Life on board France's naval flagship

Often more resembling a cruise-ship than a nuclear aircraft carrier, life on board the Charles de Gaulle is carefully planned to help the sailors pass their time during the 40-day long missions. Liberty Presse's team looks at how life is organised in this floating city, home to 2000 servicemen

Life on board a nuclear aircraft may seem exciting, but, during the month-long missions, time needs to be carefully planned to avoid boredom: from an aerobics clubs to a hairdressers, everything a sailor needs is on hand. Our team takes you aboard to have a look at the organisation and logistics required to ensure the smooth-running of this floating city. We also look at the keys to avoiding homesickness -- from traditional french cooking to a fully functioning post-office ; even in the Indian Ocean, the sailors are never far from home.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Life
• on
• board
• French
• naval
• flagship
• libertypresse
• navy
• charles
• de
• gaulle
• aircraft
• carrier

[Waldganger64]

UK? Global dominance? Seriously guys... That's what you gave up in last 40's, remember?

Let's be honest, none of european country can claim any of global dominance if taken apart. Let's forge a european army, with a common foreign policy and then we'll get global dominance, as US do.

But, if I take a look at the recent european elections, you guys are heading exactly the opposite way. I think it's too bad.

[konagalvo]

God Bless America. They do this 24/7 365 days a year. It's great having and friend like France, and thier people to stand shoulder to shoulder with. Very impressive. makes me feel like we have a strong brother with us.

[MrDavidHarrison]

@konagalvo - Nice to see a Yank have something good to say about the Frogs, regards, a God-damn Limey... ;-P

[jetaddicted]

@InfiniteMushroom and i'd rather adhere to a german or japanese attitude towards protecting our assets,theyy seem to do just fine without the use of military firepower

don't you think?

[jetaddicted]

@InfiniteMushroom what can i say... i believe we have enough problems at home to stop considerig ourselves a "world power",besides,our protection is ensured by the FOST (our nuke subs) and the FATAC (our nuke equipped jet squadrons)

the CDG in itself is only a "half carrier",since it's on docks half the time,either you have 2,or you have none.

the projection of power is sufficient with our BPCs and already deployed forces (africa,guyana,UAE...)

[InfiniteMushroom]

@jetaddicted The only way the CDG will ever prove itself as an instrument of foreign policy, and not a hobby of the state, is if vital French holdings in Africa were seized by a hostile group. Then, France would have to act independently and send the CDG, and ground forces, to retake those holdings. Only then will France know whether it can project power as a sovereign nation, instead of playing a "me too" role in support of America's criminal narco-terrorist actions in Afghanistan.

[jetaddicted]

@InfiniteMushroom i agree it is a waste of money...

yet,we have assets in more places of the world than you might think,especially in africa,and that CDG carrier was of some help when it's rafales and hawkeyes went on a visit to afghanistan.

[jetaddicted]

@Waldganger64 you did understand it all.

kudos!

(and sorry to respond to an 11 month old comment)

[InfiniteMushroom]

What a waste of a fine ship of war.

Unlike the U.S. France has no need to project power to protect central bank holdings in foreign lands and foreign collateral pledged to global banks based in France.

An aircraft carrier like the de Gaulle is a hobby of the state, not an instrument of state department goals. Unlike the U.S. it isn't used as part of an orchestrated coup to seize foreign assets.

Unlike France, the U.S. is a cold-blooded killer and carries out the will of the banking mafia.

[Waldganger64]

I think we will need each other more than ever in the next 50 years. God bless america.

[eldudu74]

actually,our balls grew waaaay before yours,& we,for instance,financed and even fought for your freedom,a certain amount of time ago

as far as the present is concerned,i believe we don't have to blush,apart from irak(thank god we didn't go!),we were in nearly ALL outside operations since WWII,getting the most medals in korea,for instance,or dying with you in lebanon82,kicking lybian ass in chad 76-82,bloking coups like in abidjan04,sending doctors,not stingers,to soviet invaded afghans...