France sends Mistral-class amphibious assault ship Tonnerre to help Gaza.

According to reports published by AFP on 26 October 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron said that a navy hospital ship would be sent to help the civilian population of the Gaza Strip. The vessel is believed to be the Mistral-class Tonnerre.
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U.S. Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit embark aboard the French amphibious assault ship LHD Tonnerre in 2017. (Picture source: Dvids)

Characterized by a displacement range from 16,500 tonnes (empty) to 32,300 tonnes (with ballast), and dimensions of 199 meters in length, the Tonnerre is designed for extensive operational demands.

The propulsion system encompasses 2 Mermaïd electric motors, facilitating a speed of 18.8 knots, and ensuring a considerable range of up to 19,800 kilometers at a cruising speed of 15 knots.

The Tonnerre's capacity includes room for 2 barges, one Leclerc battalion, 70 vehicles, along with a crew and passenger complement of 20 officers, 80 petty officers, 60 Quarter-masters, and 450 passengers.

It also accommodates an onboard headquarters with 150 personnel. The armament onboard comprises 2 Simbad systems and 4 12.7 mm M2-HB Browning machine guns. The vessel can host 16 heavy or 35 light helicopters.

An important feature of the Tonnerre is its NATO Role 3 medical facility, akin to the field hospital of an Army division or army corps, or a hospital serving a 25,000-inhabitant city.

This facility boasts comprehensive medical services including dentistry, diagnostics, specialist surgical and medical capabilities, food hygiene, and psychological care. A Syracuse-based telemedicine system further enriches the medical service, enabling complex specialized surgery procedures.

The 900 m² hospital area comprises 20 rooms and 69 hospitalization beds, with 7 dedicated for intensive care. The two surgery blocks are well-equipped, featuring a radiology room for digital radiography and ultrasonography, and provision for a mobile CT scanner. In exigent circumstances, 50 additional medicalized beds can be set up in a helicopter hangar to extend the hospital's capacity.

Tonnerre's operational history includes participation in notable missions like Opération Licorne, Corymbe 92 humanitarian mission, and support during the Libyan Civil War in 2011.