Colbert C611 Helicopter Carrier Conversion

[orlovsky]

Colbert was in service by 1959 with an outdated gun armament and got Masurca in the 1969-72 refit. The RN turned two Tiger class into stopgap Heli Carriers, and with the escort carrier in fashion that made me wonder: Colbert seems a lot closer to Jeanne d'Arc or Vittorio Veneto (6 Sea Kings+Terrier), how would a 1960s conversion into a Heli carrier work out? Flightdeck and Hangar would be shorter than on Jeanne d'Arc, but not by that much... or?

 

[Archibald]

Hmmm interesting. But the Jeanne is already there and, most importantly: post 1974 Arromanches replacement is PH75.

What's more, Foch and Clem have not enough jets and crews between them - so one of the two often sails as a big LPH, as happened during GW1. With Army helicopters.

The French navy needed a third MASURCA ship to replace the Suffren canned in favor of buying the 42 Crusaders.

Suffren-class frigate - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The Colbert was available "second hand" hence at lower cost than a Suffren with an additional 4000 tons of tonnage to cram the very heavy MASURCA (it weighed 100 tons or more).

 

[Archibald]

I would say that unlike the RN with its three Invincibles vs old WWII relics - the MN had a variety of recent, large decks for helicopters. No need to butcher an 11000 tons cruiser the same way as the Tigers.

 

[orlovsky]

Well... Jeanne d'Arc commissioned in 1964.
With a conversion in the 2nd half of the 60s, PH Colbert would be the successor of Arromanches (which found no replacement in reality). Giving two capable Heli carriers (if 6-8 heavy helos can work on Colbert).
The CLM Colbert needed a similar crew, and the PA1/PA2 switch for Clem/Foch started in the early 70s.
And with a little spare change for an extra Masurca, both could get Masurca on the bow - as Vittorio Veneto with Terrier and as planned for Jeanne d'Arc.