The Force d'action navale (FAN, Naval Action Force) is the 12,000-man and about 100-ship strong backbone of the French Navy. As of 2006, it is commanded by Vice-Amiral d’Escadre Philippe Sautter.
The ships are divided into seven categories:
- The aeronaval group, which has the aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle at its core
- The amphibious group, based around the "Projection and Command vessels" (currently ships of the Mistral or Foudre classes)
- Frigates, which act either as protection for the strategic groups, or alone in monitoring, survey, presence, rescue or deterrence missions
- Minesweepers
- "Sovereignty" ships, which are deployed overseas and act as presence and prevention forces
- Support vessels
- Public service ships, and hydrographic and oceanographic vessels
Read more about Force D'action Navale: The Aeronaval Group, The Amphibious Group, Frigates, Minesweepers, Sovereignty Vessels, Support Ships, Hydrographic and Océanographic Vessels
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—Gustave Flaubert (1821–1880)