Mistral class landing platform dock
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 The Mistral |
|
| France |  |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Brest arsenal and St-Nazaire dockyards |
| Operators: |  Marine nationale |
| Preceding class: | Foudre |
| Commissioned: | December 2005 |
| Ships in Class | |
| Ships in class: | 2 |
| Ships in active service: | Mistral, Tonnerre |
| General Characteristics | |
| Class type: | Amphibious transport dock |
| Displacement: | 16,500 t (empty) 21,300 t (full load) |
| Length: | 199 m |
| Beam: | 32 m |
| Draught: | 6,3 m |
| Propulsion and power: | Motorisation : 2 Mermaïd electric motors (2 × 7 MW), 2 5-bladed propellers Electrical plant: 3 Wärtsilä diesels-alternators 16 V32 (6,2 MW) + 1 Wärtsilä Vasaa auxiliary diesel-alternator 18V200 (3 MW) |
| Speed: | 18.8 knots |
| Range: | 10,800 km at 18 knots, 19,800 at 15 knots |
| Boats and landing craft carried: | 4 CTM (chaland de transport de matériel) alternatively, 2 LCAC (Landing Craft, Air Cushion) |
| Capacity: | 450 passengers (900 for a short cruise) 150-man operational headquarter |
| Complement: | 20 officers, 80 petty officers, 60 Quarter-masters |
| Armament: | 2 Simbad systems 2 30 mm Breda-Mauser guns |
| Sensors: | DRBN-38A Decca Bridgemaster E250 navigation radar
MRR3D-NG air/surface sentry radar |
| Aircraft complement: | 16 heavy or 35 lights helicopters |
The Mistral type is a class of assault helicopter carriers of the French Navy, capable of deploying 16 NH90 or Tigre, or 35 Aérospatiale Gazelle. They have amphibious capabilities, and carry four landing barges and 70 vehicles, including a 13-tank strong Leclerc batallion. They also have a fully capable 69-bed hospital.
Two ships of the class are in service in the French Navy : the Mistral and the Tonnerre.
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[edit] Medical capabilities
The Mistral features a fully capable 69-bed hospital (as much as a 40 000 inhabitant town), with a triage room, a shock room, two surgery rooms, a room for treatment of burn injuries, a telesurgery room, and radiology equipments including a scanner.
In normal time, the ship has a medical doctor, two nurses, and 19 hospital beds. The helicopter hangar can be converted to a campaign hospital to improve medical capabilities. If needed, modular elements can be added to provide four surgical rooms and accommodate a 100-person medical team, including 12 surgeons.
[edit] Construction
The Mistral was constructed in two segments, the bow part in Saint-Nazaire, and the aft part in Brest. She uses a completely electric propulsion system, with two pods at the aft and one manoeuver pod at the bow; this allows for a turning radius of 289 metres. The ship remains almost horizontal when she turns, and can manoeuver efficiently even at small speed, which eases helicopter operations. Built according to civilian standard, the Mistral is compatible with MARPOL antipollution requirements.
The space for the crew and passengers is unusually large, since the Mistral is designed to spend three months at sea in a row, is accordance to the "mobile base" doctrine. The ship features a purpose sport room and large common areas. The crew lives in 4-person cabins fitted with sanitary equipment, which allows the ship to accommodate a mixed crew.
[edit] Military equipment
The Mistral is equipped with combat detection systems linked to a SENIT 9 system which allows integrated sharing of information between units of a fleet. The communication systems and other equipments allow the Mistral to host a 200-person general staff.
She is capable of deploying 16 NH90 or Tigre, or 35 Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopters, and has reinforced forward pod, as to be able to accommodate 30-tonne helicopters such as the CH-53E Super Stallion ; four landing barges or two LCAC ; and 70 vehicles, including 13-tank Leclerc batallion, with up to 450 soldiers (900 for a short period).
The Mistral features light, short-range missile and cannons for last resort self-defence.
[edit] Export
A modified version of this design is in the running for the new Canberra class large amphibious ships for the Royal Australian Navy.
The Indian navy has also expressed interest in the design of the Mistral type.
[edit] Images
 Construction site of the Projection and Command vessel Mistral, being assembled in the dock n°9 of the Brest arsenal (10 September 2003) |
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 Projection and Command vessel Mistral in Brest Harbour (12 February 2005) |
