By Robert C. O'Brien
Instead of selling Russia two Mistral-class warships, France should sell them to the U.S. Navy.
France should have cancelled its sale of sophisticated amphibious warships to Russia when Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine and annexed the Crimea in March. The shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 by Russian proxies in Ukraine on Thursday now mandates such action by Paris. American political and economic leadership has a role to play in the matter.
Americans of this generation rarely credit French military prowess. They instead tend to associate France with its “old Europe” opposition to the Second Gulf War or its surrenders at Deim Bein Phu or in the rail car at Compiegne in 1940. For Teddy Roosevelt and the rest of the world with a longer historical memory, however, “the brilliant gallantry of the French soldier has for many centuries been proverbial.” Vercingetorix, Charles Martel, Joan of Arc, Napoleon and Charles de Gaulle, are, to name but a few, French military heroes who have changed history.
The sophistication of French armaments is equal to the valor of its soldiers. Dassault’s Rafale is one of the most dangerous fighter jets in the world. The Mirage fighter jet is legendary. A handful of French Exocet anti-ship missiles almost turned the Falklands conflict in Argentina’s favor. The Charles de Gaulle is the only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier outside of the United States Navy. France will commission a new generation of Suffren-class nuclear attack submarines in 2017.
One of France’s most important but least known naval platforms is the 21,300 ton Mistral-class amphibious assault ship (LHD). These helicopter carriers have a 69,000 square foot flat top deck with six helicopter landing spots. Their massive hanger is large enough to hold 16 helicopters, which access the flight deck via heavy lift elevators. The ships’ size allows them to operate with up to 30 embarked helicopters. In addition, their vehicle hangers can accommodate 40 main battle tanks, and they provide quarters for up to 500 soldiers or marines. The troops can be transported to shore by helicopter or by amphibious catamarans housed in the ships’ well dock. Amphibious operations are controlled from a nearly-10,000 square foot command center fit for 150 officers and staff. The ships carry a medical facility equivalent to a hospital for a 25,000 inhabitant city with a complex surgery center.
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