List of active French Navy ships

This is a list of active French Navy ships.[1][2][3] The French Navy consists of nearly 100 vessels of the Force d'action navale (Naval action force)[4] and the 9 submarines of the Forces sous-marines (Submarine force). Primary assets include one nuclear aircraft carrier, three amphibious assault ships, four air-defence-focused destroyers, six anti-submarine (ASW)/land attack mission-oriented destroyers, five general-purpose frigates, and six surveillance frigates. The Navy also operates some 15 patrol ships, supplemented by additional coast guard/Maritime Gendarmerie vessels. The surveillance frigates and a significant number of the patrol vessels are based in France's overseas territories.

Naval ensign of France

The submarine force consists of fivenuclear attack submarines and four nuclear ballistic missile submarines.

Integral to supporting the Force d'Action Navale at sea are the French Navy's 2 replenishment oilers, 16 mine countermeasure vessels and 8 support ships. In addition to the above units, the Navy operates five survey vessels, four experimentation ships, four ocean tugboats, 14 training vessels as well as numerous smaller vessels and tugs.

The main base for French naval forces in the Atlantic is located at Brest while the principal base in the Mediterranean is Toulon.[5][6]

The French Navy does not use the term "destroyer" in vessel names. Instead, surface combatants of the first rank (such as the Aquitaine class) are named "frigates", though they are registered as destroyers (with hull numbers "Dxxx").

Submarine fleet (Forces sous-marines)
Main articles: Submarine forces (France) and List of submarines of France

Ballistic missile submarines
Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
Triomphant class TriomphantS616199714,335 tonnesBallistic missile submarineFour boats constituting the strategic component of France's nuclear deterrent, the Force de dissuasion.
TéméraireS6171999
VigilantS6182004
TerribleS6192010
  • Téméraire (Triomphant class)
    Téméraire (Triomphant class)

Nuclear attack submarines
Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
Suffren class SuffrenS635[7]20205,300 tonnesNuclear attack submarineS636 working up to full operational status; six planned in total
Duguay-TrouinS6362023[8]
Rubis class ÉmeraudeS60419882,660 tonnesBeing incrementally replaced by the Suffren class.
AméthysteS6051992
PerleS6061993
  • Perle (Rubis class)
    Perle (Rubis class)
  • Suffren (Suffren class)
    Suffren (Suffren class)

Surface fleet (Bâtiments de combat)

Aircraft carrier
Class Ship No. Comm Displacement Type Note
— Charles de GaulleR91200142,500 tonnesAircraft carrierNuclear powered CATOBAR aircraft carrier
  • Charles de Gaulle
    Charles de Gaulle

Amphibious warfare
See also: List of active French Navy landing craft
Class Ship No. Comm Displacement Type Note
Mistral class MistralL9013200621,500 tonnesAmphibious assault ship
TonnerreL9014
DixmudeL90152012
  • Dixmude (Mistral class)
    Dixmude (Mistral class)

Major surface combatants

The French Navy does not use the term "destroyer". While officially classed as "frigates", the larger major surface combatants of the first rank are nevertheless registered as destroyers (with hull numbers "Dxxx"; though, as of 2023, French Navy vessels are incrementally having hull numbers removed from display on all ships).[9][10]

Class Ship No. Comm Displacement Type Note
Horizon class ForbinD62020087,050 tonnesAir-defence destroyer
Chevalier PaulD6212009
Aquitaine class AquitaineD65020126,040 tonnesAnti-submarine warfare (ASW) destroyer
NormandieD6512020
ProvenceD6522015
LanguedocD6532017
AuvergneD6542018
BretagneD6552019
AlsaceD6562021Air defence/ASW destroyerD657 delivered November 2022; working up to full operational status and commissioning
LorraineD657Projected 2023[11]
Amiral Ronarc'h class Amiral Ronarc'hD660Projected 2024[12][13]4,500 tonnesASW destroyerD660 fitting out as of mid-2023; five ships planned by 2035
La Fayette class La FayetteF71019963,900 tonnesGeneral-purpose frigate
SurcoufF7111997
CourbetF712
AconitF7131999
GuépratteF7142001
Floréal class FloréalF73019922,950 tonnesSurveillance frigateClass has anti-ship missiles removed and functions in a second-rank "surveillance frigate" role for French overseas territories.
PrairialF7311992
NivôseF732
VentôseF7331993
VendémiaireF734
GerminalF7351994
  • Forbin (Horizon class)
    Forbin (Horizon class)
  • Auvergne (Aquitaine class)
    Auvergne (Aquitaine class)
  • Illustration: Defence and intervention frigate - FDI (Amiral Ronarc'h class)
    Illustration: Defence and intervention frigate - FDI (Amiral Ronarc'h class)
  • Surcouf (La Fayette class)
    Surcouf (La Fayette class)
  • Germinal (Floréal class)
    Germinal (Floréal class)

Patrol
Class Ship No. Comm Displacement Type Note
— L'AstrolabeP80020174,000 tonnesIcebreaker/support vessel/offshore patrolBased in Réunion; co-operated by the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) Administration and the French Navy.
D'Entrecasteaux class D'EntrecasteauxA62120162,300 tonnesOffshore patrol/support vesselBased in Noumea
BougainvilleA622Based in Papeete
ChamplainA6232017Based in Réunion
Dumont d'UrvilleA6242020Based in Fort-de-France[14]
D'Estienne d'Orves class Premier-Maître L'HerF79219811,250 tonnesOffshore patrol vesselOriginally entered service as avisos (sloops / light corvettes), reclassified as OPVs in 2012.[15] To be replaced from 2026 as part of the acquisition of a new class of patrol vessels (“Patrouilleurs Hauturiers” - PH).[16][17]
Commandant BlaisonF7931982
Enseigne de Vaisseau JacoubetF794
Commandant DucuingF7951983
Commandant BirotF7961984
Commandant BouanF797
Confiance class La ConfianceP7332017700 tonnesBased in Guiana
La RésolueP734
La CombattanteP7352020Based in Fort-de-France
Félix Éboué class Auguste BénébigP7792023[18][19]1,300 tonnesBased in Noumea;[20] 5 additional vessels to enter service 2023–2025
  • L'Astrolabe
    L'Astrolabe
  • D'Entrecasteaux (D'Entrecasteaux class)
    D'Entrecasteaux (D'Entrecasteaux class)
  • Commandant Bouan (D'Estienne d'Orves class)
    Commandant Bouan (D'Estienne d'Orves class)
  • La Résolue (La Confiance class)
    La Résolue (La Confiance class)
  • Illustration: Patrouilleur Outre-mer - POM (Félix Éboué class)
    Illustration: Patrouilleur Outre-mer - POM (Félix Éboué class)

Coastguard
See also: Maritime Gendarmerie
Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
— Le MalinP70119971,300 tonnesCoastal patrol vesselAn ex-trawler based in La Reunion. To be replaced by a Patrouilleur Outre-mer (POM)-class patrol vessel[21][22][23]
Lapérouse class AragoP6751988980 tonnesAn ex-hydrographic survey vessel. Extension of role in French Polynesia until 2024 pending arrival of POM-class OPVs.[24]
— FulmarP7401991550 tonnesAn ex-trawler based in Saint Pierre
Flamant class FlamantP6761997390 tonnesPatrol boatTo be replaced from 2026 as part of the acquisition of new class of "PH" patrol vessels.
CormoranP677
PluvierP678
  • Le Malin
    Le Malin
  • Arago (Lapérouse class)
    Arago (Lapérouse class)
  • Fulmar
    Fulmar
  • Flamant (Flamant class)
    Flamant (Flamant class)

Mine countermeasures
Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
Éridan class AndromèdeM6431984615 tonnesMinehunterTo be replaced by Système de lutte anti-mines futur (SLAM-F) starting in 2023[25]
PégaseM6441985
OrionM6451986
Croix du SudM646
AigleM6471987
LyreM648
CéphéeM652
CapricorneM653
SagittaireM6501996
Vulcain class VulcainM6111986490 tonnesClearance divingTo be replaced by SLAM-F
PlutonM6221986
StyxM6141987
AchéronA613
Antarès class AntarèsM7701993340 tonnesSonar towing vesselTo be replaced by SLAM-F
AltaïrM771
AldébaranM7721994
Ophrys class OphrysY60402022105 tonnesDiving support vessel (VSP)Part of SLAM-F program, total of eight units planned up to 2026.[26][27][28]
  • Former Cassiopée (Éridan class)
    Former Cassiopée (Éridan class)
  • Achéron (Vulcain class)
    Achéron (Vulcain class)
  • Antarès (Antarès class)
    Antarès (Antarès class)

Auxiliary fleet

Replenishment
Class Ship No. Comm Displacement Type Note
Jacques Chevallier class Jacques ChevallierA725Projected 2024[29][30]31,000 tonnesReplenishment oilerDelivered to the Navy in July 2023; continuing post-acceptance sea trials;[31] two additional ships planned to enter service by 2027; fourth projected after 2030[32][33][34]
Durance class MarneA630198717,900 tonnesBeing replaced by Jacques Chevallier class
SommeA6311990
  • Somme (Durance class)
    Somme (Durance class)
  • Illustration of the Jacques Chevallier class
    Illustration of the Jacques Chevallier class

Intelligence, research and experimentation
Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
— MongeA601199221,040 tonnesTracking ship
— Dupuy de LômeA75920063,600 tonnesSIGINT
— AlizéA64520051,600 tonnesDGSE diving supportAlso used to test new equipment and diving procedures
Lapérouse class ThétisA78519881,050 tonnesMine-warfare experimentationTo be replaced by SLAM-F
  • Monge
    Monge
  • Dupuy de Lôme
    Dupuy de Lôme
  • Thétis (Lapérouse class)
    Thétis (Lapérouse class)

Survey
Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
— Pourquoi Pas?—20056,600 tonnesOceanographic surveyOperated by IFREMER (55%) and the French Navy (45%) with civilian crew.[35]
— Beautemps-BeaupréA75820033,600 tonnes
Lapérouse class LapérouseA7911988980 tonnesHydrographic surveyTo be replaced from 2025 to 2027 by 2 new hydro-oceanographic vessels.
BordaA792
LaplaceA7931989
  • Pourquoi pas?
    Pourquoi pas?
  • Beautemps-Beaupré
    Beautemps-Beaupré
  • Laplace (Lapérouse class)
    Laplace (Lapérouse class)

Ocean tugboats
Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
UT515Abeille Bourbon-20054,600 tonnesOceangoing tugOperated under charter
Abeille Liberté-
VS-491 CD Abeille Normandie-20103,978 tonnes
Abeille Méditerrannée-
  • Abeille Liberté
    Abeille Liberté
  • Abeille Normandie
    Abeille Normandie

Port and coastal tugboats
Class Ship No. Commissioned Displacement Type Note
RPC12 class FréhelA6751989220 tonnesHarbour tugboat
SaireA676
ArmenA677 1991
La HoussayeA678 1992
KéréonA679
SiciéA680 1994
TaunoaA681 1996
LardierY638 1995
GiensY639 1994
MengamY640
BalaguierY641 1995
TaillatY642
NividicY643 1996
Port CrosY649 1997
Le Four Y647 1998
Eckmühl Y646 —
Rascas A682 2003
RPC30/RPC50 classes CéladonY60512023275 tonnesHarbour tugboatProgram includes 5 RPC50 variants with longer range;[36] 17 additional vessels planned; replacing RPC12 boats[37][38]
Zinzolin A6652
Turquin TBD
Maito class MaitoA6361984228 tonnesHarbour tugboatMaito based in Fort de France; Maroa and Manini in Pape'ete[39][40]
Maroa A637 1985
Manini A638 1984
  • Le Four (RPC 12 class)
    Le Four (RPC 12 class)

Support
Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
— Argonaute——~4,000 tonnesSupport and pollution controlOperated under charter
Jason—
Pionnier—
Sapeur—
Loire class LoireA60220182,960 tonnesOffshore support and assistance
RhôneA6032019
SeineA604
GaronneA6052020
  • Jason
    Jason
  • Loire (Loire class)
    Loire (Loire class)

Training
Class Boat No. Comm Displacement Type Note
UT712 class Rebel——2,900 tonnesTraining shipOperated under charter
UT745 class Partisan——2,340 tonnes
Léopard class LéopardA7481982470 tonnes
PanthèreA749
JaguarA750
LynxA751
GuépardA7521983
ChacalA753
TigreA754
LionA755
Glycine class GlycineA7701992295 tonnesNavigation training
ÉglantineA771
Paimpolaise class ÉtoileA6491932275 tonnesSail trainingSchooner
Belle PouleA650
  • Partisan
    Partisan
  • Rebel
    Rebel
  • Guépard (Léopard class)
    Guépard (Léopard class)
  • Glycine (Glycine class)
    Glycine (Glycine class)
  • Belle Poule (Paimpolaise class)
    Belle Poule (Paimpolaise class)


For a complete list of Bâtiments de soutien (Auxiliaries) see Bâtiments de soutien at the official Marine Nationale website.

Silhouettes

Silhouettes of major fleet units:

French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Mistral-class amphibious assault ship
Mistral		 Mistral-class amphibious assault ship
Tonnerre		 Mistral-class amphibious assault ship
Dixmude
Horizon-class frigate
Forbin		 Horizon-class frigate
Chevalier Paul
FREMM multipurpose frigate
Aquitaine		 FREMM multipurpose frigate
Normandie		 FREMM multipurpose frigate
Provence		 FREMM multipurpose frigate
Languedoc
FREMM multipurpose frigate
Auvergne		 FREMM multipurpose frigate
Bretagne		 FREMM multipurpose frigate
Alsace		 FREMM multipurpose frigate
Lorraine
La Fayette-class frigate
La Fayette		 La Fayette-class frigate
Surcouf		 La Fayette-class frigate
Courbet		 La Fayette-class frigate
Aconit		 La Fayette-class frigate
Guépratte
Triomphant-class submarine
Triomphant		 Triomphant-class submarine
Téméraire		 Triomphant-class submarine
Vigilant		 Triomphant-class submarine
Terrible
Barracuda-class submarine (France)
Suffren		 Barracuda-class submarine (France)
Duguay-Trouin		 Rubis-class submarine
Émeraude		 Rubis-class submarine
Améthyste		 Rubis-class submarine
Perle

See also

References
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  2. "Liste des bâtiments de combat de la Marine nationale par unité" (in French). defense.gouv.fr. 19 November 2014. Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  3. "Liste des bâtiments de soutien par unité" (in French). defense.gouv.fr. 21 October 2014. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  4. "Force d'action navale".
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  6. "Arsenal de Brest". Naval Technology. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  7. Vavasseur, Xavier (27 November 2021). "Naval Group Rolls Out 2nd Barracuda Type Submarine". Naval News. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  8. "French Navy Receives 2nd Barracuda Type Submarine". navalnews.com. 12 August 2023.
  9. Groizeleau, Vincent (17 March 2023). "Marine nationale : l'anonymisation n'ira pas jusqu'aux bâchis". Mer et Marine. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  10. Groizeleau, Vincent (6 March 2023). "Deux frégates du type FREMM anonymisées l'une à côté de l'autre, trouvez les différences !". Mer et Marine. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  11. Vavasseur, Xavier (27 April 2023). "How A Not-Yet-Commissioned Frigate Played A Key Role In Sudan Evacuation Operations". Naval News. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
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  15. Between 2011 and 2017 heavy armaments have been removed.
  16. Groizeleau, Vincent (13 March 2023). "La Marine nationale n'obtiendrait que 7 nouveaux patrouilleurs hauturiers au lieu des 10 prévus". Mer et Marine.
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  18. Lagneau, Laurent (26 July 2023). "Premier patrouilleur outre-Mer, l'Auguste Bénébig a été admis au service actif par la Marine nationale". zone militaire (in French). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
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  21. Groizeleau, Vincent (21 May 2021). "La livraison du premier patrouilleur d'outre-mer repoussée à 2023". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 14 March 2022.
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  25. Vavasseur, Xavier (6 November 2020). "France Launches SLAMF Mine Warfare Program but Many Questions Remain". Naval News.
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  29. Vavasseur, Xavier (19 July 2023). "Naval Group Delivers First BRF Supply Ship To French Navy". Naval News. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
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