French sign contract for 3rd Mistral class LHD

[CougarKing]

I couldn't find this posted before in a search.

France Signs Contract for 3rd Mistral Class LHD
19-Apr-2009 21:35 EDT

In December 2008, reports surfaced that France intended to accelerate production of its 3rd Mistral Class LHD, as part of a EUR 2.3 billion defense component of France’s economic stimulus package. Releases now indicate that a deal was finalized on Apr 10/09, and production of the 3rd ship of class has begun. It is expected to enter service in 2012.

Cost figures were not released, but the use of commercial cruise ship standards and civilian yards reportedly allowed France to field the first two 21,300t Mistral Class LHDs for about EUR 660 million. In April 2009, that price is equal to about $860 million. Which makes each Mistral Class LHD about 25% of the price for a single American 22,700t LPD-17 San Antonio Class amphibious assault and command ship.

The 3rd ship of class might even be cheaper than its predecessors, to the detriment of state-owned shipbuilder DCNS…

A Different Construction Approach

The first 2 ships of class, FNS Mistral [BPC 1] and FNS tonnere [BPC 2], were built in multiple shipyards around France, with state-owned DCN responsible for 60% of the value of construction. Chantiers de l’Atlantique, which is now part of the South Korean shipbuilding multinational STX, built the forward halves in Saint-Nazaire. Some of the construction work was even outsourced to Stocznia Remontowa de Gdansk, in Poland.

This ship will use a very different construction approach, in order to meet both the challenging cost targets set by the French government, and the requirement to finance French jobs. DCNS’ release states that:

”...the ship will be built solely on the Saint-Nazaire site [by STX]. In fact, the sharing of the construction of the platform between two production sites would have generated additional costs – in particular for transport, interfacing and tests – which would have made it impossible to meet the budgetary target fixed by the Government.

STX France, in charge of the overall coordination of the project for the industrial part, will build the whole of the propelled platform including the fitting out of equipment onboard. This represents 75% of the vessel value. Once trials are completed, BPC 3 will move to Toulon under its own power. DCNS will manufacture and integrate the combat system, which includes communications, navigation and combat management systems [and is 25% of the project’s value].”

As its name implies, STX France Cruise SA is one of the world’s premier designers and builders of advanced passenger cruise ships. The former Chantiers de l’Atlantique corporation was renamed STX France after being bought by the Korea’s STX group, and the French government acquired a 33.34% stake in November 2008. Cruise ship construction has been hit by the economic slowdown, and the use of complementary shipbuilding standards for the Mistral Class made it easy to advance BPC 3, in order to preserve some of those jobs. See: French DGA announcement [in French] | DCNS release | STX Europe release | Defense News.

The Mistral Class LHDs

The 21,300 ton Mistral Class “BPC” (Batiments de Projection et de Commandement) ships operate as helicopter carriers and amphibious assault transports, with secondary capabilities as command ships, and an on-board hospital. Propulsion comes from 2 electric-powered maneuverable thruster pods, similar to those used on cruise ships, with 2 more bow thrusters for added maneuverability in tight situations.

Mistral Class vessels normally carry 450 equipped troops for up to 6 months, but can raise this figure to 700 troops or evacuees for short periods. Normal hospital capacity is 69 beds, with a fully-equipped operating room. That capacity can also be expanded in emergencies, by appropriating other ship spaces. The command post section is not expandable, but has workstations for up to 150 personnel.

The Mistral Class ships are slightly smaller than contemporaries like Navantia’s BPE/Canberra Class LHDs, or Italy’s Cavour Class aircraft carrier/LHDs, and lack the ski jump that gives their contemporaries fixed-wing aviation capability as well. Exercises off the American coast have demonstrated compatibility with heavy-lift helicopters in the front (#1) landing slot, however, and well deck compatibility with LCAC hovercraft as well as the conventional landing ships.

Mistral Class helicopter capacity is about 1,800 square meters, accommodating up to 16 machines with size “footprints” similar to the NH90 medium helicopter or Eurocopter Tiger scout/attack helicopter. Heavy helicopters like the much larger American CH-53E can use the #1 landing spot, over the bow, if “lilly pad” operations are required. Vehicle storage capacity is 2,650 square meters, accommodating an estimated 60 wheeled armored vehicles, or 13 Leclerc tanks, plus associated munitions.

Built to commercial cruise ship standards, the Mistral Class currently carries very light defensive systems, consisting of 4 machine gun stations, a pair of 30mm guns, and a pair of manual Simbad twin-launchers for MBDA’s very short-range Mistral anti-aircraft missiles. Deployment in zones that feature anti-ship missiles, such as the 2006 evacuation off of Lebanon, requires protective escort ships.

 

[tomahawk6]

Sounds like a cheaper approach than the USN San Antonio class and more liveable to boot.

From Startegypage.

Mistral Magic
April 25, 2009: After the second of the new French Mistral class LHDs (amphibious assault ships), the Tonnerre, entered service two years ago, plans were made to build the third one using less expensive techniques, and more quickly. The French navy received the first (the Mistral) of these 21,500 ton ships in 2006. Both were ordered in 2001. These two ships replaced two older amphibious landing ships. This will give France a force of four amphibious ships. The two Mistrals are also equipped to serve as command vessels for amphibious operations. The French have been very happy with how the Mistrals have performed.

The Mistrals are similar in design to the U.S. LPD 17 (San Antonio) class. Both classes are about 620 feet long, but the LPD 17s displace 25,000 tons. The French ships are more highly automated, requiring a crew of only 180, versus 396 on the LPD 17. On long voyages on the open ocean, the Mistrals require as few as nine sailors and officers on duty ("standing watch") to keep the ship going.

The Mistrals carry 450 marines, compared to 700 on the LPD 17s. Both have about the same room for helicopters, landing craft and vehicles (2,650 square meters for the Mistrals, room for nearly a hundred trucks, or 60 armored vehicles). Both have hospitals on board, with the Mistrals being larger (69 beds). The American ships, however have more sensors installed, and larger engines (and thus higher speed.) The LPD 17 can also handle vertical takeoff jets like the Harrier or F-35. The French believe that the smaller complement of marines, who are very capable troops, are sufficient for most missions. And the smaller number of people on the ship makes it possible to provide better living and working conditions. This is good for morale and readiness.

One thing American marines and sailors notice about the Mistral is the wider and higher corridors. This came about because the ship designers surveyed marines and asked what ship design improvements they could use. It was noted that in older amphibious ships, the standard size (narrow) corridors were a problem when fully equipped troops were moving out. That, plus the smaller crew size, makes the Mistrals appear kind of empty, but very roomy. Another thing Americans notice is bars in the two recreation rooms. Unlike American ships, the French serve beer and wine on theirs. That, plus roomier living accommodations (made possible by the smaller ships crew and marine complement), make the Mistrals a lot more comfortable. The French ships can be rigged to accommodate up to 700 people for short periods, as when being used to evacuate civilians from a war zone.

Armament on both classes are defensive. The Mistrals each carry two short-range anti-aircraft missile launchers, two 30mm guns and four heavy machine-guns. The Mistrals can stay out 45 days at a time, unless replenished at sea, and each cost about $600 million. The first LPD 17 cost nearly two billion dollars, and U.S. admirals are after Congress to adopt some of the more efficient French procurement methods. The LPD 17s were ordered in 1996, and the first one entered service two years ago. The navy wants to buy a dozen of them, and get the unit price under a billion dollars.

The third and fourth Mistrals are being built using more commercial techniques, and are expected to cost closer to $500 million each.