Warship Technology: March 2019
A consortium formed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique and Naval Group has been awarded a contract to build the quartet of Logistic Support Ships (LSS)/fleet replenishment tankers, a deal that also includes a support contract for their first six years of operation.
The contract for the French Navy is part of the Franco-Italian LSS programme led by the Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'Armement/Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation. Delivery of the new vessels will take place between the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2029.
The tankers, with a capacity of 13,000m3 of fuel, will provide logistic support to French and allied navies and will carry fuel for vessels, jet fuel for aircraft, weapons and ammunition, spare parts, as well as food. They are also designed to be able to provide support to the aviation group constituted around the French Navy aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
The design of the vessels will be based on the Italian LSS Vulcano, which is already under construction at Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, Vulcano being the first ship in the Franco-Italian LSS programme managed by OCCAR.
In order to comply with international legislation, the LSS vessels will be double-hulled. They will displace 31,000tonnes at full load and have a length of 194m, breadth of 27.4m and will have a 25 MW diesel-electric propulsion system based on four diesel generators with two electric motors on two shafts providing for a maximum speed of 20knots. With accommodation for a total of 190 people (including a crew of 130) they will have an endurance of 60 days.
To undertake its replenishment at sea and logistic support missions the LSS will be able to carry 1,500 tonnes of cargo in addition to fuel. They will be armed with 40mm guns and will have a Polaris combat management system.
