The French Navy (Marine Nationale) Carrier Strike Group left this moring Toulon for the “Mission Clemenceau 22” deployment.
The French CSG will conduct “tri carrier operations” with the Italian Navy (Marina Militare)’s Cavour CSG and the U.S. Navy’s Truman CSG.During a press briefing held today at the French Ministry of Armed Forces, Rear Admiral Boidevezi explained that Mission Clemenceau 22 will focus on the Mediterranean region but some of the assets (a frigate and some fighters) will also deploy in the Black Sea.
The French CSG will initially train with the Italian Navy and aircraft carrier ITS Cavour and its F-35B. In the Eastern Mediterranean, the two carriers will meet with the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) CSG and conduct rare “Tri Carrier Operations”. The French CSG will conduct additional activities with the American CSG. On the way back, the French CSG will sail in the Adriatic Sea.
The French CSG is composed by:
– aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) and her airwing (18 Rafale M, two E-2C Hawkeye aircraft, one NH90 NFH helicopter and two Dauphin helicopters)
– the multi-mission frigate Normandie (D-651)
– the air defense frigate (FDA) Forbin (D-620)
– the command and refueling vessel Marna (A-607)
– an Hellenic Navy frigate and submarine
– the USN destroyer USS Ross (DDG-71)
-the Spanish navy frigate SPS Juan de Borbon (F-102)
– a nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) Rubis class.