Air Group
Designed from the outset as multi-role fleet carriers, the two Clemenceau class ships initially in 1961 had an air group with each of ten aircraft each of the IVM attack version and IVP reconnaissance version of the Dassault Etendard IV strike fighter, a squadron of up to eight Breguet Alizé aircraft were embarked for the antisubmarine warfare mission, and in the air-defense role a squadron of Sud Aviation Aquilon (license-built De Havilland Sea Venom) fighters. They were also used for French amphibious assault operations with up to 30-40 helicopters (normal helicopter wing is 4 helicopters) deployed; just prior to the 1991 Gulf War as part of Operation Salamandre (the air component of Operation Daguet), the Clemenceau ferried 30 Aerospatiale Gazelles and 12 Aerospatiale SA 330 Pumas to Saudi Arabia. The planned size of the total air wing was originally 60, but the increasing size of carrier-based aircraft in the late 1950s reduced that number to approximately 40.
The more capable, missile-armed Vought F-8 Crusader was soon deployed, with a squadron of eight aircraft embarked, starting 2 years later from 1963. The Crusader served with the 2 carriers until the Foch was decommissioned in 2000. The Dassault Super Etendard entered service on both ships in 1978. The Super Etendard could carry both the Exocet missile and the Air-Sol Moyenne Portee (ASMP) nuclear missile, giving these ships a stand-off nuclear strike ability lacking in the earlier Etendard IV (equipped with free-fall nuclear bombs only).
Clemenceau and Foch were modernized during September 1977-November 1978 and July 1980-August 1981 (Foch). This mid-life upgrade cleared them for the new Super Etendard (along with several other upgrades, like the SENIT C3 system). Then they had up to 40 aircraft: 10 F-8FN, 15-16 Super Etendard and 3-4 Etendard IVP, 7 Alizé, 2 Super Frelon and 2 Alouette III. Their hangar measured 152 x 24 x 7 meters (3,648 square meters). The Clemenceau fuel depots were 1,200 mc (JP5) and 400 mc (AVGAS). Foch increased this amount up to 1,800 and 109 respectively.
The Dassault Rafale was test flown from the Foch after deck modifications in 1992 and operated from this carrier after further 1995-6 deck modifications.
Read more about this topic: Clemenceau Class Aircraft Carrier
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