List of active French Navy ships
This is a list of active French Navy ships. The French Navy consists of nearly 100 vessels of the Force d'action navale (Naval action force) and the 9 submarines of the Forces sous-marines (Submarine force). Primary assets include one nuclear aircraft carrier, three amphibious assault ships, four air-defence-focused destroyers, six anti-submarine (ASW)/land attack mission-oriented destroyers, five general-purpose frigates, and six surveillance frigates. The Navy also operates some 15 patrol ships, supplemented by additional coast guard/Maritime Gendarmerie vessels. The surveillance frigates and a significant number of the patrol vessels are based in France's overseas territories.
The submarine force consists of five nuclear attack submarines and four nuclear ballistic missile submarines.
Integral to supporting the Force d'Action Navale at sea are the French Navy's 2 replenishment oilers, 16 mine countermeasure vessels and 8 support ships. In addition to the above units, the Navy operates five survey vessels, four experimentation ships, four ocean tugboats, 14 training vessels as well as numerous smaller vessels and tugs.
The main base for French naval forces in the Atlantic is located at Brest while the principal base in the Mediterranean is Toulon.
The French Navy does not use the term "destroyer" in vessel names. Instead, surface combatants of the first rank (such as the Aquitaine class) are named "frigates", though they are registered as destroyers (with hull numbers "Dxxx").
Submarine fleet (Forces sous-marines)
Nuclear ballistic missile submarines
Class | Boat | No. | Comm | Displacement | Type | Note |
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Triomphant class | Triomphant | S616 | 1997 | 14,335 tonnes | Ballistic missile submarine | Four boats constituting the strategic component of France's nuclear deterrent, the Force de dissuasion. |
Téméraire | S617 | 1999 | ||||
Vigilant | S618 | 2004 | ||||
Terrible | S619 | 2010 |
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Téméraire (Triomphant class)
Nuclear attack submarines
Class | Boat | No. | Comm | Displacement | Type | Note |
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Suffren class | Suffren | S635 | 2020 | 5,300 tonnes | Nuclear attack submarine | S636 working up to full operational status; six planned in total |
Duguay-Trouin | S636 | 2023 | ||||
Rubis class | Émeraude | S604 | 1988 | 2,660 tonnes | Being incrementally replaced by the Suffren class. | |
Améthyste | S605 | 1992 | ||||
Perle | S606 | 1993 |
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Perle (Rubis class)
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Suffren (Suffren class)
Surface fleet (Bâtiments de combat)
Aircraft carrier
Class | Ship | No. | Comm | Displacement | Type | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
— | Charles de Gaulle | R91 | 2001 | 42,500 tonnes | Aircraft carrier | Nuclear powered CATOBAR aircraft carrier |
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Charles de Gaulle
Amphibious warfare
Class | Ship | No. | Comm | Displacement | Type | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mistral class | Mistral | L9013 | 2006 | 21,500 tonnes | Amphibious assault ship | |
Tonnerre | L9014 | |||||
Dixmude | L9015 | 2012 |
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Dixmude (Mistral class)
Major surface combatants
The French Navy does not use the term "destroyer". While officially classed as "frigates", the larger major surface combatants of the first rank are nevertheless registered as destroyers (with hull numbers "Dxxx"; though, as of 2023, French Navy vessels are incrementally having hull numbers removed from display on all ships).
Class | Ship | No. | Comm | Displacement | Type | Note |
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Horizon class | Forbin | D620 | 2008 | 7,050 tonnes | Air-defence destroyer | |
Chevalier Paul | D621 | 2009 | ||||
Aquitaine class | Aquitaine | D650 | 2012 | 6,040 tonnes | Anti-submarine warfare (ASW)/land-attack mission destroyer | |
Normandie | D651 | 2020 | ||||
Provence | D652 | 2015 | ||||
Languedoc | D653 | 2017 | ||||
Auvergne | D654 | 2018 | ||||
Bretagne | D655 | 2019 | ||||
Alsace | D656 | 2021 | Air defence/ASW destroyer | |||
Lorraine | D657 | 2023 | ||||
Amiral Ronarc'h class | Amiral Ronarc'h | D660 | Projected 2024 | 4,500 tonnes | ASW destroyer | D660 fitting out as of mid-2023; five ships planned by 2035 |
La Fayette class | La Fayette | F710 | 1996 | 3,900 tonnes | General-purpose frigate | |
Surcouf | F711 | 1997 | ||||
Courbet | F712 | |||||
Aconit | F713 | 1999 | ||||
Guépratte | F714 | 2001 | ||||
Floréal class | Floréal | F730 | 1992 | 2,950 tonnes | Surveillance frigate | Class has anti-ship missiles removed and functions in a second-rank "surveillance frigate" role for French overseas territories. |
Prairial | F731 | 1992 | ||||
Nivôse | F732 | |||||
Ventôse | F733 | 1993 | ||||
Vendémiaire | F734 | |||||
Germinal | F735 | 1994 |
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Forbin (Horizon class)
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Auvergne (Aquitaine class)
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Illustration: Defence and intervention frigate - FDI (Amiral Ronarc'h class)
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Surcouf (La Fayette class)
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Germinal (Floréal class)
Patrol
Class | Ship | No. | Comm | Displacement | Type | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
— | L'Astrolabe | P800 | 2017 | 4,000 tonnes | Icebreaker/support vessel/offshore patrol | Based in Réunion; co-operated by the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) Administration and the French Navy. |
D'Entrecasteaux class | D'Entrecasteaux | A621 | 2016 | 2,300 tonnes | Offshore patrol/support vessel | Based in Noumea |
Bougainville | A622 | Based in Papeete | ||||
Champlain | A623 | 2017 | Based in Réunion | |||
Dumont d'Urville | A624 | 2020 | Based in Fort-de-France | |||
D'Estienne d'Orves class | Premier-Maître L'Her | F792 | 1981 | 1,250 tonnes | Offshore patrol vessel | Originally entered service as avisos (sloops / light corvettes), reclassified as OPVs in 2012. To be replaced from 2026 as part of the acquisition of a new class of patrol vessels (“Patrouilleurs Hauturiers” - PH). |
Commandant Blaison | F793 | 1982 | ||||
Enseigne de Vaisseau Jacoubet | F794 | |||||
Commandant Ducuing | F795 | 1983 | ||||
Commandant Birot | F796 | 1984 | ||||
Commandant Bouan | F797 | |||||
Confiance class | La Confiance | P733 | 2017 | 700 tonnes | Based in Guiana | |
La Résolue | P734 | |||||
La Combattante | P735 | 2020 | Based in Fort-de-France | |||
Félix Éboué class | Auguste Bénébig | P779 | 2023 | 1,300 tonnes | Based in Noumea; 5 additional vessels to enter service in 2024 and 2025 |
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L'Astrolabe
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D'Entrecasteaux (D'Entrecasteaux class)
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Commandant Bouan (D'Estienne d'Orves class)
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La Résolue (La Confiance class)
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Illustration: Patrouilleur Outre-mer - POM (Félix Éboué class)
Coastguard
Class | Boat | No. | Comm | Displacement | Type | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
— | Le Malin | P701 | 1997 | 1,300 tonnes | Coastal patrol vessel | An ex-trawler based in La Reunion. To be replaced by a Patrouilleur Outre-mer (POM)-class patrol vessel |
Lapérouse class | Arago | P675 | 1988 | 980 tonnes | An ex-hydrographic survey vessel. Extension of role in French Polynesia until 2024 pending arrival of POM-class OPVs. | |
— | Fulmar | P740 | 1991 | 550 tonnes | An ex-trawler based in Saint Pierre | |
Flamant class | Flamant | P676 | 1997 | 390 tonnes | Patrol boat | To be replaced from 2026 as part of the acquisition of new class of "PH" patrol vessels. |
Cormoran | P677 | |||||
Pluvier | P678 |
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Le Malin
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Arago (Lapérouse class)
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Fulmar
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Flamant (Flamant class)
Mine countermeasures
Class | Boat | No. | Comm | Displacement | Type | Note |
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Éridan class | Andromède | M643 | 1984 | 615 tonnes | Minehunter | To be replaced by Système de lutte anti-mines futur (SLAM-F) starting in 2023 |
Pégase | M644 | 1985 | ||||
Orion | M645 | 1986 | ||||
Croix du Sud | M646 | |||||
Aigle | M647 | 1987 | ||||
Lyre | M648 | |||||
Céphée | M652 | |||||
Capricorne | M653 | |||||
Sagittaire | M650 | 1996 | ||||
Vulcain class | Vulcain | M611 | 1986 | 490 tonnes | Clearance diving | To be replaced by SLAM-F |
Pluton | M622 | 1986 | ||||
Styx | M614 | 1987 | ||||
Achéron | A613 | |||||
Antarès class | Antarès | M770 | 1993 | 340 tonnes | Sonar towing vessel | To be replaced by SLAM-F |
Altaïr | M771 | |||||
Aldébaran | M772 | 1994 | ||||
Ophrys class | Ophrys | Y6040 | 2022 | 105 tonnes | Diving support vessel (VSP) | Part of SLAM-F program, total of eight units planned up to 2026. |
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Former Cassiopée (Éridan class)
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Achéron (Vulcain class)
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Antarès (Antarès class)
Auxiliary fleet
Replenishment
Class | Ship | No. | Comm | Displacement | Type | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jacques Chevallier class | Jacques Chevallier | A725 | Projected 2024 | 31,000 tonnes | Replenishment oiler | Delivered to the Navy in July 2023; continuing post-acceptance sea trials; two additional ships planned to enter service by 2027; fourth projected after 2030 |
Durance class | Marne | A630 | 1987 | 17,900 tonnes | Being replaced by Jacques Chevallier class | |
Somme | A631 | 1990 |
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Somme (Durance class)
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Illustration of the Jacques Chevallier class
Intelligence, research and experimentation
Class | Boat | No. | Comm | Displacement | Type | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
— | Monge | A601 | 1992 | 21,040 tonnes | Tracking ship | |
— | Dupuy de Lôme | A759 | 2006 | 3,600 tonnes | SIGINT | |
— | Alizé | A645 | 2005 | 1,600 tonnes | DGSE diving support | Also used to test new equipment and diving procedures |
Lapérouse class | Thétis | A785 | 1988 | 1,050 tonnes | Mine-warfare experimentation | To be replaced by SLAM-F |
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Monge
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Dupuy de Lôme
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Thétis (Lapérouse class)
Survey
Class | Boat | No. | Comm | Displacement | Type | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
— | Pourquoi Pas? | — | 2005 | 6,600 tonnes | Oceanographic survey | Operated by IFREMER (55%) and the French Navy (45%) with civilian crew. |
— | Beautemps-Beaupré | A758 | 2003 | 3,600 tonnes | ||
Lapérouse class | Lapérouse | A791 | 1988 | 980 tonnes | Hydrographic survey | To be replaced from 2025 to 2027 by 2 new hydro-oceanographic vessels. |
Borda | A792 | |||||
Laplace | A793 | 1989 |
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Pourquoi pas?
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Beautemps-Beaupré
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Laplace (Lapérouse class)
Ocean tugboats
Class | Boat | No. | Comm | Displacement | Type | Note |
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UT515 | Abeille Bourbon | - | 2005 | 4,600 tonnes | Oceangoing tug | Operated under charter |
Abeille Liberté | - | |||||
VS-491 CD | Abeille Normandie | - | 2010 | 3,978 tonnes | ||
Abeille Méditerrannée | - |
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Abeille Liberté
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Abeille Normandie
Port and coastal tugboats
Class | Ship | No. | Commissioned | Displacement | Type | Note |
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RPC12 class | Fréhel | A675 | 1989 | 220 tonnes | Harbour tugboat | |
Saire | A676 | |||||
Armen | A677 | 1991 | ||||
La Houssaye | A678 | 1992 | ||||
Kéréon | A679 | |||||
Sicié | A680 | 1994 | ||||
Taunoa | A681 | 1996 | ||||
Lardier | Y638 | 1995 | ||||
Giens | Y639 | 1994 | ||||
Mengam | Y640 | |||||
Balaguier | Y641 | 1995 | ||||
Taillat | Y642 | |||||
Nividic | Y643 | 1996 | ||||
Port Cros | Y649 | 1997 | ||||
Le Four | Y647 | 1998 | ||||
Eckmühl | Y646 | — | ||||
Rascas | A682 | 2003 | ||||
RPC30/RPC50 classes | Céladon | Y6051 | 2023 | 275 tonnes | Harbour tugboat | Program includes 5 RPC50 variants with longer range; 17 additional vessels planned; replacing RPC12 boats |
Zinzolin | A6652 | |||||
Turquin | TBD | |||||
Maito class | Maito | A636 | 1984 | 228 tonnes | Harbour tugboat | Maito based in Fort de France; Maroa and Manini in Pape'ete |
Maroa | A637 | 1985 | ||||
Manini | A638 | 1984 |
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Le Four (RPC 12 class)
Support
Class | Boat | No. | Comm | Displacement | Type | Note |
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— | Argonaute | — | — | ~4,000 tonnes | Support and pollution control | Operated under charter |
Jason | — | |||||
Pionnier | — | |||||
Sapeur | — | |||||
Loire class | Loire | A602 | 2018 | 2,960 tonnes | Offshore support and assistance | |
Rhône | A603 | 2019 | ||||
Seine | A604 | |||||
Garonne | A605 | 2020 |
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Jason
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Loire (Loire class)
Training
Class | Boat | No. | Comm | Displacement | Type | Note |
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UT712 class | Rebel | — | — | 2,900 tonnes | Training ship | Operated under charter |
UT745 class | Partisan | — | — | 2,340 tonnes | ||
Léopard class | Léopard | A748 | 1982 | 470 tonnes | ||
Panthère | A749 | |||||
Jaguar | A750 | |||||
Lynx | A751 | |||||
Guépard | A752 | 1983 | ||||
Chacal | A753 | |||||
Tigre | A754 | |||||
Lion | A755 | |||||
Glycine class | Glycine | A770 | 1992 | 295 tonnes | Navigation training | |
Églantine | A771 | |||||
Paimpolaise class | Étoile | A649 | 1932 | 275 tonnes | Sail training | Schooner |
Belle Poule | A650 |
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Partisan
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Rebel
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Guépard (Léopard class)
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Glycine (Glycine class)
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Belle Poule (Paimpolaise class)
For a complete list of Bâtiments de soutien (Auxiliaries) see Bâtiments de soutien at the official Marine Nationale website.
Silhouettes
Silhouettes of major fleet units:
Charles de Gaulle |
Mistral |
Tonnerre |
Dixmude |
Forbin |
Chevalier Paul |
Aquitaine |
Normandie |
Provence |
Languedoc |
Auvergne |
Bretagne |
Alsace |
Lorraine |
La Fayette |
Surcouf |
Courbet |
Aconit |
Guépratte |
Triomphant |
Téméraire |
Vigilant |
Terrible |
Suffren |
Duguay-Trouin |
Émeraude |
Améthyste |
Perle |