Ouragan-class

Summary

Description

The Ouragan class landing platform dock ships were a significant contribution to the French Navy's amphibious assault capabilities. These vessels, known as the Ouragan class (French: Hurricane), were the first of their kind that France designed and built, providing the basis for subsequent classes of French landing platform docks. They were categorized as Transport de chalands de débarquement (TCD) and the class comprised two ships that served primarily in the late 1960s.

Originating in the post-World War II era, the French Navy sought to gain experience with amphibious warfare ships, initially utilizing American and British vessels. One such example was the Casa Grande-class dock landing ship Foudre, acquired in 1952, which significantly influenced French understanding and later designs.

Equipped for amphibious operations, the Ouragan ships had a well deck that could be submerged to facilitate the embarkment and disembarkment of various landing crafts. The ships were designed with convertible layouts to accommodate different mission requirements, having the capacity to transport up to 470 troops over short distances. Additionally, they came fitted with two 35-ton cranes to manage cargo and were capable of serving as repair ships with onboard maintenance facilities.

Armament of the Ouragan class initially included mortars and guns, with Ouragan later receiving missile launchers and air/surface radars as part of a 1993 modernization effort. Aircraft-wise, the ships could operate multiple helicopters from their flight decks, which were essential for troop transportation and other operations.

Throughout their service history, the Ouragan and Orage played active roles in the French nuclear program in the Pacific, including the first French hydrogen bomb test in 1968. They were utilized for various missions such as evacuations, the deployment of UNIFIL troops to Lebanon, and supporting operations during conflicts like the Gulf War and the unrest in the Former Yugoslavia and Kosovo.

Despite plans to retire the Ouragan class in the 1990s in favor of the Foudre-class ships, delays necessitated their continued use until the arrival of the Mistral-class ships in the 2000s. A proposed sale to Argentina fell through due to asbestos concerns, and eventually, both ships were decommissioned in 2007. They were scrapped in Belgium during 2016 and 2017, marking the end of their nearly four-decade service period.

Technical specifications