ÿþ<html> <header> <META NAME="keyword" content="Jeff Head, Dragon's Fury Series, World-Wide Aircraft Carriers, Aircraft Carriers, World's Aircraft Carriers, Navies, Navy, World's Navies, All the World's Aircraft Carriers, Nimitz Class, Kuznetsov, Varyag, The Hapless Varyag, Mystery of the Varyag, Chinese Navy, Plan, Where are the carriers, Naval Aviation, WorldWideAircraftCarriers.com, All the World's Carriers"> <META NAME="description" content="WorldWideAircraftCarriers.com - Mistral Class Page"> <TITLE>WorldWideAircraftCarriers.com - Mistral Class Page</TITLE></HEAD> <BODY BGSTART bgcolor=white BGEND> </header> <body> <!-- --> <!-- Display WWAC logo --> <!-- --> <center> <table width=100%> <tr><td> <center> <img src="wwaclogo.jpg"> </center> </tr></td></table> <!-- --> <!-- Display headers --> <!-- --> <table width=800 border=1> <tr><td colspan=2 valign=center><center> <a href="index.htm"><img border=0 src="menu-carrier-off.gif"></a><img src="center-mistral.jpg"><a href="index2.htm"><img border=0 src="menu-amphib-off.gif"></a></center> </td> <tr> <td width=37% align=left valign=center><font size=-1><b> SPECIFICATIONS</b></td> <td width=63% align=left valign=center><font size=-1><b>PHOTOGRAPHS </b>(Click on the pictures for an enlarged photo)</td> </tr> <tr> <td align=left valign=top><font size=-1> <img src="FRAFlag.jpg"><br> <u>Designation</u>: LHD<br> <u>Length</u>: 653 ft<br> <u>Width</u>: 105 ft<br> <u>Beam</u>: 105 ft<br> <u>Displacement</u>: 21,300 tons<br> <u>Propulsion</u>: 4 Wärtsilä diesel engines, <br>2 PODS (2 Mermaïd elec. motors, )<br> <u>Speed</u>: 19 knots<br> <u>Crew</u>: 1,060<br> <u>Troops</u>: 1,400<br> <u>Airwing</u>: 16 Rotary, vtol<br> <u>Armament</u>:<br> - 2 X 2 Simbad SAM<br> - 2 X 30mm CIWS<br> <u>Elevators</u>: 2<br> <u>Ships in class</u>: 3 <blockquote> <a href="http://www.netmarine.net/bat/tcd/mistral/" target="_blank">BPC Mistral L9013</a><br> <a href="http://www.netmarine.net/bat/tcd/tonnerre/" target="_blank">BPC Tonnerre L9014</a><br> <a href="http://www.netmarine.net/bat/tcd/dixmude/" target="_blank">BPC Dixmude L9015</a> </blockquote> The Mistral class represents an ambitious, new development for the French navy. Built quickly in a modular design and manufacturing environment, the Mistral class will is providing the French with much improved over-the-horizon LHD amphibious assault capability similar to that possessed by the United States Navy with its <a href="wasp.htm">Wasp Class</a>, and the UK with its <a href="ocean.htm">Ocean Class</a>. <p> The vessels displace 21,300 tons, can carry between 16 and 35 helicopters...depending on size of the helos, can carry up to 900 French Marines and their equipment, have a well deck to accomodate up to 2 LCACs or 4 French CTMs and can cruise at 18 knots. They are 653 feet long and 105 ft wide. <p> The lead ship, the Mistral, was laid down on 10 July 2003, launched on 6 October 2004, and was commissioned in February of 2006. The second ship, the Tonnerre, was laid down on 26 August 2003, launched on 26 July 2005, and was commissioned in December of 2006. The third ship, the Dixmude, was laid down on 18 April 2009, launched on 18 December 2010, and was commissioned in May of 2011. <p> The class has seen very successful combat service in the Libyan operation to oust Gaddafi and in the fight against Somalian pirates. <p> This class, with its proven success, its strong capabilities and yet fast modular construction and commissioning, has been adopted by the Russian Navy. The first two vessels will be built by the French for the Russians in France with Russian assistance, to be commissioned with Russian sensors and armaments by 2016. The final two ships will be licensed built by the Russians in St. Petersburg, Russia, to be commissioned by 2018. This will make a total of four vessels produced for the Russian Navy. </td> <td align=center valign=top> <a href="mistral1.jpg"><img src="mistral1.jpg" width=490></a><br> <a href="mistral2.jpg"><img src="mistral2.jpg" width=490></a><br> <a href="mistral3.jpg"><img src="mistral3.jpg" width=490></a><br> <a href="mistral4.jpg"><img src="mistral4.jpg" width=490></a><br> <a href="mistral5.jpg"><img src="mistral5.jpg" width=490></a><br> <a href="mistral6.jpg"><img src="mistral6.jpg" width=490></a><br> <a href="mistral7.jpg"><img src="mistral7.jpg" width=490></a><br> <a href="mistral8.jpg"><img src="mistral8.jpg" width=490></a><br> <a href="mistral9.jpg"><img src="mistral9.jpg" width=490></a><br> <a href="mistral10.jpg"><img src="mistral10.jpg" width=490></a><br> <a href="mistral11.jpg"><img src="mistral11.jpg" width=490></a><br> <a href="mistral12.jpg"><img src="mistral12.jpg" width=490></a><br> <a href="mistral13.jpg"><img src="mistral13.jpg" width=490></a><br> <a href="mistral14.jpg"><img src="mistral14.jpg" width=490></a><br> <a href="mistral15.jpg"><img src="mistral15.jpg" width=490></a> </tr> </table> <!-- \/ GuestGEAR Code by http://htmlgear.com \/ --> <table width=800><tr> <td width=10% align=left valign=center> <a href="http://htmlgear.lycos.com/specs/guest.html"><img border=0 ismap src="http://htmlgear.lycos.com/img/guest/gb_white.gif"></a></td> <td width=20% align=center valign=center> <a target="_NEW" href="http://htmlgear.tripod.com/guest/control.guest?u=libertyordeath&i=7&a=view"><font face="arial,helv,helvetica,sans serif" size=-1>View Guestbook</font></a></td> <td width=40% align=center valign=center> <a href="links.htm">LINKS OF INTEREST</a></td> <td width=20% align=center valign=center> <a target="_NEW" href="http://htmlgear.tripod.com/guest/control.guest?u=libertyordeath&i=7&a=sign"><font face="arial,helv,helvetica,sans serif" size=-1>Sign Guestbook</font></a></td> <td width=10% align=right valign=center> <a href="http://htmlgear.lycos.com/specs/guest.html"><img border=0 ismap src="http://htmlgear.lycos.com/img/guest/gb_white.gif"></a></td> </tr></table> <!-- /\ End GuestGEAR Code /\ --> Page Last Updated: 15-MAY-2012 <table width=800 border="1"> <tr><td><center><table width=90%><tr><td> <font size=-1><a href="http://www.jeffhead.com/about.htm">Jeff Head</a> is an engineering consultant with many years experience in the power, defense, and computer industries. He currently works for the federal government helping maintain and protect regional infrastructure. He is a member of the U.S. Naval Institute, and is also the author of a self-published and best-selling series of military techno-thrillers called the Dragon's Fury that projects a fictional third world war arising out of current events. You can learn more about that series by clicking on the pictures of the novel covers below:</p></font> <p> <center><a href="http://www.dragonsfuryseries.com/" target="_blank"> <img src="../dragonsfury/DFS-WorldWar-Cover.jpg" width=200><br><b> THE DRAGON'S FURY SERIES</a></b></center></td></td></table> <p> Copyright &copy; 2005-2012 by Jeff Head </td></tr></table> <p> <center> <!-- GoStats.com Simple HTML based code --> <a href="http://monster.gostats.com/click.xml?5992" target="_top"><img src="http://monster.gostats.com/bin/count?a=5992&amp;t=4&amp;i=19&amp;z=" style="border-width:0px" alt="free hit counter" /></a><br /> <a style="font-size: 9px" href="http://gostats.com" title="Free Hit Counter">Free Hit Counter</a> <!-- End GoStats.com Simple HTML based code --> </td></tr></table></center> </body></html>