PA-75 Porte-Avions
In 1975 the first studies were launched for the construction of a nuclear-powered helicopter carrier designated PH-75, similar in conception, size and configuration to the third variant of the 1970 designs. This 16,500-tonne helicopter carrier should have replaced the Arromanches aircraft carrier, which had previously served as an aircraft carrier. The construction of three units had been envisaged. The choice of a nuclear propulsion was dictated by the conjuncture of the time, in order to reinforce the independence of the foreign policy and the military action of France. After some calculations, the nuclear fuel would avoid purchasing nearly 1.5 billion liters of oil over 20 years.
With nuclear propulsion giving her unlimited range for distant intervention, like Jeanne d'Arc, she would be able to assume the ASW role as an alternative to that of amphibious assault, and was also designed for disaster relief. She was, therefore, given extensive hospital facilities consisting of three main wards, an X-Ray ward, an intensive care ward, an infectious diseases ward, two dental surgeries and a laboratory. In the intervention role she would carry a special landing force of units from the Forces Terrestres d'Intervenntion (FTI) and their supporting air units (CAFI), plus a Helicopter Movement Command Center. 1000 troops could be accommodated in designated quarters, with a further 500 in supplementary spaces on the hangar deck.
The ship would embark Super Frelon and Lynx helicopters in the ASW role, or Puma helicopters for the assault mission. Hangar dimensions were 84m x 21m x 6.5m and there were two side elevators with a capacity of 15t. There was one fixed and one mobile crane, and extensive helicopter support facilities including workshops, munitions-handling rooms, magazines, and fuel tanks for 1000m3 of aviation fuel. PH 75 was to be fitted as a command ship, with an action information center, a communications centre, an ASW centre and an amphibious operations center. She would carry 1250t of FFO for refuelling escorting warships. As with other French nuclear-powered vessels there were emergency diesel propulsion units capable of powering the ship for 3000nm at 18kts.
PH 75 was originally intended to complete in 1981, but financial problems delayed construction. In 1977, the program was renamed PA-75, the change in classification from 'PH' (Porte-Helicopteres) to 'PA' (Porte-Aeronefs) indicating an intention to provide for the embarkation of VTOL aircraft. The design of a new aircraft carrier, with the option of redesigning the Clemenceau and Foch aircraft carriers and the construction of a new generation of nuclear aircraft carrier, suitable for launching short take-off aircraft.
The design was successively refined as PA 75, PA 78, PA 82, and then PA 88. Work then focused on a small, but non-nuclear, multi-purpose aircraft carrier design, designated PA-77/79. It was to replace the Arromanches (aircraft carrier and assault helicopter carriers). The ship was to be laid down in 1976 for admission to active service in 1981. The project, which was too ambitious, was delayed for five years and then abandoned in favor of PA 75, which would become the Charles de Gaulle.
The project was finally relaunched in the 1980s to replace te conventional aircraft carriers. On 01 September 1980, Admiral Choupin, in charge of the case, proposed three solutions: an aircraft carrier with vertical take-off aircraft of 18,000 tons, a light PA of 25,000 tons, and a PA of 32,000 tone. It is the last one that was chosen. On 23 September 1980 the French Navy decided to replace its aircraft carriers ( Clemenceau and Foch ) by two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
The decision to build a series of two nuclear aircraft carriers was finally taken in 1986, under the 1984-1988 planning law, the first copy, under the name of "Richelieu", then of "Charles de Gaulle". Its completion was then planned for 1996, the contracting authority being entrusted to the DCN and its establishment of Brest. Its size was the result of an arbitrage between the length, conditioned by the dimensions of the construction block of the Brest arsenal, and its displacement, reconciling the power of the nuclear boilers and the maximum speed demanded.
In 1988, the program was suspended for one year. Then, between 1990 and 1995, the freezing of military credits led to the suspension of construction work on four occasions, causing a delay of three and a half years of the program.
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