1960 FOCH. The Foch was the second post-war French aircraft carrier of national design. She carries 16 fighters and up to 40 combat helicopters.
Laid down in February 1957 at the Atlantique shipyards in Saint Nazaire, the Foch was launched on 28 July 1960. After fitting out she entered service on 15 July 1963. She incorporated the most recent innovations of the time, including an angled flight deck, landing mirrors and aerial search radar. The flight deck is 259m (850ft) long and has an angled runway 165.5m (543ft) long and 29.5m (97ft) wide, set at an angle of eight degrees to the ships axis, and an axial runway of 93m x 28m (305ft x 92ft). The two aircraft lifts can carry a load of 15 tons. The flight deck is fitted with two catapults, one axial and the other on the angled runway, which can launch aircraft of 1215t at a speed of 150 knots (278km/h).
HER MISSION
Since her refit, between July 1980 and August 1981, the Foch carries a naval air arm of 15 Super Etendard fighters, 4 Etendard IV photographic reconnaissance aircraft, 8 Crusader F-8E interceptors and 8 Breguet Alize anti-submarine (ASW) attack aircraft, as well as several Super Frelan ASW heavy helicopters and two Alauette Ill liaison helicopters. Like the C/emenceau, the Foch can take an board a group of 3040 combat helicopters. This ship has taken part in several support missions for the multinational intervention force to the Lebanon in 198284, as well as the Gulf War, and the crisis in the former Yugoslavia. She is expected to come to the end of her career by the year 2000.
TECHNICAL DATA
Type: Aircraft carrier
Machinery: 2-shaft Parsons geared steam turbines giving 126,000shp
Dimensians: Length, 265m (870ft); beam, 31.7m (104ft)
Displacement: 32,780t (full load) Draught: 8.6m (288)
