French shipyard CMN Group starts construction of landing ships for undisclosed African country.

According to information published by the French news website "Actu.fr" on January 11, 2022, the French shipyard company CMN Group has started the construction of landing ships for an undisclosed African country. The ship is designed to conduct amphibious operations, transport combat vehicles and troops.
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Artist rendering of new landing ship that will be built by the French Shipyard CMG Group. (Picture source Actu.fr via CMN Group)

This is the first time, that French shipyard CMG Group built landing ships. In 2016, CMN has received a contract to build 20 ships for an African country. The first landing ship is planned to be delivered in the summer of 2023, and the second ship in 2025.

Landing Ship, Tank (LST), or tank landing ship, is the naval designation for ships designed to support amphibious operations by carrying tanks, vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto shore with no docks or piers. This enabled amphibious assaults on almost any beach.

According to technical features published by the French website "Actu.fr", the new CMN landing ship will be powered by two engines driving two shafts and will be able to reach a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h). The ship will have a crew of 18 sailors.

The new CMN landing ship will have a length of 70 m and a width of 10.6 m. The hull of the ship and its superstructures are made of steel. Watertight bulkheads ensure survivability in the event of damage. The ship will be able to carry up to 200 tons of military equipment, troops, and combat vehicles.

The CMN landing ship has been designed to transport up to 260 soldiers and has also a 5.25m small ship with a dedicated crane that can be used to perform landing operations.