French minesweeper Vulcain

Vulcain (M611) is a Vulcain-class minesweeper of the French Navy. She is classed by the French Navy as a BBPD type vessel (French: bâtiment-base de plongeurs démineurs) and is used as a base ship for clearance divers.

Vulcain at Caen in 2013
History
France
NameVulcain
BuilderChantiers et ateliers de la Perrière, Lorient
Laid down15 May 1985
Launched17 January 1986
Commissioned11 October 1986
Identification
StatusActive in service
General characteristics
TypeVulcain-class minesweeper
Tonnage490 DWT
Displacement409 tonnes
Length41.6 m (136 ft 6 in)
Beam7.5 m (24 ft 7 in)
Draught3.20 m (10 ft 6 in)
Installed power2,200 hp
Propulsion
Speed13.5 knots (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph)
Range
  • 7,400 nmi (13,700 km; 8,500 mi) at 9 kn (17 km/h; 10 mph)
  • 2,850 nmi (5,280 km; 3,280 mi) at 13.5 kn (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph)
Complement
  • 1 officer
  • 10 petty officers
  • Quartermasters and sailors
Armament2 × AA-52 machine guns

Construction and career

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Vulcain was launched on 17 January 1986[1] and commissioned on 11 October.[2] She is based in Cherbourg Naval Base, in Cherbourg, France, and is run by the 1st GPD Groupement de Plongeurs démineurs, a group of French Army clearance divers. Since 16 May 1987, she has been symbolically linked with the town of Honfleur. The personnel on board usually comprises 12 divers, 1 medical officer and 1 nurse.

Other BBPDs of the Vulcain type are:

  • BBPD Styx - M614
  • BBPD Pluton - M622
  • BBPD Achéron - A613

See also

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Citations

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  1. ^ Jordan, p. 132
  2. ^ Saunders, p. 242

Bibliography

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  • Jordan, John (1995). "France". In Chumbley, Stephen (ed.). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 95–131. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  • Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2004). Jane's Fighting Ships 2004–2005. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2623-1.