Description
Commissioned in 1961, the FS Clemenceau (R98) was the lead ship of her class and served as the cornerstone of the French Navy for 36 years. As a conventional 32,780-ton CATOBAR carrier, she represented a major post-WWII advancement in French naval aviation, capable of handling around 40 aircraft, including F-8 Crusaders and Super Étendards.
Throughout her career, Clemenceau sailed over a million nautical miles, spending 3,125 days at sea and conducting over 70,000 catapult launches. She played a vital role in Cold War surveillance, international crises, and peacekeeping, notably becoming the first French vessel to embark female personnel in 1983. Decommissioned in 1997, she left a legacy as one of France’s most durable and versatile warships before being dismantled in 2010. Her name is synonymous with France’s post-war commitment to maritime power projection.
