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1953
- STCAN improves PA 28
design, from 1947, with larger dimensions and new
technologies. Project is named PA54.
- Late1953 :
Project's modernisation with a 8.5 degrees angled deck
and repositioning of catapults and lifts.
|
1954
- May : Laying down
signed by Jacques Gavini, the PA 54 becomes
Clemenceau.
|
1955
- December : First
blocks are fitted in Laninon dock #9 at
Brest.
|
1957
- December 20th :
Hull to be floated.
|
1958
- Early 1958 : A
reduced staff is created.
|
1959
- Fitting problems with
catapults.
- September 29th :
Fitting out of the carrier for trials. Captain Lorain was
appointed as commanding officer.
|
1960
- Summer : 100 mm
AA turrets are fitted.
|
1961
- November 22nd :
Clemenceau is commissioned and assigned to the carrier
Task Force (ALPA), Toulon.
- November 29th :
Sailing into Toulon.
- December :
Training of Alizé
(4F - 9F) and Aquilon (11F -16F) equipped
squadrons.
|
1962
- January :
anti-air defense at sea training, at CEF, jointly with
ASW training.
- January 29th -
February 5th : Joins in OTAN exercise BigGame, with
the 6th Fleet (USS Saratoga and Intrepid), in Western
Mediterranean Sea, as an ASW carrier.
- March 9th - April 2nd
: Joins in NATO exercise Dawn Breeze VII, in
Gibraltar area. During that exercise : Gannets and Sea
Vixens from the Royal Navy perform take offs and
landings, so does a Crusader
from the CV Saratoga. The French Naval Aviation tests
this fighter before its purchase.
- May 4th - June 11th
: Joins in spring Fleet sortie with the CG Colbert,
ten destroyers and one oiler, in the Atlantic, the
Channel and the North Sea.
- August :
Exercises in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic, with
Alizés and HSS.
- October 8th - 11th
: Joins in national exercise Linois (escort of a
convoy Algeria-France).
- October 11th :
General de Gaulle goes on board, for the end of exercise.
Landing accident of an Alizé and death of two crew
men.
- October 17th - 20th
: Embarking of 4 Etendard
IV
(15F)
for assessment sortie.
|
1963
- February 11th - March
23rd : Joins in fleet sortie with 4F
(Alizé) and 16F (Aquilon) (HSS)
squadrons.
- August 6th - 10th
: Sails from Toulon to Brest. Regular overhaul for 7
months.
|
1964
- March 17th - 20th
: Engine tests on the Glénans
area.
- July 1st : Start
of the movie shooting "Le ciel sur la
tête".
- July 29th - August
9th : Carry on shooting at sea, off Provence coast,
with an air group (Alizés and
Etendard).
- October 7th - 23rd
: Join in fleet sortie Lavezzi II, off Bonifacio. ASW
exercise Libeccio.
- November 4th -
December 17th : Training at CEF, with 5 shorts
sorties with both planes/helicopters air groups. Anti-air
defense and ASW exercises.
|
1965
- February 22nd - March
26th : Join in fleet sortie Lobos, mainly off the
Canary islands. Air group includes 4F (Alizé), 31F
and 33F (HSS). French-spanish assault helicopter exercise
on Fuerteventura, on 9-10 March.
- April 28th - May 9th
: First landings aboard the Clemenceau for 4 F-8E
(FN) Crusader.
- May 12th - June 25th
: Join in NATO exercise Fair Game III (17-26 May),
and assault exercise Alligator in Corsica (10-12
June).
- October 14th - 16th
: Join in fleet sortie Lavezzi III, off Provence and
Corsica coasts.
|
1966
- January 1st :
Dock in for regular overhauling (one year), in NS
Brest.
|
1967
- January 19th - March
17th : Tests and training with the 4F,12F, 15F and
17F squadrons, in the Atlantic.
- April 17th - 29th
: ALPA training in the Mediterranean Sea with 9F,
12F, 15F and 16F squadrons.
- May 13th - June 10th
: Anti-air defense training.
- June 12th - 17th
: Sails from Toulon to Brest. Exercises with the
Mediterranean and Atlantic Fleets.
- September 1st -
October 13th : French-Ivorian combined arms exercise
Alligator III, in Ivory Coast, with the Mediterranean
Fleet, the Arromanches carrier and the amphibious
flotilla. Air group includes 6 Crusader (12 F), 8
Alizé (4F), 18 Etendard IV M (11 F) and Etendard
IV P (16F).
- November 8th -
December 1st : Training and carqual for 6F and 9F
(Alizé), 14F (Crusader), 15F, 17F and 59S
(Etendard) squadrons.
|
1968
- January 29th -
February 1st : Sortie off Toulon to assist search for
SS Minerve, declared missing on January 27, with HSS (31F
and 33F).
- February 1st - 9th
: Sortie with air group embarked for the Pacific
campaign. Its includes the 9F, 17F, 31 F (34 planes) and
22S (Alouette), reinforced during voyage by 4 Super
Frelon designated for 27S squadron (C.E.P.).
- March 12th - May 18th
: Sails from Toulon to Tahiti, rounding the Good Hope
Cape. On 12 March, carrier sails with an air group
including 12 Alizé (12F), 6 Etendard IVM (17F), 4
then 3 Etendard IVP (16F), 10 HSS (31F), 4 Super Frelon
(27S), 4 Alouette III and 6 Alouette II (22S). During
transit; she joins in french-malagasy exercise
Lémurien, before her call in
Madagascar.
On 20 April, in the
Indian Ocean, an Etendard IVP crashes at sea, after a jet
engine failure. Pilot ejects. He is safe and
sound.
- June 10th - September
11th : Joins in nuclear tests campaign of CEP in
Mururoa and Fangatufa : 4 tests (7 and 15 July, 3 and 4
August). The last is the first test-fire of a french
thermonuclear bomb.
- October 16th -
December 19th : Cruise Tahiti-France rounding the
Horn Cape, with Alfa Force and without Super Frelon (27S)
staying in Polynesia.
|
1969
- February 7th - March
3rd : Joins in winter cruise of the Atlantic Fleet
(7-20 February). French-spanish exercise Atlantide 69 on
25-28 February with the Mediterranean Fleet. Combined
air/helicopter group 4 F and 6 F (Alizé), 32 F and
33 F (HSS).
- March 5th - 14th
: 59S pilots' qualification ; 4F and 6F squadrons
training in the Mediterranean Sea.
- From April 24th :
Down time for repairs, then overhauling for 10
months.
|
1970
- March 16th - April
9th : Sea trials after the overhaul, then air
training with the 4F, 11F, 14F and 16F squadrons. Pilots
night qualifications on Crusader and
Etendard.
- May 19th - 22nd :
Landing exercise Goéland along the Morbihan coast
with the Arromanches
and the amphibious flotilla.
- May 24th - 28th :
Joins in anti-air defense exercise Datex 70, ruled by the
French Air Force.
- June 1st - 20th :
Spring cruise of Atlantic Fleet in the North Sea and the
Norwegian Sea. Call in Rotterdam on 5-9 June and in Oslo
15-18 June
- July 8th -13th :
First tests campaign of the Breguet Jaguar
Marine prototype
off Lorient (12 deck landings).
|
1971
- September 27th :
During a sortie for combined arms school, a fore catapult
sling slacks off at Etendard IV launching. No
casualties.
- October 15th - 26th
: Sails from Brest to Toulon and second tests
campaign for the Jaguar Marine in the Gulf of Lion (21
deck landings).
- November 22th - 26th
: Fast cruise Brest to Dakar and show of force,
organised by the ALPA. On a two days period, about 30
Crusader and Etendard , launched from the carrier, land
in Dakar. Air group includes the 4F, 12F, 14F, 16F and
17F squadrons. Carrier enters Dakar after four days at
sea.
- November 26th -
December 15th : ASW exercise Albatros.
|
1972
- February 9th :
During night catapult launch training, collision between
two Alizés. Two planes are damaged, but no
casualties.
- March 6th - 10th
: Combined arms exercise Frégate, helicopter
carrier version, with helicopterlift operation in Corsica
(Agriates desert), including 1300 paratroopers of the
11th Division, Marine commandos, Puma and Alouette
(ALAT), Super Frelon (32 F) and HSS (33 F).
- March 9th : Deck
landing damage of an Alouette on the fore flight deck.
Helicopter is destroyed. Crew and passengers safe and
sound.
- May 16th :
Accidental release of a sling during catapult launch of
an Etendard IVM, on side catapult. Plane stops before the
end of the angled deck. No consequences.
- May 22nd - June 11th
: Spring sortie for the Atlantic Fleet in the North
Sea and the Norwegian Sea. Operation Rayon Vert :
Etendard reconnaissance till Bear Islands and air
intercept training with Russian patrol planes "Bear" and
"Badger", by Crusader. Air group includes : 10
Alizé (4 F), 8 Crusader 14 F, 18 Etendard IV M (11
F) and (17 F), 4 Etendard IV P (16 F).
|
1973
- January 11th -
February 10th : NATO exercise Sunny Seas in the
Atlantic, with Fleet.
- January 23rd - 28th
: Loss at sea of a petty officer and a
sailor.
- February 12th :
Beginning of the overhaul at NS Brest.
- October 16th -
November 23rd : Test and training on.
- November 30th -
December 14th : Exercise Capricorne in the
Mediterranean Sea.
|
1974
- February 4th - 27th
: Aviation tests at sea, post overhaul .
- May 2nd - 4th :
Exercise Galère.
- May 6th - 28th :
Joins in the Atlantic Fleet for Spring cruise. Exercise
Croix du Sud, off Gibraltar. Call in Vigo 17-20
May.
- June 17th - 21st
: Intervention exercise Sterne 74 with the CV Foch,
in the Atlantic.
- September 24th :
A flight deck lorry falls in fore lift pit. Driver is
killed.
- September 23rd :
Saphor Task Force TO 624.2 is made up. It includes the CV
Clemenceau, the FF Tourville, Bouvet, and oilers Saone
and Aber Wrach. On board carrier, there are navy commando
Jaubert, 14 Etendard IV M (17F), 3 Etendard P (16F), 8
Crusader (14F), 5 Alizé (4F), 8 HSS (33F), 2 Super
Frelon (32F) and 2 Alouette III (22S). Task Force is
under command of Captain Degermann, commanding officer of
Clemenceau, staff is reinforced by 3 officers of Alacant
and Alpa.
- October 8th - March
25th : Operation SAPHIR.
- October 8th -
November 15th : Task Force including Clemenceau,
Bouvet and Saone, sails off Brest bound to Djibouti. It
arrives 15 November, after meeting with the Task Force
Leningrad (URSS) off Cape and exercises with warships on
area and land troops. A HSS is destroyed during a shore
exercise. No casualties.
- November 15th -
February 4th : During presence on area, Clemenceau
joins in operations Tarante, Galamo and Matapan in Aden
gulf.
|
1975
- February 7th :
Mauritius island is devastated by tropical cyclone
Genaise. Call is cancelled and Clemenceau, alone, steams
at 24 knots for Port-Louis. It arrives 10 February in the
morning. During a week, he joins in american, british and
russian assistance ships.
- March 25th : Come
back in Brest. End of operation SAPHIR.
- April 1st - June 30th
: Trials after overhauling and first tests of the
Super Etendard. Visit of the french Prime Minister
Jacques Chirac.
- September 18th -
October 1st : Carry on training off Brest. Landing
deck crash of a Crusader on 24 September (some material
damage).
- October 14th -
December 12th : Training sorties off Provence coast
and joining in national operation Datex on 20-24 October.
Call in Marseilles on 5-8 December.
|
1976
- May 3rd - 13th :
NATO exercise Dawn patrol with the american 6th
Fleet.
- July 11th : Joins
in Naval Parade off Nice and Toulon. French President
Giscard d'Estaing embarks on board.
- July 19th - September
15th : Beginning of the overhaul.
- October 1st - 12th
: NATO operation Display Determination with american
6th Fleet.
- October 25th -
December 10th : Second part of the
overhaul.
|
1977
- January 17th - March
4th : Tests of the Super Etendard and training
sorties.
- April 5th - June 21st
: Operation SAPHIR II. Naval air group is sent to a
presence operation in the Gulf of Aden. The new Republic
of Djibouti attains independence while its two
neighbours, Ethiopia and Somalia are at war in Ogaden
district.
- April 5th : Task
Force sails off Djibouti under command of captain
Ménettrier (ALPA). Air group includes 6
Alizé (4F), 16 Etendard IV M (17F 11F), 4 Etendard
IV P (16F), 10 Crusader (12F), 2 Super Frelon (32F) and 2
Alouette (23S).
The Suez canal is
crossed on 12 April, and carrier arrives at Djibouti on
16.
- April 16th - June
11th : Three training sorties in the Indian Ocean
(25-29 April, 6-12 May, 23-30 May).
- May 7th :
Skirmish between 2 F-8Es and 2 MIG-21s (South Yemen)
above Aden gulf. No consequences.
- May 18th : A
Super Frelon is destroyed during a take-off at
Ali-Sabieh.
- June 11th : A
Etendard IVP crashes at sea in the Gulf of Tadjourah.
Pilot is missing.
- June 21st :
Arrival in Toulon. End of operation SAPHIR
II.
- June 30th - July 13th
: Tests of the Super Etendard.
- July 13th :
Beginning of general overhaul, including
accommodation refit, CIC modernisation (SENIT), fittings
for Super Etendards and tactical nuclear arm.
|
1978
- November 22nd :
End of the overhaul - reconditioning. Sea trials till
January 1979.
|
1979
- January 29th to
February 22nd : Training at CEF (Centre
d'Entraînement de la Flotte).
- March 9th - 20th :
Joins in the Cariatides Fleet sortie in central
Mediterranean. On 11 March, serious accident during
catapult launch of an Etendard 17 F, on side catapult
(two missing, one dead, three wounded
persons).
- April 18th - May 2nd
: Amphibious exercise Exentia along Vendée
coast.
- May 9th to 24th :
Joins in NATO exercise Dawn Patrol, interrupted by damage
turbine.
- September 12th to
30th : Engine trials after repairs,
training.
- November 14th to 24th
: Exercice Iles d'Or with the mediterranean Fleet.
Implementation of Super-Etendard 11F.
- December 17th :
Reduce complement and start of a five months
overhaul. Rearrangement for Super-Etendard
|
1980
- May 13th - July 4th :
Full complement. Trials after overhauling and
preparation to operational condition.
- September 10th to
24th : Trials and air training.
- September 30th -
October 23rd : Joins in NATO exercise Display
Determination.
- December 1st to 12th
: Joins in Fleet exercise Frimas 80.
|
1981
- February 15th March
: Training exercises for nuclear operations
Tarot.
- March 10th - 27th :
Combined fleet exercise Ares 81, in the
Atlantic.
- May 11th - June 4th :
Joins in combined exercise Dual Dagger, then sortie
Coriolan of fleet air group in eastern
Mediterranean.
- June 2nd - 4th :
Training exercise to nuclear operations
Tora.
- September 7th - 18th
: Joins in combined exercise Ocean Safari 81 in
Atlantic, with two fleets ships and the USS
Eisenhower.
- October 19th - 25th
: Intervention exercise Frégate around
Argelès.
- October 26th : A
Crusader (12F) founders off Cape Camarat , after
catapulting from Clemenceau.
- October 27th - 31st :
Combined arms exercise Farfadet, in Corsica with the
11th Division and 27 Puma and Gazelle from the ALAT on
board.
- November 1st - 7th :
Exercises with the CV Foch. Nuclear operations
training Tarot 2
- November 14th - 30th
: Joins in Iles d'Or exercise with Fleet and American
6th fleet (USS Nimitz).
- December 14 - 16th
: Test fire campaign of the Super Etendard equipped
with AM-39 air-to-surface missiles, at the CEV (Flight
Test Center).
|
1982
- January 10th - 18th
: Helicopter lift exercise Agriates in Corsica, with
28 Puma helicopters from the ALAT and Super
Frelons.
- February 1st :
Start of the overhaul.
- June 28th - July 13th
: Joins in Naval Parade in Toulon under authority of
the French President, François Mitterand. Level
complement PA2 (helicopter carrier
complement)
- November 15th - 19th
: Carry on overhauling, then sea trials starting 25
October.
- November 21st -
December 6th : Sortie of the Carrier Group in the
Atlantic with the Foch (Thiof operation). Air group
includes 35 planes.
|
1983
- February 7th - 8th :
Fleet sortie Escaume, interrupted on the 7th by
damage (breakage of "carottes" steam inlets on the two
catapults. After coming back to Toulon, the Air group is
unloaded by crane on wharf and sent by land to
Hyères.
- March 8th - 18th :
Catapults tests.
- April 17th -22nd
: Joins in combined arms exercise Farfadet along
Languedoc-Roussillon coast with 15 planes and 20
helicopters (ALAT and navy)
- May 2nd - 12th :
Sortie with the CV Foch, then training with ALAT
helicopters.
- July 6th : night
deck landing damage of a Crusader (no
casualties).
- August 31st :
Warning condition for Lebanon intervention. The Foch
sails off 2 September.
- September 20th - 22nd
: Combined arms sortie with Air Army.
- September 30th :
Sail off Toulon for Middle-East, without air group on
board.
- October 4th - 6th
: The carrier joins the TF 452 in view of Beirut, 4
October in the morning. PAI transformation starts at sea
with helicopters and ends at Lamaka anchorage. 592 hands,
120 tons of ammunition and equipment are tranfered by
Ouragan CTMs and Super Frelons. Rear Admiral Klotz, CTF
452, and his staff, embark 5 October. Air group joins
carrier 6 October, after sailing off the two carriers (6
Crusader (12F), 15 Super Etendard (11F, 14F, 17F), 3
Etendard IV P (16F), 5 Alizé (6F) and 6 Super
Frelon (32 et 33F)).
- October 6th -
November 30th : operation OLIFANT XVIII. The carrier
received instruction, on 6 October in the evening, to
take position between Cyprus and Crete, to insure
technical call of 5 Super-Etendard lent by French
Government to Irak (at war with Iran). Piloted by French
naval pilots, they land 7 October in the evening and
catapulted next morning. They refuel in flight and land
at Bagdad without call.
- November 17th :
At 2 p.m., local time, the Clemenceau receives
instructions to launch reprisal operation, following the
23 October attempt against Drakkar building, against
terrorists basis near Baalbeck. An eight Etendard force
is launched at 1550B. Planes are fitted with four 400 kg
bombs or six 250 kg bombs. Two Crusader insure air
support on return. Target is hit at 1620B. All planes
come back.
- November 29th : A
Lynx (31F) from Dupleix, flounders by night, during a
passage between Beirut and Clemenceau (two deads, one
missing).
- November 30th :
Operation Olifant XVIII takes end and Rear Admiral Klotz
is replaced by Vice Admiral Louzeau as the CTF 452, 1
December.
- December 1st - March
14th : Operation OLIFANT XIX
- December 3rd :
Reconnaissance flight by 3 Etendard IVP equipped with
cameras, above Chiyah district in Beirut. They are
escorted by a Super Etendard.
- December 21st :
Following an attempt against the french position
Frégate in Beirut, a Super Frelon takes off at
2025B with medical gang. It comes back with 8
wounded.
|
1984
- January 4th :
Vice Admiral Louzeau and his staff are transferred on
board the FFG Duquesne. On 5 January, the carrier leaves
the area. She arrives in Toulon on 8 January. Change of
commanding officer on 12 January.
- January 12th - March
14th : Following, then end of operation OLIFANT
XIX.
- January 24th :
Departure from Toulon towards Lebanon. Air group includes
: six Crusader 12 F, ten Super-Etendard 11F et 14F, three
Etendard IV P 16F, five Alizé 4F, four
Super-Frelon 33F, two Lynx 31F and three Puma from
ALAT.
- February 15th :
An Alizé in operation, is hit by a ground-to-air
missile, probably Syrian, and comes back on board without
main damage.
- March 14th - May 4th
: Operation OLIFANT XX. During this time, the carrier
joins in operation Carrelet (withdrawal of french troops
from Beirut, then maintain French presence off
Lebanon.
- March 20th - 31st
: Operation Carrelet. Reembarkation of french troops
in Beirut, aboard the Esterel, the Ouragan and the
Clemenceau.
- July 31th - September
14th : Return to PA1 complement. Turbine damage on 14
September.
- September 17th -
January 10th : Turbine repair, then propulsion
trials. Recover PA1 complement.
|
1985
- February 3rd - 22nd :
Joins in fleet exercise Amphora.
- February 25th - March
21st : Exercise Tarot 85.
- May 4th - 16th :
Joins in NATO exercise Distant Hammer in
Mediterranean.
- May 9th :
Crusader deck crash, during night landing. Plane is
destroyed, pilot safe and sound. An other Crusader is
damaged.
- May 17th - June 4th :
joins in fleet sortie Amphitrite.
- May 28th : During
a landing approach, an Alizé, crashes on sea on
the aft of the carrier. Pilot missing, three other crew
members safe.
- September 3rd :
Reduced complement and docking for the overhaul and
modernisation during 4 months (repair of propulsion
system, extension of connexion, computing and
intelligence systems, fitting two self-defense Crotale
Naval Edit in place of two 100 mm batteries (fore
starboard and aft port).
|
1986
- October 31st :
Beginning trials after overhauling (sea trials,
aviation and Crotale tests).
|
1987
- January 23th :
End of trials.
- March 9th - April 3rd
: Air group Nord to be embarked. From 16 March, Fleet
training sortie Odysseus.
- April 27th - May 16th
: Follow up training. Joining in OTAN exercise Dragon
Hammer from 6 to 13 May.
- May 16th - June 26th
: Joining in fleet cruise Armorique in the
Mediterranean and the Atlantic.
- June 12th :
Crusader to be damaged at landing in Biscay
gulf.
- July 25th :
During Saturday to Sunday night, carrier receives orders
to take 24 hours alert for an overseas operation. It is
the summer leave period for Clemenceau (watch by watch).
Naval air group 623.2 is made up under tactical command
of rear admiral Le Pichon (ALPA). It includes Clemenceau,
Suffren, Duquesne and oiler Meuse. Air group includes 8
Crusader (12F), 14 Super Etendard (11F, 17F), 2 Etendard
IV P (16F), 6 Alizé (4F), 2 Super Frelon (33F), 2
Lynx (31f) and 2 Alouette III (23S).
- July 30th - August
12th : TG 623.2 sails off bound to Suez, on afternoon
30 July. It passages Suez canal on 5 August and arrives
in Aden gulf on 10 August.
- August 13th :
Beginning of the operation Prométhée.
The ship receives orders to position in Oman sea.
Instructions are given to insure french merchant traffic
cover in Persian gulf during war between Iran and Iraq.
She arrives on area on 15 August.
- November 12th -
December 1st : Third patrol in operation area.
Iranian P3F to be intercepted by CAP
Crusader.
- December 10th : A
Lynx is damaged during a flight (it takes off from land).
No casualties.
|
1988
- January 20th :
Interception of two russian Mays. They were patrolling on
zone.
- February 14th - March
15th : Fifth patrol in operations' area. Carry on
merchant vessels' protection, naval and air Iranian
activities intelligence, training both with air group of
the USS Enterprise..
- April 7th - May 6th
: Sixth patrol in operations' area. Recrudescence of
tension between United States and Iran after explosion of
the USS Roberts on mine and American reprisals against
three oil platforms and naval Iranian ships. Protection
of merchant ships in Ormuz strait. Interception of
Russian May and Iranian P3 planes.
- May 26th - June 26th
: Presence operation in Indian Ocean.
- June 26th - August
15th : Sixth patrol in operations' area.
- July 17th : Super
Etendard #54 is damaged during night flight. Pilot is
killed.
- August 15th -
September 4th : Overhaul period at Djibouti. Air
group comes back to France.
|
1989
- January 19th -
February 3rd : Fleet cruise to Iberia.
- February 4th - 14th
: Combined exercise Phinia with the Foch and the USS
Theodore Roosevelt carriers.
- February 4th : A
Crusader crashes on sea during a patrol. Pilot missing.
Plane destroyed.
- May 16th - November
17th : Overhauling.
- November 20th -
December 20th : Trials following the overhaul.
Training of ALAT pilots.
|
1990
- January 22nd -
February 9th : Carry on trials after IPER, then
carqual of pilots.
- March : 5th - 26th :
Training at the CEF.
- March 29th - 30th
: ALAT pilots training.
- April 20th - May 2nd
: Exercise Dam/Tam, then Farfadet (helicopter
intervention with ALAT).
- June 18th - 29th :
Trials of modernised Super-Etendard and Etendard IVP.
Alpha Jet landing approaches. Puma training for
ALAT.
- August 9th : At
2000Z, carrier is on alert while crewmen are on summer
leave (watch and watch, and relieve period.
- August 12th:
Embarkation of 4 Puma, 30 Gazelle, 70 vehicles and 600
men of 5th RHC.
- August 13th :
Operation Salamandre. Sail off of the TG 623.3 under
command of rear admiral Wild. It includes the Clemenceau,
the Colbert and the Var. Last planes of air group embark
in the afternoon (4 ALM (4F), 8 Puma (5th RHC) and 2
Dauphin).
The ship sails off
Djibouti 28 August. After exercises in Oman gulf with
Emirates and Oman sultanate army, she call in Yanbu to
disembark part of the 5th RHC.
- December 1st - 17th :
Trials of modernised Super-Etendard.
|
1991
- February 4th - March
27th : Deck landing qualifications.
- April 8th - 15th
: Fleet exercise Sardinia.
- May 31st - June 14th
: NATO exercise Ocean Safari in Atlantic, with 110
ships from 11 allied states.
- June 18th - 28th
: Trials and operational evaluation American Hawkeye
E2C.
- July 21st : At
berth, in NS Toulon, important fire in hangar #3,
damaging landing brakes located at top of the
hangar.
- September 16th -
November 8th : Three training sorties for ALAT
pilots.
- November 12th - 15th
: Combined exercise Iles d'Or 91 (40 ships of nine
states)
- November 19th - 20th
: French-Tunisian exercise Pangolin.
|
1992
- January 2nd :
Start of long time overhaul.
- June 5th - 25th :
End of the overhaul and sea trials.
- September 21st -
October 23rd : Recce training. ALFAN and ALAE
exercise Dasix - La Fayette exercice Tarot.
- November 5th - 26th
: Sortie Hamilcar with the FAN (Naval Action Force).
French-Tunisian exercise Pangolin. Italian exercise Isola
Bella.
|
1993
- January 25th :
Carrier calls off for young pilots qualifications. She is
back in Toulon on 26 January to prepare departure bound
to the Adriatic.
- January 28th - March
15th : Operation Balbuzar, first patrol. On 28
January, carrier sails off again. Rear admiral Wild, CTG
470.1 and his staff are on board. This CTG is a part of
the TG 470 including the CV Clemenceau, the FFG
Jean-Bart, the FFG Suffren, the FF La Motte Picquet, the
FF Georges Leygues, the LPD Foudre and the AOR Marne and
Meuse. Air group includes 18 Super Frelon (17F, 11F), 4
Crusader (12F), 3 Etendard IV PM (16F), 6 Alizé
(6F), 4 Super Frelon (32F. 33F), 2 Dauphin and 1 Alouette
III (23S).
- January 31st :
Carrier cruises on the Adriatic zone where is the USS
Kennedy task force. Planes are in warning condition for
reconnaissance, support, intercept and SAR
operations.
- March 29th - June
21st : Operation Balbuzar, second patrol.
- March 29th : TG
470.1 formed with the CV Clemenceau, the FF Georges
Leygues and the FFG Cassard, sails off. Air group is the
same. A half navy commando Jaubert (then Trepel) is
embarked.
- April 8th : First
operation of Alizé ELINT.
- April 12th :
Beginning of operation Deny Flight/Crécerelle.
Night and day fighters above Bosnia. This evening, an Air
Force Mirage 2000 crashes on sea, because of jet engine
failure. Pilot is expelled. Located by a Lynx from the
Cassard, he is salved by a Dauphin from the CV Clemenceau
on limit of Croats territorial waters.
- May 17th : First
recce operation above Bosnia-Herzegovina by Etendard
IVPM.
- August 27th :
Change of commanding officer. During this mission, 44
recce sorties by Etendard IVP above Bosnia and 91 ELINT
sorties by Alizé, have been done. Fire support
training (Bosnia standard) started above italian fields
of fire, for Super-Etendards.
- September 2nd -
October 15th : Operation Balbuzard, third patrol.
Carrier sails 2 September in the evening with staff of
rear-admiral Witrand (CTF 470) on board, joined by the
FFG Suffren and the AOR Meuse to relieve Foch. Air group
includes 15 Super Etendard (11F), 4 Etendard IV PM (16F),
6 Alizé (4F), 2 Super Frelon (33F), 2 Dauphin, 1
Alouette III (23S) and 2 Puma (ALAT).
- September 7th :
The Clemenceau is on area and starts flights above
Bosnia. Support and air alert flights start with
Super-Etendard fitted with bombs or rockets. Air
activities are coordinated with those of the CV USS
America and the CVS HMS Invincible, so in the Adriatic
Sea.
- September 18th :
Catapult launch of two Sucap in alert for the benefit of
TG440, which operates mission Sharp Guard (embargo
control of Serbia and Montenegro).
During this operation
: 64 tactical scouting sorties, 66 support sorties, 36
ELINT sorties for Deny Flight/Crécerelle, 12 Sucap
sorties for Shap Guard, have been done.
|
1994
- March 24th - May 3rd
: Operation Balbuzard, fourth patrol.
- March 24th :
Departure from Toulon with the FFG Jean Bart and the
AOR Marne. The Rear-Admiral Witrand and his staff are on
board. Air group is similar. Half of navy commando
Penfentenyo is on board.
- March 27th :
During passage, one Super-Etendard 5 crashes on sea.
Pilot is safe and sound. Air operations restart :
scouting, support, ELINT for Deny Flight, Sucap for Sharp
Guard. USS Saratoga and Ark Royal are on
area.
- April 15th :
Etendard IVPM #115 is hit by a ground-to-air missile
during a recce on Gorazde. Pilot, lieutenant-commander
Clary, comes back with the damaged plane.
- June 5th - 14th :
Combined exercises Iles d'Or, then
Dam/Tam.
- June 9th :
Salving of an American helicopter Sea Hawk, lost in
night fog.
- July 4th - July 29th
: Operation Balbuzard, fifth patrol.
- July 4th : Sail
off from Toulon with the FFG Cassard and the AOR Marne.
Air group includes 14 Super Etendard (11F), 4 Etendard IV
PM (16F), 4 Crusader (12F), 5 Alizé (4F), 2 Super
Frelon (33F), 2 Dauphin, 1 Alouette III (23S) and 2 Puma
(ALAT). On zone, carrier meets the CVN USS Georges
Washington and the CVS HMS Ark Royal. Same mission as
previous.
- July 29th :
During the mission : 50 recce sorties, 82 night and
day support for Deny Flight, 16 Sucap sorties for Sharp
Guard have been done.
- August 13th - 14th
: Naval parade off Provence coast.
- August 16th - October
10th : Pre-overhaul, PA2 complement. Overhauling from
2 October 1994 until 28 June 1995.
|
1995
- June 28th : End
of the overhaul.
- June 29th - July 28th
: Trials and beginning of training.
- November 15th - 16th
: Propulsion trials.
- November 22nd - 28th
: Two air trials.
- December 6th - 17th
: Scouting reconnaissance ALFAN, then
ALAE.
- December 14th :
Loss at sea of an Alizé (4F) during return of
operation. Crew safe and sound.
- December 17th -
February 8th : Salamandre operation, first
patrol.
- December 17th :
Sailing from Toulon with the FFG Jean Bart and the
AOR Meuse. Rear-admiral Célérier, CTF 470,
is on board. Air group South is in connexion with the
last operation Balbuzard.
- December 20th :
Start of air operations above Bosnia, for Decisive
Edge. Presence on area of the CV USS America and the CVS
HMS Illustrious.
|
1996
- January 19th :
Restart of operational flights for Decisive
Endeavour
- February 8th :
During this operation : 46 tactical scouting sorties,
128 support sorties, 10 ELINT sorties, 30 CAP sorties for
the benefit of Decisive Endeavour.
- March 13th - 29th :
Operation Salamandre, second patrol.
- March 16th - 27th :
38 recce sorties, 86 night and day support sorties, 5
ELINT sorties, 11 CAP sorties have been done.
- March 29th - April
4th : Qualification sortie.
- June 2nd - 4th :
Trials of modernised Super-Etendard.
- June 5th - 6th :
Exercise Dam/Tam.
- June 10th - 25th :
Training sortie FAN.
- September 16th -
October 3rd : Training sortie FAN.
- October 20th - 25th
: Exercise Esterel et qualification
sortie.
- November 25th -
December 9th : Operation Salamandre, third
patrol.
- November 25th :
Way out with the FFG Duquesne and the AOR
Marne.
- November 28th :
Start of flights above Bosnia. The Clemenceau is the only
one carrier on area.
- December 9th :
Results : 26 reconnaissance sorties, 30 support
sorties, 2 ELINT sorties.
|
1997
- January 29th -
February 28th : FAN training sortie with GASM ships
.
- March 23rd - 28th :
Qualification sortie.
- May 20th - 30th :
Exercise Iles d'Or. The Clemenceau joins in TG
EUROMARFOR.
- May 23rd : Loss
of an Etendard IVPM. Jet engine failure during take off.
Rescued pilot, safe and sound.
- June 2nd - 6th :
Qualification sortie.
- June 7th - July 17th
: Sortie Flambeau.
- July 16th :
Retired sailors sortie.
- July 17th :
Commanding officers sortie.
- September 25th :
decommissioned.
|
2000
- Clemenceau is anchored
in Toulon, waiting to be transferred to the brazilian
navy, with the Foch.
|