy and support divers and equipment (including drones) to conduct underwater interventions.
- Under the state action at sea, they will provide fisheries police missions, and contribute to the fight against illegal immigration, drug trafficking and piracy.
- They will assist ships in distress and participate in safeguarding people and property, through their firefighting means and towing capacity of up to 30 tons