French Carrier Disaster Gets Very Strange

StrategyPage ^ | December 4, 2003 | 'Dirty Little Secrets’

[quidnunc]

December 4, 2003: France is considering quietly retiring their new nuclear powered aircraft carrier and joining with Britain to buy a new carrier of British design. Actually, the French had planned to built a second nuclear powered carrier, but they are having so many problems with the first one that they are quite reluctant about building another one. Britain is building two 50,000 ton conventionally powered carriers, at a cost of $2.5 billion each. France would order a third of this class, and bring down the cost of all three a bit. The new French nuclear carrier "Charles de Gaulle" has suffered from a seemingly endless string of problems. The 40,000 ton ship has cost over four billion dollars so far and is slower than the diesel powered carrier it replaced. Flaws in the "de Gaulle" have led it to using the propellers from it predecessor, the "Foch," because the ones built for "de Gaulle" never worked right. Worse, the nuclear reactor installation was done poorly, exposing the engine crew to five times the allowable annual dose of radiation. There were also problems with the design of the deck, making it impossible to operate the E-2 radar aircraft that are essential to defending the ship and controlling offensive operations. Many other key components of the ship did not work correctly, and the carrier has been under constant repair and modification. The "de Gaulle" took eleven years to build (1988-99) and was not ready for service until late 2000. It's been downhill ever since. So the plan is to buy into the new British carrier building program and keep the "de Gaulle" in port and out of trouble as much as possible. The British have a lot more experience building carriers, and if  there are any problems with the British designed ship, one can blame the British.

-snip-

[July 4th]

So the French built something that they really didn't know how to service? That's intelligent.

[Wolfstar]

The "Charles de Gaulle." Note the discolored (rusted?) flight deck.

The USS Enterprise (upper ship) sailing alongside the "Charles de Gaulle." Which ship looks like it's ready for action, and which looks like a useless relic (even though it's much newer)?! Also note the anemic wake behind the CDG vs. the powerful wake behind the Big E.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

If I hadn't quit in 1986, I fire up, too.

[SwinneySwitch]

Bolter! Bolter! Power and GO!

I heard 9 planes!

[Timocrat]

So the French built something that they really didn't know how to service? That's intelligent.

Don't tell anyone but the US has "helped" the French with their "independent" nuclear missiles for over twenty years. We don't want them setting them off at the wrong time it could get nasty. If the Brits build them a carrier lets hope they make it simple to use.

[truthandjustice1]

I love it when you talk dirty.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The French Pielstick V-16 heavy oil burning diesel is probably the best marine engine of its type in the last 70 years. These efficient units are even used on American iron ore carriers on the Great Lakes.

[Alter Kaker]

The French are world famous for making lousy firearms and crummy cars.

I have Manurhin MR-73 .357 magnum revolver, and is fantastic. Well built, accurate, super reliable. You do not know what you are missing - is for me best handgun I have ever used.

[VOA]

Flaws in the "de Gaulle" have led it to using the propellers from it predecessor,
the "Foch," because the ones built for "de Gaulle" never worked right.

Danged Frogs can't even (design and build a) screw right.

This article may not be from "The Onion".
But now I suspect the editorial staff of The Onion might run the French Navy.

[SwinneySwitch]

Note the discolored (rusted?) flight deck.

Nope, just pilot excrement.

[My2Cents]

Photo montage of the French Aircraft Carrier de Gaulle --

[desertcry]

Why do the french need washing machines?

[Joe 6-pack]

"Why do the french need washing machines?"

To keep their battle flag nice and white!!!!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Another interesting note is, the French have settled on apparently safe and clean nuclear power for electricity throughout their country. Why the heck can't they make a reactor work in a marine environment ?

[desertcry]

No wonder, they have so many over loaded washing machines. The frogs want to make sure their enemy sees their standards flying all over their ship.

[LasVegasMac]

The cheese eating surrender monkies prove, once again, that $hit floats.

My, you have a lot of faith.

LVM

[Frohickey]

What's the German word for gloating at others' misfortune?<p schadenfreude

[Jonathon Spectre]

You'll enjoy this methinks. Did these people really help us win the Revolution?

[GluteusMax]

Your photos say it all. That ship is an embarrassment.

(Also I believe your caption should read "sailing past the Charles De Gaulle" if the wakes are any indication.)