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The French Navy (''Marine Nationale'') is the maritime arm of the French Military and is the largest Western European Navy with 45,600 personnel (the United Kingdom 's Royal Navy has 43,530). It consists of a full range of vessels, from patrol boats to guided missile frigates, one nuclear Aircraft Carrier and four strategic missile submarines ( SNLE s). The current Navy aircraft carrier is the '' Charles De Gaulle '' (Normally, the French Navy operates two carriers, but only one of the latest generation has been built as of yet). The Navy is organised in five branches:
Note that the '' Troupes De Marine '' ("Naval Troops"), organised in ''Régiments d'Infanterie de Marine'' (the famous elite ''RIMa'') are the modern name of the ''Troupes Coloniales'' ("Colonial Troops"), and are not part of the Navy, but of the Army . RANKS OF THE NATIONAL NAVY harbour]] The following are the ranks of the French National Navy. Firstly, the proper French term is used, with an English translation that follows the Royal Navy / Canadian Navy ranking systems. Officers
Majors
Officiers mariniers / Non-commissioned Officers
Militaires du rang (équipage)- Non-Commissioned Members
HISTORY The French navy is affectionately known as ''La Royale'' ("the Royal"), for its traditional attachment to the monarchy; it is to be noted that some of the greatest heroes of the First Republic were in the French Navy ( Luc-Julien-Joseph Casabianca , Robert Surcouf , Latouche-Tréville ). Technological innovations (19th century) '' (1850), the first purpose-built steam Battleship in history.]] '', the first Ironclad in history, 1863 .]] '', the first mechanically-powered Submarine in history, 1863 .]] During the 19th century the French Navy, eager to challenge British naval supremacy, took a leadership role in many areas of warship development, with the introduction of new technologies:
The French Navy also became an active proponent of the " Jeune Ecole " doctrine, calling for small but powerful warship using shell guns to annihilate the British fleet. Her conceptual and technological edge proved attractive to the newly industrializing Japan , when the French engineer Emile Bertin was invited for four years to design a new fleet for the Imperial Japanese Navy , which led to her success in the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894 . The motto of the French navy is "''Honneur, Patrie, Valeur, Discipline''" ("Honour, Homeland, Valour, Discipline"). World War II At the outset of the war, the French Navy participated in a number of operations against the Axis Powers , patrolling the Atlantic and bombarding Genoa . The French surrender and its armistice terms, however, completely changed the situation: the French fleet immediately withdrew from the fight. The British perceived the French fleet as a potentially lethal threat, should the French become formal enemies or, more likely, should the German Kriegsmarine gain control. It was essential that they should be put out of action. Some vessels were in British-controlled ports in Britain or Egypt and these were either persuaded to re-join the Allies as Free French ships or were boarded and disarmed. The bulk of the fleet, however, was in Dakar or Mers-el-Kebir . The Royal Navy delivered an ultimatum but, when agreement proved impossible, they opened fire and sunk or damaged much of the French fleet ( Operation Catapult } on 3 July 1940. The action soured Anglo-French relations and inhibited further defections to the Allies. Richelieu .]] In November, 1942, the Allies invaded , the commander of the Forces de Haute Mer (the High Seas Fleet) advocated sailing to attack the Allied invasion fleet while others, such as the Vichy Secretary of the Navy, Contre-Amiral Auphan favoured joining the Allies. On several warships, there were spontaneous demonstrations in favour of sailing with the Allies, chanting "''Vive de Gaulle! Appereillage!''". The orders to French commanders to scuttle their ships in case of an attempted take-over had been reinforced, however, and, often despite the presence of German troops, this was done. No capital ships and few others were taken in reparable condition. {Link without Title} Following this, more French moved to the Allies, including ships interned in Egypt, and there were French warships supporting the landings in southern France ( Operation Dragoon ) and Normandy ( Operation Neptune ). Present developments The French Navy is undertaking a significant reinforcement, both in modernising and in number, under the ''Projet de loi de programmation militaire 2003-2008'' ("Military programme law project 2003-2008") {Link without Title} , which notably calls for: .]]
The equipment will also be modernised, notably
CUSTOMS Prefixes The French Navy does not use prefixes (like the Royal Navy for instance). Foreign commentators sometimes use the prefixes "FS" (for "French Ship") or FNS (for "French Navy Ship"); these are however not official. GALLERY |
Image:Floreal-Bora-BorajpgThe French Frigate ''Floréal'', Stationed In
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