ARROMANCHES CLASS CV

The CV Arromanches casting off from NS Toulon, in order to intervene in Indochina. (M. Bar)

CV ARROMANCHES (Ex-COLOSSUS) R-95

 Callsign = Sapho

HISTORY

 

The Arromanches is the prototype of a new class of carrier (ten ships were built).The construction of the ship began in June 1942, at Vickers-Armstrongs Naval Shipyard. She was launched on September 30th 1943 and commissioned in December 1944. The ship was lent to the French Navy by the Royal Navy in 1946, and was finally bought in 1951. In 1957-1958, an axial runway was added. The ship went to Indochina four times and took part in Suez conflict. At the end of her life, she was used as a training carrier (Fouga Zéphyr CM-175s were embarked aboard) and as a helicopter carrier for the French Marine Corps. Finally, the ship was discommissioned on January 22nd 1974 ; it was scrapped in 1978.

SPECIFICATIONS	(US)	(FR)
Dimensions	693. 77 ft (length) x 118. 11 ft (width)	211. 25 m (length) x 36 (width)
Range	12 000 nm @ 14 kts	12 000 nm @ 14 kts
Speed	25 knots	25 knots
Horsepower	40 000 hp	29 840 kW
Washington displacement	14 000 t	14 000 t
Displacement	17 900 t	17 900 t

AERONAUTICAL INSTALLATIONS AND CAW

A flight deck (211 x 24. 50 m). A catapult (at the bow of the ship). Two lifts (13. 72 x 10. 36 m wide). A hangar (104. 24 x 15. 85 m wide) fitted (in 1964) to accommodate 13 TBMs, 2 HUP-2s or 15 F4Us and 2 HUP-2. The ship was able to accommodate twenty-four aircraft or about thirty helicopters. Many types of aircraft and helicopters were embarked aboard : Alouette II and III. Br-1050 Alizé. F4U-7 Corsair. F6F-5 Hellcat. Fouga Zéphyr CM-175. H-19D (S-55). H-21. HSS-1 (S-58). HUP-2. MS-500 Criquet. S-51. SB2C-5 Helldiver. SBD-5 Dauntless. SNCASE Aquilon. Supermarine Seafire Mk III and XV. TBM Avenger.

WEAPONS

Twenty-four 2 pdr guns. Thirty-two 20 mm guns (replaced in 1945 by twenty-one 40 mm guns). Four 3 pdr guns.

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

Radars : 1947 : Air search - One 79B. Air/ surface search - One 277. Air/ surface search - One 281B. Target indicator - One 293. 1954 : Air/ surface search - One 281B. One YE. Air search - One 79B. Target indicator - One 293. Air/ surface search - One 277. Navigation - 1 DRBN-30. 1959 : One YE. Air search -1 DRBV-22. Surface search and navigation - 1 DRBV-31. 1972 : Air search - 1 DRBV-22. Surface search and navigation - 1 DRBV-31.

COMMANDING OFFICERS

Rank Name From Rank Name From Captain (Royal Navy) Stokes August 6th 1946 CV Thabaud June 25th 1962 CV Caron July 18th 1947 CV Huet September 9th 1963 CV Sap October 25th 1948 CV Midoux November 16th 1964 CV Jubelin May 13th 1950 CV Fayard October 12th 1965 CV Monaque December 19th 1951 CV Eschbach October 14th 1966 CV Granger-Veyron August 14th 1952 CV Granry October 30th 1967 CV Lahaye August 29th 1953 CV Birden October 4th 1968 CV Patou October 30th 1954 CV Chossat de Montburon December 24th 1969 CV Bailleux April 22th 1956 CV Chaumeil December 3rd 1970 CV Philippon October 5th 1957 CV Karcher December 17th 1971 CV Ferran July 11th 1959 CV Lauru March 20th 1973 CV Vilbert December 19th 1959 CV Fatou January 22nd 1974 CV Ortolan January 12th 1961

MACHINERY AND CREW

1 geared turbine. Peace War Officers 42 60 Petty officers 145 171 Men/ sailors 516 613