The Jeanne d'Arc (R97) is a helicopter cruiser of the French Navy. Jeanne d'Arc French Navy Battleship Cruiser is the third vessel of the French Navy named after Joan of Arc ("Jeanne d'Arc", in French), a national heroine of France and saint of the Catholic Church who repelled the English invasion during the Hundred Years' War.
In peace time, the Jeanne d'Arc French Navy Battleship Cruiser is used for teaching and training purposes; however, in case of emergency or crisis, Jeanne d'Arc French Navy Battleship Cruiser was to have become a fully capable helicopter cruiser. This idea is now dropped because of the increasing size and weight of helicopters.
The Jeanne d'Arc French Navy Battleship Cruiser was built as La Résolue, as her predecessor, the French cruiser Jeanne d'Arc (1930), was still in service. She was renamed Jeanne d'Arc in 1964. The ship is to be decommissioned by 2011, but preferably before 2010.| Jeanne d'Arc Cruiser General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Displacement: | 10,575 tons (standard) 12,365 tons (loaded) |
| Length: | 182 m |
| Beam: | 24 m |
| Draught: | 7.5 m |
| Propulsion: | Four 10,000 horsepower (7.5 MW) power plants with automatic heating, 29 420 kW |
| Speed: | 28 knots (52 km/h) |
| Range: | 3 000 nm at 26,5. |
| Complement: | 627 (total), 31 officers, 182 petty officers, 414 quaster-masters and sailors, 150 cadet officers |
| Sensors and processing systems: | 1 DRBV 22 D |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: | Nixie |
| Armament: | 6 Exocet-38 sea-sea missiles |
| Aircraft carried: | 4 Super Frelon (8 in war) |
In peace time, Jeanne d'Arc French Navy Battleship Cruiser is a teaching and training vessel for the naval officers' application academy, and at the same time possesses an aerial group of 2 Aérospatiale Puma helicopters and 2 Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopters of the light aviation of the French Army, as well as two helicopters Alouette III of naval aviation.Jeanne d'Arc French Navy Battleship Cruiser is to go on combat missions, either in anti-submarine warfare with 8 WG 13 Lynx helicopters, or in external missions by carrying Puma or Gazelle helicopters from the light aviation of the French Army. Initially, she was also able to carry landing troops and Sikorsky or Super Frelon helicopters.
Jeanne d'Arc can carry about 10 light or heavy helicopters. Jeanne d'Arc French Navy Battleship Cruiser can simultaneously handle the take-off and landing of 3 helicopters.
