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The French Navy (french: Marine nationale, lit=National Navy), informally , is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the five military service branches of
France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
. It is among the largest and most powerful naval forces in the world, ranking seventh in combined fleet tonnage and fifth in number of naval vessels. The French Navy is one of eight naval forces currently operating
fixed-wing A fixed-wing aircraft is a heavier-than-air flying machine, such as an airplane, which is capable of flight using wings that generate lift caused by the aircraft's forward airspeed and the shape of the wings. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct ...
aircraft carrier An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and facilities for carrying, arming, deploying, and recovering aircraft. Typically, it is the capital ship of a fleet, as it allows a ...
s,Along with the
U.S. The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
,
U.K. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
,
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
,
Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
,
Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...
,
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
and
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...
with its flagship being the only
nuclear-powered Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions to produce electricity. Nuclear power can be obtained from nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion reactions. Presently, the vast majority of electricity from nuclear power is produced b ...
aircraft carrier outside the
United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
, and one of two non-American vessels to use
catapults A catapult is a ballistic device used to launch a projectile a great distance without the aid of gunpowder or other propellants – particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. A catapult uses the sudden release of store ...
to launch aircraft. Founded in the 17th century, the French Navy is one of the oldest navies still in continual service, with precursors dating back to the
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
. It has taken part in key events in French history, including the Napoleonic Wars and both world wars, and played a critical role in establishing and securing the French colonial empire for over 400 years. The French Navy pioneered several innovations in naval technology, including the first steam-powered ship of the line, first seagoing
ironclad warship An ironclad is a steam-propelled warship protected by iron or steel armor plates, constructed from 1859 to the early 1890s. The ironclad was developed as a result of the vulnerability of wooden warships to explosive or incendiary shells. Th ...
, first mechanically propelled
submarine A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...
, first steel-hulled warship, and first armoured cruiser. The French Navy consists of six main components: the
Naval Action Force The ''Force d'action navale'' (FAN, Naval Action Force) is the 9,600-man and about 100-ship force of surface warships of the French Navy. As of 2018, it is commanded by Vice-Amiral d’Escadre Jean-Philippe Rolland. The ships are divided into se ...
, the Submarine Forces ( FOST and
ESNA Esna ( ar, إسنا  , egy, jwny.t or ; cop, or ''Snē'' from ''tꜣ-snt''; grc-koi, Λατόπολις ''Latópolis'' or (''Pólis Látōn'') or (''Lattōn''); Latin: ''Lato''), is a city of Egypt. It is located on the west bank of ...
),
French Naval Aviation French Naval Aviation (often abbreviated in French to: ''Aéronavale'' (contraction of Aéronautique navale), or ''Aviation navale'', or more simply ''l'Aéro'') is the naval air arm of the French Navy. The long-form official designation is ' ...
, the Navy Riflemen (including Naval Commandos), the
Marseille Naval Fire Battalion The Marseille Naval Fire Battalion (french: Bataillon de marins-pompiers de Marseille, or ''BMPM''), is the fire and rescue service for the city of Marseille. The battalion is a branch of the French Navy (french: Marine nationale), and consists o ...
, and the
Maritime Gendarmerie The Maritime Gendarmerie (french: Gendarmerie maritime) is a component of the French National Gendarmerie under operational control of the chief of staff of the French Navy. It employs 1,157 personnel and operates around thirty patrol boats and h ...
. As of 2021, the French Navy employed 44,000 personnel (37,000 military and 7,000 civilian), more than 180 ships, 200 aircraft, and six commandos units; as of 2014, its reserve element numbered roughly 48,000. As a blue-water navy, the French Navy is capable of operating globally and conducting expeditionary missions, maintaining a significant overseas presence. It operates a wide range of fighting vessels, including various aeronaval forces, attack and
ballistic missile A ballistic missile is a type of missile that uses projectile motion to deliver warheads on a target. These weapons are guided only during relatively brief periods—most of the flight is unpowered. Short-range ballistic missiles stay within the ...
submarines, frigates,
patrol boat A patrol boat (also referred to as a patrol craft, patrol ship, or patrol vessel) is a relatively small naval vessel generally designed for coastal defence, border security, or law enforcement. There are many designs for patrol boats, and the ...
s and support ships, with aircraft carrier ''Charles de Gaulle'' serving as the centerpiece of most expeditionary forces.


Origins

The history of French naval power dates back to the
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
, and had three loci of evolution: * The
Mediterranean Sea The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ea ...
, where the '' Ordre de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem'' had its own navy, the Levant Fleet, whose principal ports were Fréjus,
Marseille Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Fra ...
, and
Toulon Toulon (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Tolon , , ) is a city on the French Riviera and a large port on the Mediterranean coast, with a major naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, and the Provence province, Toulon is th ...
. The ''Ordre'', which was both a religious and military order, recruited knights from the families of
French nobility The French nobility (french: la noblesse française) was a privileged social class in France from the Middle Ages until its abolition on June 23, 1790 during the French Revolution. From 1808 to 1815 during the First Empire the Emperor Napol ...
. Members who had fulfilled their service at sea were granted the rank of
Knights Hospitaller The Order of Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem ( la, Ordo Fratrum Hospitalis Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani), commonly known as the Knights Hospitaller (), was a medieval and early modern Catholic military order. It was headq ...
, elites who served as the officer corps. The ''Ordre'' was one of the ancestors of modern French naval schools including the
French Naval Academy French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
. * The
Manche Manche (, ) is a coastal French département in Normandy, on the English Channel, which is known as ''La Manche'', literally "the sleeve", in French. It had a population of 495,045 in 2019.Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...
which, since
William the Conqueror William I; ang, WillelmI (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), usually known as William the Conqueror and sometimes William the Bastard, was the first House of Normandy, Norman List of English monarchs#House of Norman ...
, always tendered capable
marines Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...
and
sailors A sailor, seaman, mariner, or seafarer is a person who works aboard a watercraft as part of its crew, and may work in any one of a number of different fields that are related to the operation and maintenance of a ship. The profession of the s ...
from its numerous active seaports. * The
Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...
, where the navy of the
Duchy of Brittany The Duchy of Brittany ( br, Dugelezh Breizh, ; french: Duché de Bretagne) was a medieval feudal state that existed between approximately 939 and 1547. Its territory covered the northwestern peninsula of Europe, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean t ...
eventually constituted the nucleus of the royal ''
Flotte du Ponant The ''Flotte du Ponant'' was the designation under the Ancien Regime for the naval vessels of the Royal French Navy in the English Channel, Atlantic Ocean and Americas, the latter principally in the French West Indies and New France. The fleet ca ...
,'' which projected French naval power across the Atlantic and the Americas.


Names and symbols

The first true French Royal Navy (french: la Marine Royale) was established in 1624 by Cardinal Richelieu, chief minister to
King Louis XIII Louis XIII (; sometimes called the Just; 27 September 1601 – 14 May 1643) was King of France from 1610 until his death in 1643 and King of Navarre (as Louis II) from 1610 to 1620, when the crown of Navarre was merged with the French crown ...
. During the
French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...
, was formally renamed . Under the
First French Empire The First French Empire, officially the French Republic, then the French Empire (; Latin: ) after 1809, also known as Napoleonic France, was the empire ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte, who established French hegemony over much of continental Eu ...
and the
Second French Empire The Second French Empire (; officially the French Empire, ), was the 18-year Imperial Bonapartist regime of Napoleon III from 14 January 1852 to 27 October 1870, between the Second and the Third Republic of France. Historians in the 1930 ...
, the navy was designated as the Imperial French Navy (). Institutionally, however, the navy has never lost its short familiar nickname, . The original symbol of the French Navy was a golden
anchor An anchor is a device, normally made of metal , used to secure a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the craft from drifting due to wind or current. The word derives from Latin ''ancora'', which itself comes from the Greek ἄ ...
, which, beginning in 1830, was interlaced by a sailing rope; this symbol was featured on all naval vessels, arms, and uniforms. Although anchor symbols are still used on uniforms, a new naval logo was introduced in 1990 under Naval Chief of Staff Bernard Louzeau, featuring a modern design that incorporates the
tricolour A tricolour () or tricolor () is a type of flag or banner design with a triband design which originated in the 16th century as a symbol of republicanism, liberty, or revolution. The flags of France, Italy, Romania, Mexico, and Ireland were ...
—by flanking the bow section of a white warship with two ascending red and blue spray foams—and the inscription "".


History


17th century

Cardinal Richelieu personally supervised the Navy until his death in 1643. He was succeeded by his protégé,
Jean Baptiste Colbert Jean-Baptiste Colbert (; 29 August 1619 – 6 September 1683) was a French statesman who served as First Minister of State from 1661 until his death in 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV. His lasting impact on the organization of the countr ...
, who introduced the first code of regulations of the French Navy and established the original naval dockyards in
Brest Brest may refer to: Places *Brest, Belarus **Brest Region **Brest Airport **Brest Fortress * Brest, Kyustendil Province, Bulgaria * Břest, Czech Republic *Brest, France ** Arrondissement of Brest **Brest Bretagne Airport ** Château de Brest *Br ...
and
Toulon Toulon (, , ; oc, label= Provençal, Tolon , , ) is a city on the French Riviera and a large port on the Mediterranean coast, with a major naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, and the Provence province, Toulon is th ...
. Colbert and his son, the Marquis de Seignelay, between them administered the Navy for twenty-nine years. During this century, the Navy cut its teeth in the
Anglo-French War (1627–1629) The Anglo-French War () was a military conflict fought between the Kingdom of France and the Kingdom of England between 1627 and 1629. It mainly involved actions at sea.''Warfare at sea, 1500-1650: maritime conflicts and the transformation of E ...
, the
Franco-Spanish War (1635–59) Franco-Spanish War may refer to any war between France and Spain, including: {{disambig France–Spain military relations ...
, the
Second Anglo-Dutch War The Second Anglo-Dutch War or the Second Dutch War (4 March 1665 – 31 July 1667; nl, Tweede Engelse Oorlog "Second English War") was a conflict between England and the Dutch Republic partly for control over the seas and trade routes, whe ...
, the
Franco-Dutch War The Franco-Dutch War, also known as the Dutch War (french: Guerre de Hollande; nl, Hollandse Oorlog), was fought between France and the Dutch Republic, supported by its allies the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, Brandenburg-Prussia and Denmark-Nor ...
, and the Nine Years' War. Major battles in these years include the
Battle of Augusta The Battle of Augusta, also known as the Battle of Agosta and the Battle of Etna, took place on 22 April 1676 during the Franco-Dutch War and was fought between a French fleet of 29 men-of-war, five frigates and eight fireships under Abraham Du ...
, Battle of Beachy Head, the
Battles of Barfleur and La Hougue The Battles of Barfleur and La Hougue took place during the Nine Years' War, between 19 May O.S. (29 May N.S.) and 4 June O.S. (14 June N.S.) 1692. The first was fought near Barfleur on 19 May O.S. (29 May N.S.), with later actions occurring ...
, the
Battle of Lagos The naval Battle of Lagos took place between a British fleet commanded by Sir Edward Boscawen and a French fleet under Jean-François de La Clue-Sabran over two days in 1759 during the Seven Years' War. They fought south west of the Gulf of C ...
, and the
Battle of Texel The naval Battle of Texel or Battle of Kijkduin took place off the southern coast of island of Texel on 21 August 1673 (11 August O.S.) between the Dutch and the combined English and French fleets. It was the last major battle of the Third A ...
.


18th century

The 1700s opened with the
War of the Spanish Succession The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict that took place from 1701 to 1714. The death of childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700 led to a struggle for control of the Spanish Empire between his heirs, Phil ...
, over a decade long, followed by the
War of the Austrian Succession The War of the Austrian Succession () was a European conflict that took place between 1740 and 1748. Fought primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic and Mediterranean, related conflicts included King George's ...
in the 1740s. Principal engagements of these wars include the Battle of Vigo Bay and two separate Battles of Cape Finisterre in 1747. The most grueling conflict for the Navy, however, was the
Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (175 ...
, in which it was virtually destroyed. Significant actions include the Battle of Cap-Français, the
Battle of Quiberon Bay The Battle of Quiberon Bay (known as ''Bataille des Cardinaux'' in French) was a decisive naval engagement during the Seven Years' War. It was fought on 20 November 1759 between the Royal Navy and the French Navy in Quiberon Bay, off the coast ...
, and another Battle of Cape Finisterre. The Navy regrouped and rebuilt, and within 15 years it was eager to join the fray when France intervened in the
American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
. Though outnumbered everywhere, the French fleets held the British at bay for years until victory. After this conflict and the concomitant
Anglo-French War (1778–1783) The Anglo-French War, also known as the War of 1778 or the Bourbon War in Britain, was a military conflict fought between France and Great Britain, sometimes with their respective allies, between 1778 and 1783. As a consequence, Great Britain wa ...
, the Navy emerged at a new height in its history. Major battles in these years include the
Battle of the Chesapeake The Battle of the Chesapeake, also known as the Battle of the Virginia Capes or simply the Battle of the Capes, was a crucial naval battle in the American Revolutionary War that took place near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay on 5 September 17 ...
, the
Battle of Cape Henry The Battle of Cape Henry was a naval battle in the American War of Independence which took place near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay on 16 March 1781 between a British squadron led by Vice Admiral Mariot Arbuthnot and a French fleet under Admiral ...
, the
Battle of Grenada The Battle of Grenada took place on 6 July 1779 during the American Revolutionary War in the West Indies between the British Royal Navy and the French Navy, just off the coast of Grenada. The British fleet of Admiral John Byron (the grandfath ...
, the invasion of Dominica, and three separate Battles of Ushant. Within less than a decade, however, the Navy was decimated by the
French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...
when large numbers of veteran officers were dismissed or executed for their noble lineage. Nonetheless, the Navy fought vigorously through the
French Revolutionary Wars The French Revolutionary Wars (french: Guerres de la Révolution française) were a series of sweeping military conflicts lasting from 1792 until 1802 and resulting from the French Revolution. They pitted France against Britain, Austria, Prussia ...
as well as the
Quasi-War The Quasi-War (french: Quasi-guerre) was an undeclared naval war fought from 1798 to 1800 between the United States and the French First Republic, primarily in the Caribbean and off the East Coast of the United States. The ability of Congress ...
. Significant actions include a fourth Battle of Ushant (known in English as the
Glorious First of June The Glorious First of June (1 June 1794), also known as the Fourth Battle of Ushant, (known in France as the or ) was the first and largest fleet action of the naval conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and the First French Republic ...
), the
Battle of Groix The Battle of Groix was a large naval engagement which took place near the island of Groix off the Biscay coast of Brittany on 23 June 1795 ( 5 messidor an III) during the French Revolutionary Wars. The battle was fought between elements of the ...
, the
Atlantic campaign of May 1794 The Atlantic campaign of May 1794 was a series of operations conducted by the British Royal Navy's Channel Fleet against the French Navy's Atlantic Fleet, with the aim of preventing the passage of a strategically important French grain convoy t ...
, the French expedition to Ireland, the Battle of Tory Island, and the Battle of the Nile.


19th century

Other engagements of the Revolutionary Wars ensued in the early 1800s, including the Battle of the Malta Convoy and the Algeciras Campaign. The Quasi-War wound down with single-ship actions including USS ''Constellation'' vs ''La Vengeance'' and USS ''Enterprise'' vs ''Flambeau''. When
Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...
was crowned Emperor in 1804, he attempted to restore the Navy to a position that would enable his plan for an invasion of England. His dreams were dashed by the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, where the British all but annihilated a combined Franco-Spanish fleet, a disaster that guaranteed British naval superiority throughout the Napoleonic Wars. Still, the Navy did not shrink from action: among the engagements of this time were the Battle of the Basque Roads, the Battle of Grand Port, the Mauritius campaign of 1809–11, and the Battle of Lissa (1811), Battle of Lissa. After Napoleon's fall in 1815, the long era of Anglo-French rivalry on the seas began to close, and the Navy became more of an instrument for expanding the French colonial empire. Under King Charles X, the two nations' fleets fought side by side in the Battle of Navarino, and throughout the rest of the century they generally behaved in a manner that paved the way for the Entente Cordiale. Charles X sent a large fleet to execute the invasion of Algiers in 1830. The next year, his successor, Louis Philippe I, made a show of force against Portugal at the Battle of the Tagus, and in 1838 conducted another display of gunboat diplomacy, this time in Mexico at the Battle of Veracruz (1838), Battle of Veracruz. Beginning in 1845, a five-year Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata was imposed on Argentina over trade rights. The Emperor Napoleon III was determined to follow an even stronger foreign policy than his predecessors, and the Navy was involved in a multitude of actions around the world. He joined in the Crimean War in 1854; major actions for the Navy include the siege of Petropavlovsk and the Battle of Kinburn (1855), Battle of Kinburn. The Navy was heavily involved in the Cochinchina Campaign in 1858, the Second Opium War in China, and the Second French intervention in Mexico, French intervention in Mexico. It took part in the French Campaign against Korea, 1866, French campaign against Korea, and fought Japan in the bombardment of Shimonoseki. In the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, the Navy imposed an effective blockade of Germany, but events on land proceeded at such a rapid pace that it was superfluous. Isolated engagements between French and German ships took place in other theaters, but the war was over in a matter of weeks. The Navy continued to protect colonial safety and expansion under the French Third Republic. The Sino-French War saw considerable naval action including the Battle of Fuzhou, the Battle of Shipu, and the Pescadores campaign (1885), Pescadores Campaign. In Vietnam, the Navy helped wage the Tonkin Campaign which included the Battle of Thuận An, and it later participated in the Franco-Siamese War of 1893. The 19th century French Navy brought forth numerous new technologies. It led the development of naval artillery with its invention of the highly effective Paixhans gun. In 1850, became the first steam-powered ship of the line in history, and became the first seagoing
ironclad warship An ironclad is a steam-propelled warship protected by iron or steel armor plates, constructed from 1859 to the early 1890s. The ironclad was developed as a result of the vulnerability of wooden warships to explosive or incendiary shells. Th ...
nine years later. In 1863, the Navy launched , the first
submarine A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...
in the world to be propelled by mechanical power. In 1876, became the first steel-hulled warship ever. In 1887, became the world's first armoured cruiser. During the latter part of the century, French officers developed the so-called ''Jeune École'' (Young School) theory that emphasized the use of small, cheap torpedo boats to destroy expensive battleships, coupled with long-range commerce raiders to attack an opponent's merchant fleet.


20th century

The first seaplane, the French Fabre Hydravion, was flown in 1910, and the first seaplane carrier, , was christened in the following year. Despite that innovation, the general development of the French Navy slowed down in the beginning of the 20th century as the naval arms race between Germany and Great Britain grew in intensity. It entered World War I with relatively few modern vessels, and during the war few warships were built because the main French effort was on land. While the British held control of the North Sea, the French held the Mediterranean, where they mostly kept watch on the Austro-Hungarian Navy. The largest operations of the Navy were conducted during the Naval operations in the Dardanelles Campaign, Dardanelles Campaign. In December 1916, during the Noemvriana events, French warships also bombarded Athens, trying to force the pro-German government of Greece to change its policies. The French Navy also played an important role in countering Germany's U-boat Campaign (World War I), U-boat campaign by regularly patrolling the seas and escorting convoys. Between the World Wars, the Navy modernized and expanded significantly, even in the face of limitations set by the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty. New additions included the heavy and fast "super-destroyers", the battleships, and the submarine which was the largest and most powerful of its day. From the start of World War II, the Navy was involved in a number of operations, participating in the Battle of the Atlantic, the Norwegian Campaign, the Dunkirk evacuation and, briefly, the Battle of the Mediterranean. However, after the fall of France in June 1940, the Navy was obligated to remain neutral under the terms of the armistice that created the truncated state of Vichy France. Worldwide, some 100 naval vessels and their crews heeded General Charles de Gaulle's call to join forces with the British, but the bulk of the fleet, including all its capital ships, transferred loyalty to Vichy. Concerned that the Kriegsmarine, German Navy might somehow gain control of the ships, the British mounted an attack on Mers-el-Kébir, the Algerian city where many of them were harbored. The incident poisoned Anglo-French relations, leading to Vichy reprisals and a full-scale Naval Battle of Casablanca, naval battle at Casablanca in 1942 when the Allies invaded French North Africa. But the confrontations were set aside once the Germans Case Anton, occupied Vichy France. The capital ships were a primary goal of the occupation, but before they could be seized they were Scuttling of the French fleet in Toulon, scuttled by their own crews. A few small ships and submarines managed to escape in time, and these joined de Gaulle's Free French Naval Forces, an arm of Free France that fought as an adjunct of the Royal Navy until the end of the war. In the Pacific War, Pacific theatre as well, Free French vessels operated until the Japanese capitulation; was present at the Japanese Instrument of Surrender. The Navy later provided fire support and troop transport in the Indochina War, the Algerian War, the Gulf War, and the Kosovo War.


21st century

Since 2000, the Navy has given logistical support to the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) as well as the global War on Terror. In 2011, it assisted Opération Harmattan in Libya.


Organisation

The chief of the naval staff is Vice-admiral d’escadre Arnaud de Tarlé, and as of 2014 the Navy has an active strength of 36,776 military personnel and 2,909 civilian staff. The Navy is organised into four main operational branches: * The Force d'Action Navale (Naval Action Force) – Surface fleet. * The Forces Sous-marines (Submarine forces) – Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines and fleet submarines. * The Aviation Navale (Naval air force) – Ground and sea-based aircraft. * The Fusiliers Marins (Naval riflemen) – Protection force and infantry including the Navy special forces (Commandos Marine). In addition, the National Gendarmerie of France maintain a maritime force of patrol boats that falls under the operational command of the French Navy: * The Gendarmerie maritime – The coast guard of France. During most of the Cold War, the Navy was organised in two squadrons based in Brest and Toulon, commanded by ALESCLANT (''Amiral commandant l'escadre de l'Atlantique'') and ALESCMED (''Amiral commandant l'escadre de la Méditerranée'') respectively. Since the post-Cold War restructuring process named Optimar '95, the two components have been divided into the Naval Action Force (commanded by ALFAN) and the Antisubmarine Group (commanded by ALGASM).


Main naval bases

As of 2014, the largest French naval base is the military port of Toulon. Other major bases in metropolitan France are the Brest Arsenal and Île Longue on the Atlantic, and Cherbourg Naval Base on the English Channel. Overseas French bases include Fort Saint Louis (Martinique), Fort de France and Degrad des Cannes in the Americas; Port des Galets and Dzaoudzi in the Indian Ocean; and Nouméa and Papeete in the Pacific. In addition, the navy shares or leases bases in foreign locales such as Abu Dhabi, Dakar and Djibouti (city), Djibouti.


Equipment


Ships and submarines

Although French naval doctrine calls for two
aircraft carrier An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and facilities for carrying, arming, deploying, and recovering aircraft. Typically, it is the capital ship of a fleet, as it allows a ...
s, the French only have one, . Originally a planned order for French aircraft carrier PA2 was based on the design of the British recently constructed and launched for the British Royal Navy. However, the French programme had been delayed several times for budgetary reasons and the result was priority being given to the more exportable FREMM project. In April 2013 it was confirmed that the second aircraft carrier project would be abandoned due to defence cuts announced in the 2013 French White Paper on Defence and National Security. The French Navy operates three amphibious assault ships, ten air defence and/or anti-submarine frigates, five general purpose frigates and has a commitment to six SSN (hull classification symbol), fleet submarines (SSNs). This constitutes the French Navy's main ocean-going war-fighting force. In addition the French Navy operates six light surveillance frigates and, as of 2020, six avisos (originally light corvettes now reclassified as patrol vessels). They undertake the navy's offshore patrol duties, the protection of French naval bases and territorial waters, and can also provide low-end escort capabilities to any oceangoing task force. The four ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) of the navy's Force océanique stratégique, Strategic Oceanic Force provide the backbone of the French nuclear deterrent.


Aircraft

The French Naval Aviation is officially known as the ''Aéronautique navale'' and was created on the 19 June 1998 with the merging of Naval patrol aircraft and aircraft carrier squadrons. It has a strength of around 6,800 civilian and military personnel operating from four airbases in Metropolitan France. The Aéronavale has been modernized with 40 Dassault Rafale, Rafale fighters which operate from the aircraft carrier ''Charles de Gaulle''.


Personnel


Application requirement


Seamen

Seamen must be at least 17 but no more than 30 years old, with no minimum level of schooling.


Petty Officers

Petty officers must be at least 17 but no more than 30 years old, with at least a high school diploma giving access to university studies. Petty Officer Candidate begin training with five months at the Petty Officer School of Maistrance at
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.


Contract officers

Contract officers serve on an initial eight-year contract, renewable up to 20 years. * Operational officers must be 21 to 26 years old, with at least a Bachelor of Science degree, or having passed a classe préparatoire aux grandes écoles in engineering or business. * Staff officers have to be 21 to 29 years old, with an honors degree or master's degree in a field corresponding to the military occupational specialty.


Career officers

* Less than 22 years old, having passed a ''classe préparatoire'' in science. After four years at the École Navale (naval academy) a cadet will graduate as a commissioned Ranks in the French Navy#Officers, Enseigne de Vaisseau with an engineering degree. * Less than 25 years old, having an honors degree in science. After three years at the naval academy a cadet will graduate as Enseigne de Vaisseau with an engineering degree. * Less than 27 years old, having a master's degree. After two years at the naval academy a cadet will graduate as an Enseigne de Vaisseau.


Customs and traditions


Ranks

The Military rank, rank insignia of the French Navy are worn on shoulder straps of shirts and white jackets, and on sleeves for navy jackets and mantels. Until 2005, only Officer (armed forces), commissioned officers had an anchor on their insignia, but enlisted personnel are now receiving them as well. Commanding officers have titles of ''capitaine'', but are called ''commandant'' (in the army, both ''capitaine'' and ''commandant'' are ranks, which tends to stir some confusion among the public). The two highest ranks, ''vice-amiral d'escadre'' and ''amiral'' (admiral), are functions, rather than ranks. They are assumed by officers ranking ''vice-amiral'' (vice admiral). The only ''amiral de la flotte'' (Admiral of the Fleet) was François Darlan after he was refused the dignity of ''amiral de France'' (Admiral of France). Equivalent to the dignity of Marshal of France, the rank of ''amiral de France'' remains theoretical in the French Fifth Republic, Fifth Republic; it was last granted in 1869, during the Second French Empire, Second Empire, but retained during the French Third Republic, Third Republic until the death of its bearer in 1873. The title of ''amiral de la flotte'' was created so that Darlan would not have an inferior rank than his counterpart in the British Royal Navy, who had the rank of Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy), Admiral of the Fleet.


Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.


Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and Enlisted rank, enlisted personnel.


Addressing officers

Unlike in the French Army and French Air and Space Force, air and space force, one does not prepend ''mon'' to the name of the rank when addressing an officer (that is, not ''mon capitaine,'' but simply ''capitaine'').


Uniforms

File:Jean-Bart seaman Bastille Day 2008.jpg, Winter Uniform (22) File:Charles-de-Gaulle seaman Bastille Day 2008.jpg, Summer Uniform (26) File:Matelot.jpg, Overseas (25) File:Quartier maitre.jpg, Light Duty Firefighter Suit File:Commémoration de l'Appel du 18 Juin 1940 Saint Hélier Jersey 18 juin 2013 11.jpg, Maritime Gendarmerie, Gendarmerie Maritime personnel


Military music

The main military musical unit of the French Navy is the Military Band of the
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Fleet (french: La musique des équipages de la flotte de Toulon), founded on 13 July 1827. The Bagad Lann Bihoue, based on the bagad bands in Brittany, Bretagne, is currently the sole pipe band in the service of the French Navy, which uses bagpipes and Bombard (music), bombards, and thus is affiliated to the band. In Canada, French naval music has affected the traditions of Navy bands in Canada, Canadian navy bands. French navy bands in the country date back to the era of New France. Musical units were primarily attached to the Compagnies Franches de la Marine and the Troupes de la marine, the former of which maintained two drums (tambour) and a fife (instrument), fife.


Future

France's Eurozone crisis, financial problems have affected all branches of her military. The 2013 French White Paper on Defence and National Security cancelled the long-planned French aircraft carrier PA2, new aircraft carrier and a possible fourth . The backbone of the fleet will be the ''Aquitaine''-class FREMM multipurpose frigate, FREMM anti-submarine frigates, replacing the , but plans to buy a possible seventeen FREMMs were cut back to eleven and then to eight. The cancellation of the third and fourth Horizon destroyers meant that the last two FREMM hulls, entering service in 2021/22, are fitted out as FREDA air-defence ships to replace the . DCNS has shown a FREMM-ER concept to meet this requirement, emphasising ballistic missile defence with the Thales Sea Fire 500 AESA radar. Industrial considerations mean that the funds for FREMMs 9-11 will now be spent on five more exportable ''frégates de taille intermédiaire'' (''FTI'', "intermediate size frigates") from 2024 to supplement, and ultimately replace, the ''La Fayette'' class, three of which are being upgraded with new sonars to operate into the early 2030s. With respect to support ships, the will be replaced under the FLOTLOG project by four derivatives of Italy's , to be delivered in 2023–2029. Construction has started on the first of six French Barracuda-class submarine, Barracuda-class nuclear attack submarines; commissioning of ''Suffren'' took place in 2020. These nuclear attack submarines are to be followed in the 2030s by the incremental introduction of a new class of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) whose construction is to begin in around 2023. The first MM40 Exocet Block 3 missile was test-fired in 2010 to be produced. Naval versions of the Storm Shadow, ''SCALP EG'' land-attack cruise missile are under development, along with a planned Aster (missile family), Aster Block 1NT with greater capabilities against ballistic missiles. In October 2018, the French Ministry of Defence launched an 18-month study for €40 million for the eventual future replacement of the aircraft carrier ''Charles de Gaulle'' beyond 2030. A decision to build the new carrier was taken by President Emmanuel Macron in 2020 and once it enters service it is anticipated to remain in service until beyond 2080. Construction of the new carrier is to begin in around 2025 with service entry anticipated in the latter 2030s.


French naval officers


Privateers

* Lieutenant général des Armées navales Jean du Casse, du Casse * Lieutenant général des Armées navales René Duguay-Trouin, Duguay-Trouin * Chef d'escadre Jean Bart * Chef d'escadre Pierre Bouvet * Jacques Cassard, Cassard * Robert Surcouf, Surcouf * François Thurot, Thurot


Heroes of the First Republic

* Vice-admiral Louis-René Levassor de Latouche Tréville, de Latouche-Tréville * Vice-admiral Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse, de Villaret-Joyeuse * Vice-admiral Eustache Bruix, Bruix * Rear Admiral Armand Blanquet du Chayla, du Chayla * Capitaine de vaisseau Aristide Aubert du Petit Thouars, du Petit Thouars * Capitaine de vaisseau Luc-Julien-Joseph Casabianca, Casabianca


Explorers

* Lieutenant général des Armées navales Louis Antoine de Bougainville, Bougainville * Chef d'escadre Bruni d'Entrecasteaux, d'Entrecasteaux * Chef d'escadre Jules Dumont d'Urville, Dumont d'Urville * Chef de Division Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse, Lapérouse * Captain Samuel de Champlain * Captain Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville, d'Iberville * Captain Nicolas Baudin * Captain Louis-Claude de Saulces de Freycinet, Louis de Freycinet * Commander Ernest Doudart de Lagrée, Doudart de Lagrée * Lieutenant Louis Aleno de St Aloüarn, de St Aloüarn * Lieutenant Francis Garnier * Lieutenant Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, Savorgnan de Brazza


Other important French naval officers

* Admiral Florent de Varennes—first admiral of France * Admiral Jean de Vienne—admiral of the French fleet during the Hundred Years' War * Admiral Hervé de Portzmoguer— Breton naval commander, renowned for his raids on the English and his death in the Battle of St. Mathieu * Admiral Charles Hector, comte d'Estaing, d'Estaing—admiral of the French fleet which helped the United States secure independence * Admiral François Joseph Paul de Grasse, de Grasse—commander of the French fleet at Battle of the Chesapeake, Chesapeake Bay during the American Revolutionary War. * Admiral Amédée Courbet, Courbet-commander of the Far East Squadron. * Vice-Admiral Anne Hilarion de Tourville, Tourville—commander of the French fleet at the Battle of Beachy Head * Vice-Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve, Villeneuve—commander of the French and Spain, Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar * Vice-Admiral Abraham Duquesne, Duquesne—commander of the French fleet at the Battle of Agosta * Lieutenant commander Paul Teste, pioneer of the modern aeronaval operations. * Vice-Admiral Chevalier Paul, Jean-Paul de Saumeur, often called Chevalier Paul, served in several Mediterranean campaigns.


Notable people who served in the French Navy

* Marcel Cerdan, world boxing champion during the 1940s * Jean Cocteau, poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, playwright, artist and filmmaker * Jean Cras, composer * Jacques-Yves Cousteau * Philippe de Gaulle, the son of the general Charles de Gaulle * Alain Delon, actor, served as a fusilier marin in the First Indochina War * Bob Denard, a mercenary notorious for coup attempts and wars in Africa * Jean Gabin, another major French actor, he joined the free French naval force during the Second World War * Paul Gauguin, painter, sculptor, print-maker, ceramist, and writer * Bernard Giraudeau, actor, film director, scriptwriter, producer and writer * André Marty, a leading figure in the French Communist Party from 1923 to 1955 * Albert II, Prince of Monaco, reserve Lieutenant Commander * Pierre Loti, mostly known for his literary works * Albert Roussel, composer * Michel Serres, philosopher and author * Eric Tabarly, yachtsman * Victor Segalen, ethnographer, archaeologist, writer, poet, explorer, art-theorist, linguist and literary critic * Eugène Sue, a famous 19th-century novelist * Paul Emile Victor, an ethnologist and polar explorer


See also

* Future of the French Navy * List of active French Navy ships * List of French Navy ship names


Marine Nationale

* List of French Paratrooper Units, Airborne Units of the French Navy * Escorteur * Far East Squadron * French 100 mm naval gun * List of aircraft carriers of France * List of Escorteurs of the French Navy * List of French naval battles * List of Naval Ministers of France * Standing French Navy Deployments * :French Navy admirals * :French Navy officers * :Naval ships of France


Notes


References


Further reading

* * * Winfield, Rif and Roberts, Stephen S., ''French Warships in the Age of Sail, 1626-1786: Design, Constructions, Careers and Fates'' (Seaforth Publishing, 2017) ; ''French Warships in the Age of Sail, 1786-1861: Design, Constructions, Careers and Fates'' (Seaforth Publishing, 2015) .


External links

*
Marine nationale
Official site *
French Navy 2011
Guide Book *
French Navy 2011
Information File *
Net-Marine
A well documented database on French navy. *
Mer & Marine
Main website on French maritime affairs (only in French) *
French Fleet Air Arm
about French naval aviation. *

{{Authority control French Navy, Military of France