Conflict in Libya: the BPC Mistral and 2 frigates available to the EU
(In Budapest) Alain Juppé, the French Minister of Defense, was to announce it to his European counterparts according to our information. France will make three ships available to the EU for evacuation operations of Europeans/Foreigners from Libya: the Projection and Command Building (BPC) Mistral (L 9013), the F-70 anti-submarine frigate Georges Leygues (D-640) and the F-67 type frigate Tourville (F-610) (this building was to participate in the NATO exercise “Noble Mariner”), as well as an Airbus A340.
EU aid is coordinated in Brussels, on the civilian side, by the civil protection crisis unit (MIC) and, on the military side, by the military headquarters (EUMS).
The objective is to enable and complete the evacuation of all European nationals (and non-EU foreigners) from Libya. But it is not forbidden to think of other objectives such as perfecting the arms embargo (as provided for in a Franco-British resolution initiative at the UN Security Council).
A well-equipped boat for operations and a well-trained crew for evacuations
The BPC Mistral is a multinational command platform. 199 meters long, 32 meters wide, weighing 16.500 tonnes and able to travel at 19 knots, it can carry up to 16 helicopters (NH90 or Tiger) and can use landing craft (4 CTM for transport of Equipment or 2 LCAC, air cushion landing craft. Its modular “PC zone” of more than 850 m², 150 work stations can be deployed on board for the benefit of operations management staff. Above all, it has substantial hospital capacity, a real on-board hospital which can simultaneously accommodate 8 injured people in intensive care, has 2 operating theaters, 7 intensive care beds and 62 hospitalization beds. Its crew is particularly trained for evacuations. He has just participated in an evacuation exercise for nationals at the end of January in Corsica, in conjunction with the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment. He was to provide the “Jeanne d'Arc” training school with the Georges Leygues.
As for the Tourville, it returns from a mission in the Indian Ocean (it was in Djibouti a few days ago) after having participated in several exercises: with the Franco-Indian navy then with the forces of the United Arab Emirates (at Sea of Arabia).
the BPC is currently in transit to Brest, if it has not already arrived there. He comes there to find the Georges Leygues, his preserve, which is ending its recovery after a very deep period of maintenance and increase in its capacities. The BPC was also to embark on this occasion a detachment of personnel, equipment, weapons and vehicles of the army in order to carry out amphibious exercises. The students of the Naval School are already on board (about 90 cadets including some Saint-Cyrians and foreign officers)
If the announcement was confirmed, could the departure be anticipated? Could the nature of earthly detachment evolve? Could the air fleet be expanded? Could a medical detachment come to reinforce the hospital, or even arm a larger hospital in the helicopter hangar (planned and regularly tested capacity of PCBs)? So many questions without official answers for the moment.
From Brest, there are 2200 nautical miles to reach Tripoli directly, 2600 nautical miles in case a passage via Toulon is planned. At maximum speed (18 knots), it would therefore take 6 days to reach western Libya. One more day to reach the east of the country.
other information on BPC Mistral: //bpcmistral.free.fr