French Navy

The French Navy (Marine Nationale) is the naval arm of the French military and is the second-largest Western European navy (the largest being the United Kingdom's Royal Navy). It operates a full range of vessels, from patrol boats to guided missile frigates, one nuclear aircraft carrier and four strategic missile submarines (SNLEs).

Related Topics:
French military - Western European - Navy - United Kingdom - Royal Navy - Aircraft carrier - SNLE

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The current Navy aircraft carrier is named Charles de Gaulle (Normally, the French Navy operates two carriers, but only one of the latest generation has been built yet).

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The Navy is organised in five branches:

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• The "Force d'Action Navale" ("Naval Action Force"), surface fleet
• The "Forces Sous-marines" ("Submarine forces"), stategic nuclear deterrent fleet
• The "Aviation Navale" ("Naval air force"), ground and sea-based planes and helicopters
• The "Fusiliers de Marine" ("Naval fusiliers", ground forces, used to secure naval installations) and "Commandos de Marine" (amphibious assault and other special operations), collectively known as FORFUSCO.
• The "Gendarmerie Navale", police operations and coast guard

Note that the Troupes de Marine ("Naval Troops"), organised in Régiments d'Infanterie de Marine (the famous elite RIMa) are the modern name of the Troupes Coloniales ("Colonial Troops"), and are not part of the Navy, but of the Army.

Related Topics:
Troupes de Marine - Army

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French Navy: History ►