Mistral preparing for the celebrations of the 8th of May 2009 |
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| Career (France) | |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | Wind Mistral |
| Builder: | Arsenal de Brest, Chantiers de Saint-Nazaire |
| Laid down: |
10 July 2003 (aft part in Brest) |
| Launched: | 6 October 2004 in Brest |
| Commissioned: | December 2005 |
| Homeport: | Toulon |
| Fate: | In service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Mistral-class amphibious assault ship |
| Displacement: |
16,500 t (empty) |
| Length: | 199 m |
| Beam: | 32 m |
| Draught: | 6,3 m |
| Propulsion: | Motorisation : 2 Mermaïd electric motors (2 × 7 MW) 2 5-bladed propellers Electrical plant: 4 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 km at 15 knots |
| Capacity: | 2 barges, one Leclerc battalion, 70 vehicles |
| Complement: | 20 officers, 80 petty officers, 60 Quarter-masters, 450 passengers (900 for a short cruise), 150 men operational headquarter |
| Armament: |
2 Simbad systems |
| Aircraft carried: | 16 heavy or 35 light helicopters |
The Mistral (L9013) is an amphibious assault ship, a type of helicopter carrier, of the French Navy. She is the fourth vessel to bear the name, and is the lead ship of the Mistral-class amphibious assault ships.
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The Mistral started her trials in January 2005, and was officially commissioned in February 2006. She departed from Toulon for her first long-range journey in March, sailing through the Mediterranean, Suez, and the Red Sea to Djibouti and India, before returning to France.
In July, to ensure the safety of European citizens in the context of the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, France set up Opération Baliste. The Mistral is the flagship of the system off Lebanon, escorted by the frigates Jean Bart and Jean de Vienne, and along with the Siroco.
On 16 May 2008, the Burmese UN ambassador accused France of deploying the Mistral to the Burmese coast for military purposes, which the French UN ambassador denied, stating that she was instead carrying 1,500 tons of relief supplies. [1]
In February 2010 it was announced that France had agreed to sell Russia a Mistral with a potential option for three more vessels.[2] June 17,2011 Russia and France signed $1.7bln deal for mistral carrier[3]
In March 2011 she was deployed to Libyan waters to help aid the joint UK-French effort to repatriate tens of thousands of Egyptian refugees fleeing the violence in Libya.[4]
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