Jeanne d'Arc (R 97)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Jeanne d'Arc |
|
| Career (France) |  |
|---|---|
| Laid down: | 1959 |
| Launched: | 1961 |
| Commissioned: | 1964 |
| Renamed: | Built as La Résolue, renamed to Jeanne d'Arc in 1964 |
| Homeport: | Brest |
| Nickname: | "La Jeanne" |
| Fate: | In active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 10,575 tonnes |
| Length: | 182 m |
| Beam: | 24 m |
| Draught: | 7.5 m |
| Propulsion: | Four 10,000 horsepower (7.5 MW) power plants with automatic heating, 29 420 kW |
| Speed: | 28 knots (52 km/h) |
| Range: |
3 000 nm at 26,5. |
| Complement: | 31 officers, 182 petty officers, 414 quaster-masters and sailors, 150 cadet officers |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
1 DRBV 22 D |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: |
Nixie |
| Armament: |
6 Exocet-38 sea-sea missiles |
The Jeanne d'Arc (R97) is a helicopter cruiser of the French Navy. She is the third vessel of the French Navy named after Joan of Arc ("Jeanne d'Arc", in French), a national heroine of France and saint of the Catholic Church who repelled the English invasion during the Hundred Years' War.
In peace time, the Jeanne d'Arc is used for teaching and training purposes; however, in case of emergency or crisis, she was to become a fully capable helicopter cruiser. This idea is now dropped because of the increasing size and weight of helicopters.
The Jeanne d'Arc was built as La Résolue, as her predecessor, the French cruiser Jeanne d'Arc (1930), was still in service. She was renamed Jeanne d'Arc in 1964. The ship is to be decommissionned by 2011, but preferably before 2010.[citation needed]
[edit] Missions
In peace time, Jeanne d'Arc is a teaching and training vessel for the naval officers' application academy, and at the same time possesses an aerial group of 2 Aérospatiale Puma helicopters and 2 Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopters of the light aviation of the French Army, as well as two helicopters Alouette III of naval aviation.
Jeanne d'Arc is to go on combat missions, either in anti-submarine warfare with 8 WG 13 Lynx helicopters, or in external missions by carrying Puma or Gazelle helicopters from the light aviation of the French Army. Initially, she was also able to carry landing troops and Sikorsky or Super Frelon helicopters.
Jeanne d'Arc can carry about 10 light or heavy helicopters. She can simultaneously handle the take-off and landing of 3 helicopters.
The ship was used as part of the rescue effort of Le Ponant during the April 2008 hostage-taking incident[1]
[edit] See also
- List of aircraft carriers
- List of ship launches in 1961
- List of ship commissionings in 1964
- French ship Jeanne d'Arc for other ships of the same name
[edit] External links
 A Super Frelon on the landing deck of the Jeanne d'Arc |
 The helicopter carrier Jeanne d'Arc sailing down the Seine (July 1999) |
 close-up on the turret; the Exocet launchers, 100mm turret and boats are visible |
 the helicopter carrier Jeanne d'Arc docked in Brest |
 Tampion of Jeanne d'Arc |
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