Yesterday, two ships from the French National Navy arrived at Dock E of the port of Buenos Aires. The helicopter carrier Tonnerre and the frigate Guépratte, which were the highlights of the day, arrived as part of the Jeanne d’Arc (JDA) 2024 mission initiated in February of this year.
The mission has multiple purposes to be achieved over its stipulated 6-month duration. Primarily, the mission serves as the final step in the training of French cadets at the Naval Officers Application School (EAOM), whose tradition dates back 160 years since its establishment in 1864. Additionally, JDA 2024 has operational objectives regarding the execution of amphibious exercises, as was the case in Brazil in the previous days, and the promotion of bilateral relations with the nations it will visit, including Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Haiti, and the United States.
In particular, the cadets’ training in the JDA 2024 mission aims to complete a training process initiated in France that has been ongoing for more than 2 and a half years, previously conducted aboard the decommissioned helicopter carrier Jeanne D’Arc (hence the name of the mission itself) until 2010. These future officers will be divided into two groups based on their respective career specializations, namely, the “operations” group and the “energy” group. As for their evaluation, the crews of the helicopter carrier Tonnerre and the frigate Guépratte will be responsible for testing the cadets, while instructors from the Naval Officers Application School will observe their development.
Regarding the ships participating in the Jeanne d’Arc 2024 mission:
– The LHD Tonnerre is a helicopter carrier launched in 2007, displacing 21,500 tons and measuring approximately 199 meters in length by 39 meters in beam. It is capable of reaching speeds of up to 19 knots, with a range of 11,000 nautical miles at a speed of 15 knots. It requires a crew of 220 sailors, but can accommodate up to 450, and has a space of 850 m2 to accommodate a staff of over 200 people. Regarding its helicopter carrying capacity, the Tonnerre can carry up to 16 Caiman or Tiger-class helicopters, along with a cargo bay for up to 80 armored vehicles and barges as required. Finally, it boasts advanced medical facilities including 2 operating rooms, x-ray rooms, dental offices, and space for 60 conventional beds.
– The multi-purpose frigate Guépratte, of the La Fayette class (with four other ships stationed in the port of Toulon), was commissioned in 2001. It has dimensions of 124 meters in length by 15 meters in beam, accommodating up to 150 sailors and 12 members of its aviation detachment, with a total displacement of 3,900 tons. Regarding its maximum speed, the ship is capable of reaching speeds of up to 25 knots, with a range of 5,000 nautical miles at 12 knots. As for its role during the JDA 2024 mission, the Guépratte is specifically tasked with acting as the escort of the Tonnerre helicopter carrier.
Detachments participating in the mission:
– Embarked Combat Group of the RICM: Comprising 120 soldiers from the French Army and sailors from the Tonnerre LHD. They have 40 amphibious vehicles, including various types of armored vehicles (VAB, VBL, and Griffons), trucks (GBC), and engineering vehicles (EGAME, EGRAP, and D6).
– Amphibious Flotilla (FLOPHIB): This detachment consists of 1 amphibious fast landing craft (EDA-R) and 2 supply transport barges (CTM).
– Aeromobile Subgroup (S/GAM): Comprising 2 Gazelle helicopters from the 1st Combat Helicopter Regiment of the French Army’s Light Aviation.
– The Dauphin helicopter of the 34F flotilla: Consisting of a group of 12 sailors aboard the Guépratte frigate who operate the aforementioned aircraft.
Finally, it is worth noting that the JDA 2024 mission is led by the two commanders of the ships involved: Adrién Schaar, Captain of the Tonnerre helicopter carrier, a mine warfare specialist who has served aboard other vessels such as the minesweepers Andromeda and Céphée, and the amphibious ship Le Grandiére, with experience in the Jeanne d’Arc exercise conducted in 2022. Commanding the Guépratte frigate is Captain de Frégate Pierre Montanié, an anti-submarine warfare specialist, with previous assignments aboard the frigates De Grasse, Courbet, and Aquitaine (the latter commanding the anti-submarine warfare service).
*Cover photograph used for illustrative purposes – credits to the French National Navy.
You may also like: The navies of Brazil and France deployed their multipurpose ships NAM Atlântico and Tonnerre in amphibious operations during Operation “Jeanne d’Arc 2024”
