French tanker Var

For other ships of the same name, see French ship Var.

French tanker Var
File:French Ship Var (A 608).jpg Var underway on 4 December 2006
Career (France)
Name:	Var
Namesake:	Var
Builder:	Brest Arsenal, Brest
Laid down:	8 May 1979
Launched:	1 June 1981
Commissioned:	29 January 1983
Homeport:	Toulon
Identification:	Maritime Mobile Service Identity number: 228781000 Callsign: FBVA Pennant number: A 608
Status:	Active
General characteristics of French ships
Type:	Durance-class replenishment oiler and command ship
Displacement:	7,900 t (7,800 long tons) standard 18,800 t (18,500 long tons) (full load)
Length:	157.2 m (515 ft 9 in)
Beam:	21.2 m (69 ft 7 in)
Draught:	8.65 m (28 ft 5 in) standard 10.8 m (35 ft 5 in) full load
Propulsion:	2 × SEMT Pielstick 16 PC2.5 V 400 diesel engines 2 shafts, 15,000 kW (20,000 hp)
Speed:	19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph)
Range:	9,000 nmi (17,000 km; 10,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement:	162
Sensors and processing systems:	2 x DRBN 34 radars
Armament:	1 x Bofors 40 mm (1.6 in)/L60 gun 4 x 12.7 mm (0.5 in) M2 Browning machine guns 3 x Simbad Mistral missile launcher
Aviation facilities:	Medium helicopter pad

Var is a Durance-class command and replenishment tanker (French, BCR) of the French Navy. In addition to its primary duty as a fleet tanker, Var is configured as a flagship and has served as such in the Indian Ocean.

Development and design

In French service, the final three Durance-class tankers are called Bâtiment de commandement et ravitailleur (BCR, "command and replenishment ship"). In addition to their role as a fleet tanker, the three ships dubbed BCR can accommodate an entire general staff and thus supervise naval operations as a command ship. The three ships of the class designated BCRs, Var, Marne and Somme all have superstructures that were extended aft by 8 m (26 ft) to accommodate the additional staff requirements. The BCRs have one crane positioned along the centreline.

Durance-class have a standard displacement of 7,900 t (7,800 long tons) and 18,800 t (18,500 long tons) at full load. The oiler is 157.3 metres (516 ft 1 in) long overall and 149 m (488 ft 10 in) between perpendiculars with a beam of 21.2 m (69 ft 7 in) and a draught of 8.65 m (28 ft 5 in) empty and 10.8 m (35 ft 5 in) at full load. Somme is powered by two SEMT Pielstick 16 PC2.5 V 400 diesel engines turning two LIPS controllable pitch propellers rated at 15,000 kilowatts (20,000 hp). The vessel has a maximum speed of 19 knots (35 km/h; 22 mph) and a range of 9,000 nmi (17,000 km; 10,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).

They have two dual solid/liquid underway transfer stations per side and can replenish two ships per side and one astern. The ship initially had capacity for 5,170 t (5,090 long tons) of fuel oil, 3,360 t (3,310 long tons) of diesel fuel, 1,160 t (1,140 long tons) of JP-5 aviation fuel, 250 t (250 long tons) of distilled water, 180 t (180 long tons) of provisions, 170 t (170 long tons) of munitions and 15 t (15 long tons) of spare parts. These numbers change with the needs of the fleet.

The Durance-class tankers all mount a flight deck over the stern and a hangar. The ships utilise Aérospatiale Alouette III and Westland Lynx helicopters but are capable of operating larger ones from their flight deck. For defence, Somme initially mounted one Bofors 40 mm/L60 anti-aircraft (AA) gun in a single gun turret and two 20 mm (0.8 in) AA guns in a twin turret. The ship is equipped with two DRBN 34 navigational radars. The armament was later altered by removing the 20 mm guns and adding four 12.7 mm (0.5 in) M2 Browning machine guns and three launchers for Simbad Mistral surface-to-air missiles. The ship has a complement of 162 and is capable of accommodating 250 personnel.

Construction and career

The third tanker of the Durance-class was laid down on 8 May 1979 by Brest Arsenal at their yard in Brest, France. She was launched on 1 June 1981 and given the pennant number A 608. Var was commissioned into the French Navy on 29 January 1983. The Durance-class ships were assigned to the Force d'action navale (FAR, "Naval Action Force") after entering service. One of the BCRs is assigned to Indian Ocean as flagship of the French naval forces in the region. Her homeport is in Toulon. In addition to its mission of logistical support for other ships, the Var like its sister ships the Marne and the Somme can carry a staff of 70 people.

As of 13 November 2013, the ship was engaged in Operation Active Endeavor in the Eastern Mediterranean.

In April 2015, the ship took command of the CTF-150 in Operation Enduring Freedom.

On 14 April 2018, the Var participated in Operation Hamilton in Syria.

Gallery

Var on 24 August 1990 during Operation Desert Shield.

Var and Clemenceau on 24 August 1990 during Operation Desert Shield.

Var and Clemenceau on 24 August 1990 during Operation Desert Shield.

Var at Mombasa in March 2008.

Var replenishes USS Anzio on 6 July 2009.

Var replenishes USS Vella Gulf in the Persian Gulf on 19 June 2017

References

• Couhat, Jean Labayle, ed (1986). Combat Fleets of the World 1986/87. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85368-860-5. 
• Saunders, Stephen, ed (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 (112 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc.. ISBN 978-0-7106-2888-6.