PH 75
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 18,400 tons |
| Length: | 208 m |
| Beam: | 26.5 m |
| Draft: | 6.5 m |
| Propulsion: | CAS-230 nuclear reactor 2 shafts 65,000 shp |
| Speed: | 28 knots |
| Capacity: | 1,000 troops |
| Complement: | 890 |
| Armament: | 2 x Crotale SAM 2 x 100 mm DP guns |
| Aircraft carried: | 25 helicopters |
PH 75 was a military development program in France aimed at designing a nuclear powered amphibious assault ship during the 1970s. Design work was never completed by the time the project was cancelled.
[edit] History
The role of providing air support for amphibious operations in the French Navy was left to the aging Arromanches, a World War II light carrier. PH 75 was envisioned as the replacement for the Arromanches. Nuclear propulsion was selected to allow the vessel to operate with fewer support vessels and at longer ranges. Other roles were added to the program including command, rescue, and anti-submarine warfare. Early plans were for completion of the first unit by 1981, but this proved unobtainable, and after several delays, the project was finally cancelled.
France instead chose to pursue a conventionally powered vessel to fulfill this role, termed a power projection ship, resulting in the development of the Mistral class which recently entered service. Meanwhile, France also developed a nuclear powered aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle.
