French tanker Somme
 Somme in Toulon harbour, May 2009
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name | Somme |
| Namesake | Somme river |
| Builder | Normed, La Seyne, France |
| Laid down | 3 May 1985 |
| Launched | 3 October 1987 |
| Commissioned | 7 March 1990 |
| Homeport | Brest, France |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | In service |
| General characteristics of French ships | |
| Type | Durance-class replenishment oiler and command ship |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 157.2 m (515 ft 9 in) |
| Beam | 21.2 m (69 ft 7 in) |
| Draught |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) |
| Range | 9,000 nmi (17,000 km; 10,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 162 |
| Sensors and processing systems | 2 x DRBN 34 radars |
| Armament |
|
| Aviation facilities | Medium helicopter pad |
The French tanker Somme is a
In October 2009, the ship was mistakenly attacked by
Design and description
In French service, the final three Durance-class tankers are called Bâtiment de commandement et ravitailleur (BCR, "command and replenishment ship").[1] In addition to their role as a fleet tanker, the three ships dubbed BCR can accommodate an entire general staff and thus supervise naval operations as a command ship.[2] The three ships of the class designated BCRs, Var, Marne and Somme all have superstructures that were extended aft by 8 m (26 ft) to accommodate the additional staff requirements. The BCRs have one crane positioned along the centreline.[3]
Somme has a standard displacement of 7,900 t (7,800 long tons) and 18,800 t (18,500 long tons) at full load. The oiler is 157.3 metres (516 ft 1 in)
Somme has two dual solid/liquid underway transfer stations per side and can replenish two ships per side and one astern.[3] The ship initially had capacity for 5,170 t (5,090 long tons) of fuel oil, 3,360 t (3,310 long tons) of diesel fuel, 1,160 t (1,140 long tons) of JP-5 aviation fuel, 250 t (250 long tons) of distilled water, 180 t (180 long tons) of provisions, 170 t (170 long tons) of munitions and 15 t (15 long tons) of spare parts.[4] These numbers change with the needs of the fleet.[1]
The Durance-class tankers all mount a
Construction and career
The fifth and final tanker of the Durance class was ordered in March 1984 as part of the 1984–1988 plan. The vessel was laid down on 3 May 1985 by Normed at their yard in La Seyne, France.[1][2] Named for a river in France, the ship was launched on 3 October 1987 and given the pennant number A 631. Somme was commissioned into the French Navy on 7 March 1990. The Durance-class ships were assigned to the Force d'action navale (FAR, "Naval Action Force") after entering service. One of the BCRs is assigned to Indian Ocean as flagship of the French naval forces in the region.[1] The ship is home ported in Brest, France.[5]
In April 2008, the commander of
At the end of 2018, Somme underwent a refit at Brest, returning to service on 5 June 2019.[10] In October 2019, Somme was deployed as part of Operation Corymbe, the French naval mission to the Gulf of Guinea, marking the first time a command ship was deployed there. During the deployment, Somme participated in the African naval exercise Grand African Nemo with 18 African nations.[5]
As of late 2021, of the original five Durance-class ships in the French Navy, only Somme and her sister ship Marne remained in service. The last two ships were expected to be replaced by the new Jacques Chevallier-class vessels and retire between 2022 and 2025.[11] In 2022 it was indicated that Somme would continue in service until 2027 when she is planned to be replaced by the third of the Jacques Chevallier-class support ships, Émile Bertin.[12]
Citations
- ^ a b c d e f Saunders 2009, p. 269.
- ^ a b Couhat 1986, p. 140.
- ^ a b Couhat 1986, pp. 139–140.
- ^ a b c Couhat 1986, p. 139.
- ^ a b Groizeleau, Vincent (10 October 2019). "Le BCR Somme en mission Corymbe et dans l'exercice Grand African Nemo" [BCR Somme on Corymbe mission and in exercise Grand African Nemo]. meretmarine.com (in French). Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- ^ "Un navire amiral français attaqué par des pirates" [French flagship attacked by pirates]. Le Figaro (in French). Agence France Presse. 7 October 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- ^ "Pirates hit navy ship 'in error'". BBC News. 7 October 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
- ^ "5 held as confused pirates attack French ship". CNN. 7 October 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- ^ "6 pirates caught after attacking French warship". NBC News. Associated Press. 21 April 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ "Le navire Somme de la Marine nationale reprend du service à Brest" [The warship Somme of the French Navy resumes service in Brest]. actu.fr (in French). 5 June 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (14 December 2021). "BCR Var : dernière cérémonie des couleurs" [BCR Var: last colours ceremony]. Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ Groizeleau, Vincent (8 December 2022). "Le BCR Somme naviguera jusqu'en 2027" [The BCR Somme will sail until 2027]. Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 8 December 2022.
References
- Couhat, Jean Labayle, ed. (1986). Combat Fleets of the World 1986/87. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85368-860-5.
- Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 (112 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN 978-0-7106-2888-6.
External links
- "Somme (A 631)" (in French). Marine Nationale.
- Roche, Jean-Michel. "Bâtiment de commandement et de ravitaillement Somme" (in French). Net-Marine. Archived from the original on 10 October 2009.
