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France Deploys Its Only Aircraft Carrier To Fight ISIS
In mid-October, just as Russian presence in Syria was ramping up and Putin unviled the creation of Russia's first air base in the region based in the Bassel al Assad air base (from where it could easily reach as far as the Suez Canal), we reported that in a previously disclosed move, the US would do something it has almost never done before: leave the Persian Gulf, and the US Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain, with a "gap" in U.S. aircraft carrier support in a region that has traditionally been rather volatile.
Previously we wrote that while in 5th Fleet, the CVN-71 USS Theodore Roosevelt was the largest symbol in the U.S.-led anti-ISIS collation responsible for "1,812 combat sorties totaling 10,618 combat flight hours, taking on 14.5 million gallons of jet fuel and expending 1,085 precision-guided munitions," as part of Operation Inherent Resolve." It has
We concluded by saying that whatever the reason behind the US naval "gap" may be, one thing is clear: the departure of the Roosevelt comes at a particularly awkward time - just as Russia is setting up its own aicraft base in Syria.
We may have been too early.
As Reuters reported earlier today, just as one US carrier was leaving the middle east, another widely feared and respected geopolitical superpower was set to replace US carrier presence in the Middle East in the ongoing war against "ISIS" - France.
Earlier today, in a statement by the French presidency following a meeting of its defence cabinet, the government said it would send its only aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle warship, to the eastern Mediterranean for operations against Isis in both Syria and Iraq.
According to the Independent, "the deployment of the battle group alongside the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier has been decided to participate in operations against Daesch and its affiliate groups," the statement said after a defense cabinet meeting, referring to the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.
The carrier is usually accompanied by an attack submarine, several frigates, refueling ships, as well as fighter jets and surveillance aircraft Reuters adds.
"The aircraft carrier will enable us to be more efficient in coordination with our allies," Hollande said at the inauguration of the new defense ministry headquarters in Paris
The Charles de Gaulle is the largest warship in western Europe, and the only nuclear-powered aircraft carrier outside the US fleet. It can support up to 40 fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.
France launched its first air strikes against Isis in Syria in late September, in what was described as an act of self defence. "We will strike each time that our national security is at stake," the French presidency said. France was the first country to join the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq and has also provided limited logistical support to Syrian rebels it considers moderate, including Kurds.
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Finally, those asking where the CVN-71 is currently (deep in the South China Sea next to the hotly contested Spratly islands), or the locations of the rest of the US Navy's key assets around the globe, the following map from Stratfor should provide the answer.
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Americans think they are such great warriors - lucky for them 90% of the Wehrmacht was on the Eastern front or they would have been food for the Eels.
Right.
Yes, the Germans gave the French a terrible beating. But it took the combined strength of the United States, Great Britain, Soviet Russia, Canada, etc., to beat the Germans.
It’s asking rather a great deal of France to match such strength against hers – with an air inferiority of 1 vs. 5. The US never faced more than 15% of the Wehrmacht – 80% were in the East - when France had to face alone 100% of Hitler's war machine in 1940 – plus 22 Italian divisions in the south.
Actually, at the time France had the biggest army in Europe. They matched the Germans in terms of heavy artillery, machine guns and tanks. Both armies though were not fully mechanized. However, the Germans had better tactics, better air force and had better combined warfare. The French thought it would going to be a rerun of WWI and counted on the Maginot Line to cover the east flank. But the Germans set a trap making the French think they would encircle Paris from the left just like they tried in WWI. The Germans however concentrated their tanks as a speer head in the Ardene. When the Germans broke at Sedan and made a dash for the coast, the resisting French tanks and artillery were effectively taken out by combined dive bombers (Stuka) and anti tank guns.
Americans always make fun of the fact the French surrendered (after they lost 100,000 and sacrificed many of them so the Brits could get out of France) but if America had been immediately adjacent to France the Germans would have walked all over them considering that the US army at the time wasn't prepared.
Given your scenario, I agree.
Our former snottiness comes from the Oceans separation.
LOL France... Do they even bother to launch before they eject or do they just do it right on the deck while the engines are spooling?
Make fun all you like, but I'll have you know that French pilots are every bit as skillful in combat as the Hanoi Songbird.
French rifles for sale: Never fired, only dropped once
I bet it has great food....
if its the de Gaulle...it has a big nose....
Do they have any planes on it....or just truffle hunting dogs or pigs..
sorry..French aircraft carrier just makes e laugh...
I forgot that France even had a carrier! Do they still remember how to use it?
The Charles de Gaulle ? Shouldn't it be in England hiding ERRRRRR! governing in exile?
Apparently the most dangerous thing to all the dying Iranian Generals in Syria are Russian pilots.
"Iran’s Mashriq news agency said General Moslem Khizab was killed in Syria while on an advisory mission coordinating Russian and Syrian air land operations."
No - Israeli ones. Israel has been aiding and abetting Christian murdering terrorists while Iran and Hezbollah have been fighting them. Indeed, the Lebanese resistance force has defended Christians from the onslaughts of US/Israeli/Saudi/Turkish-backed foreign takfiri terrorists.
All while Jewish settlers vandalized and defaced several Christian churches in occupied Palestine and in Israel proper.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/world/middle-east/article41...
Again, Israel has supported and armed ISIS and violated Syrian sovereignty repeatedly in order to get at forces actively fighting ISIS.
That's because ISIS is, primarily, Likud Israel's proxy.
"For comparison: Only 1 American general has died in combat in 40 years"
That's because they hide far to the rear. Only the enlisted grunts see real combat in the US military.
israel's proxy army
we didn't really think eretz israel would come about because of the brave and moral IDF doing all the dirty work, did we?
Nah, casualties are for the goyim.
The Charles de Gaulle, or FS Surrender?
Excuse me, but did this article just define the French navy as a"widely feared and respected geopilitical superpower"?
They forgot the sarc tag.
Catapulting cows. Getting away from onions and bo they're the lucky ones.
What would happen if the usa parked all its aircraft carriers?
The radioactive reagan,,,lol
200,000 more people collecting food stamps. Cheap by comparison.
Russia's carrier just entered the mediterannean...
Not counting the ones that hover at 10,000 feet.
operation BigNose?
Won't it get stuck in the sand if it fights ISIS ?
mustard gas first time confirmed near aleppo.
we will have full war soon.
The French will counter the mustard gas with cheese farts.
And berets.
Seriously folks...lmao An aircraft carrier is useless against anyone with a halfway decent arsenal...One shot and they're done.....Could you imagine a Kamikaze act with something like an F16 head on collision with one of those with a full load of munitions. KAFUCKINGBOOM! Game Over.
This isn't about attacking ISIS. This is the Jewish element in the French Cabinet ordering the carrier to the eastern Med to defend Israel against the Russian attacks that will inevitably follow when it becomes clear to Moscow Mossad was behind the bombing of their plane.
seems every Western govt has that particular "element" doesn't it
no amount of goy sacrifice is too small in the defense of israel
goy killing goy? such a bonus and the source of much joy in Kikestan
Indeed. Anybody who thinks France would mobilize the biggest aircraft carrier in Europe - its only aircraft carrier - together with all the ancillary vessels just to defeat ISIS is a potato-picking moron. This is about the Jew-infiltrated French government stationing French assets at Israel's doorstep to defend it in the war to come.
Moscow won't retaliate that way.....
There will just be many accidental 'falling down stairs' incidents in Isreal.
Squid
Shouldn't the US be warning the French that their making a mistake and will be bogged down in a quagmire? I recall them telling somebody else that!
"... another widely feared and respected geopolitical superpower ... France"
Superpower ?
France ?
How can you be a superpower and a US colony at the same time ?
The French? Going to a fight? Where are they starting, Tahiti?
These are so easy targets.
Even a 5 KT N.Cracker can send each of these tinnys into the fiery hell below.
I think the Chinese & Russians small frigates can take on these , I urge these countries to give their small frigates 5 KT shells for their cannons , just in case.