BATRAL-class landing ship

BATRAL class
	BATRAL Francis Garnier
Class overview
Builders	DCN, Brest; ASMAR, Talcahuano;
Succeeded by	Bâtiment Multimission (B2M)
General characteristics
Type	Landing ship tank
Displacement	770 t, 1,330 t fully loaded
Length	80 m (262 ft 6 in)
Beam	13 m (42 ft 8 in)
Draught	3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Installed power	2 × diesel SACM Wärtsilä UD 33 V12 M4; 3,600 hp (2,700 kW); Electric power: 2 × DA 180 kW;
Propulsion	2 × 4-bladed propellers
Speed	16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range	4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Complement	3 officers; 15 petty officers; 26 quarter-masters;
Sensors and ; processing systems	1 × Decca 1226 navigation radar; Inmarsat system;
Armament	2 × 40 mm anti-air guns; 2 × 12.7 mm machine guns;
Aviation facilities	Helicopter landing deck

The Bâtiment de Transport Léger (abbreviated BATRAL; "Light ferry ship") are small landing ships of the French Navy. Also known as Champlain class by the lead ship,^[2] they have been used for regional transport and patrol needs in French Overseas Departments and Territories since the 1970s.^[1] On 9 January 2014 it was announced that the two remaining Batrals in French service would be replaced in 2015/16 by three (subsequently four) 1500-tonne Bâtiments Multimission (B2M) at a cost of ~€100m (US$136m).^[1]

Quick Facts Class overview, General characteristics ...

Close

Design

The BATRALs can ferry over 400 tons of matériel, in the hangar and on the deck. Loading and unloading can be done from a harbour or on a beach. Two flat-bottom vessels allow unloading fifty men and light vehicles each. The accommodations are designed for a Guépard-type intervention unit (five officers, fifteen petty officers and 118 men), or for typical company-sized armoured units. A helicopter landing deck allows landing for light helicopters, and transfer to and from heavy helicopters.