The Clemenceau class aircraft carriers are of conventional in design. The flight deck extends 543ft (165.5m) by 97ft (29.5m) and is angled at 8 degrees to the ship's axis. The forward aircraft elevator is offset to starboard, and the after elevators is positioned on the deck edge to increase hangar capacity.
One of the two 170ft (52m) catapults is to port, while the other catapult is on the angled deck. The hangar deck, which is offset to port, has a usable length of 499ft (152m) and a width of 72-79ft (22-24m). It has 23ft (7m) overhead clearance.
A new generation of aircraft was designed to operate from these carriers. Two flights each of ten Etendard IVM ground support fighters (with integral reconnaissance capability) were initially embarked, along with a flight of Alize turbo-prop ASW aircraft, while F-8E Crusaders were purchased from the USA in 1963 and from 1966 made up the interceptor flight.
On December 19, 1956, government officials awarded a contract to design, produce and fine-tune a ship-borne Etendard IV M, a low- and medium-altitude strike and fighter plane for use on Clemenceau-class vessels.
Between December 9, 1961, and May 26, 1965, the French Navy's air arm took delivery of 69 Etendard IV Ms and 21 Etendard IV Ps - and went on to clock transonic speeds for the first time in its history.
The Etendard IV Ms served in the French Navy until July 1991, in a ship-borne fighter school, the Squadron 59 S of Hyères, which they had entered in October 1965.
Read more at: www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/clemenceau.htm |
Clemenceau, lead ship of the class, was laid down in 1955, launched in 1957, and commissioned in 1961.
She served in numerous roles with the French Navy alongside Foch for 36 years until finally decommissioned in 1997.
After the end of her service she became embroiled in controversy over her disposal and is currently being stored in Brest.
Read more .......
|
Foch, followed le Clem by about two years in building, and served slightly longer than the lead ship, being commissioned from 1963 to 2000.
However, instead of being destined for scrap, she was immediately transferred to the Brazilian Navy where she continues to serve as São Paulo, the only aircraft carrier currently serving in Brazil.
Read more ......... |
Layout: www.wikimedia.name
www.aircraftcarrier.name by wikimedia.name is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Norway License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.aircraftcarrier.name/copyright. 
