Force d'Action Navale

The Force d'Action Navale (FAN) is the 12,000-man and about 100-ship strong backbone of the French Navy.

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The ships are divided into seven categories:

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• The aeronaval group, which has the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle for backbone
• The amphibious group, based around the "Projection and Command vessels" (Mistral class landing platform dock, Foudre and Ouragan class landing platform dock class ships)
• Frigates, which act either as protection for the strategic groups, or alone in monitoring, survey, presence, rescue or deterence missions
• Minesweepers
• "Sovereignty" ships, which are deployed overseas and act as presence and prevention forces
• Support vessels
• Public service ships, and hydrographic and oceanographic vessels
 
Force d'Action Navale: The aeronaval group ►