Built as a aircraft carrier under yard No H18 by Atlantique (Penhoet-Loire) at St Nazaire for the French Navy.
1955 Ordered.
15 February 1957 keel laid down.
28 July 1959 launched as the FOCH (R99) one of the Clemenceau-class.
Displacement:24,200 ton standard, 32,500 ton full load. Dim. 265 x 51.20 x 7.50m, draught 8.6m.
Powered by four steam turbines, 126,000 hp, twin shafts, speed 32 knots.
Bunker capacity 6,600 ton fuel.
Range by a speed of 18 knots, 7,500 mile.
Armament 8 – 100mm guns when built replaced in the 1990s by 2 SACP Crotale EDIR systems with 52 missiles. 5 – 12.7 MG, 2 – Sadral launchers for 6 Mistral missiles.
Carried about 40 aircraft and helicopters.
Crew 1,338.
15 July 1963 commissioned.
FOCH (R 99) was the second Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier of the French Navy. She was the second warship named in honour of Marshal Ferdinand Foch, after a heavy cruiser commissioned in 1932, and scuttled in Toulon on 27 November 1942. Ironically Ferdinand Foch is famously quoted in 1911 saying "Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value" although this was only eight years after the first powered human flight.
The draft statute prepared by the Naval General Staff in 1949 asked four aircraft carriers of 20,000 tons to be available in two phases. At its meeting of 22 August 1949, the Supreme Council of the Navy was even more ambitious where they asked six aircraft carrier fleet. On 15 July 1952, the French Navy still wanted two to five with the French Union (not available to the NATO ). According to the RCM 12, the final document of the Lisbon Conference of 1952, France should make available NATO aircraft carrier in the D-day, two on day 30, three on day 180. But by 1953, the Navy had to be satisfied with two aircraft carriers. The PA 54 Clemenceau, budgeted in 1953, was delayed until November 1955, the PA 55 Foch, budgeted for 1955, was delayed until February 1957. Between 1980 and 1981, she underwent a study to certify the platform before catapulting aircraft carrying missiles, bombs, AM-39 Exocet and tactical nuclear bombs. Like her sister ship the CLEMENCEAU, the FOCH underwent a modernization and refit, replacing 4 of her 8 100mm guns with 2 Crotale air-defense systems. Unlike the CLEMENCEAU, the FOCH lemen in 1997 also received 2 Sadral launchers (for 6 Mistral missiles each); those launchers were purchased by France in 1994.
The Dassault Rafale was test flown from the FOCH (but not CLEMENCEAU) after deck modifications in 1992 and operated from this carrier after further 1995-6 deck modifications.
After a 37-year career in the French Navy, on 15 November 2000, she was sold to the Brazilian Navy, and renamed NAe SAO PAULO. In the French Navy, she was succeeded by the CHARLES DE GAULLE (R 91).
In 1977 F-8 Crusaders from 14.F squadron on FOCH participated in the Saphir missions over Djibouti. On 7 May 1977, two Crusaders went separately on patrol against what were supposedly French Air Force (4/11 Jura squadron) F-100 Super Sabres stationed at Djibouti. The leader intercepted two fighters and initiated a dogfight as part of the training exercise, but quickly called his wingman for help as he had actually engaged two Yemeni MiG-21 Fishbeds. The two French fighters switched their master armament to "on" but, ultimately, everyone returned to their bases. This was the only combat interception by French Crusaders.
In 1983–1984, the ship was sent to Lebanon for combat operations during the civil war with an air wing consisting of six F-8 Crusaders, fifteen Super-Etendards, three Etendard IVPs, five Br 1050 Alizés and six SA-321G Super-Frelons. She would rotate with CLEMENCEAU providing constant on station air support to French peacekeepers.
In October 1984, France sent FOCH for operation Mirmillon off the coast of Libya, in response to tension in the Gulf of Sidra.
She was involved in the Yugoslav Wars between July and August 1993, in February and March 1994, and in February and from May to July 1994 in support of UN operations.
15 November 2000 decommissioned.
NAE SAO PAULO (A12) is a Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier currently in service with the Brazilian Navy. The SAO PAULO was first commissioned in 1963 by the French Navy as the FOCH and was then transferred to Brazil in 2000 where she became the new flagship of the Brazilian Navy.
The aircraft carrier SAO PAULO was constructed in France between 1957 and 1960, and served in the French Navy as the FOCH. In September 2000, she was purchased by Brazil to replace the aged World War II-era carrier MINAS GERAIS (which had been in commission for over 40 years) for US$12 million, no aircraft included. The government of Brazil had already purchased a flotilla of used A-4 Skyhawk fighters from Kuwait for $70 million which, together with the existing helicopters already in the national defense inventory, were to compose the fighter-bomber group of SAO PAULO. These A-4s (designated AF-1) are capable of carrying armament including rockets, free-fall bombs and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles.
The SAO PAULO was purchased while still operational, which was an unusual process for such a large ship. She was received by the Brazilian Navy and was incorporated into the Brazilian Navy on November 15, 2000. The incorporation of SAO PAULO and the AF-1 fighter group marked the realization of Brazil's long-held goal of being able to conduct aerial defense of its naval forces with fixed-wing aircraft.
President Fernando Henrique Cardoso noted during the transfer ceremony that
"The transfer of the aircraft carrier SAO PAULO to the Operative Sector of the Navy adds to our naval power an important magnification in its ability of defense of the Brazilian interests at sea. A country as ours, possessing an extensive coast, with more than 7,000 kilometers of coast, requires a naval power compatible with its stature in the international scene. Today, as before, Brazil is concerned about implementing concrete measures that offer the nation the guarantee of respect to its sovereignty. We are and we will always be a nation that fights for peace, however, that does not mean being able to do without modern Armed Forces, enabled and endowed with adequate dissuasive potential. Few countries, even today, have the capacity to operate with efficiency in the high seas. It is important that Brazil continues to be one of them."
Since her construction, the SAO PAULO has received multiple upgrades, leaving her with a diverse range of technologies. In her current form, she is expected to remain effective in her role for the foreseeable future, though further modernization efforts are expected as she is converted into a combat ready vessel.
In the first three years of service as the SAO PAULO, the ship completed several missions, some in foreign waters, particularly Operations ARAEX, PASSEX, and TEMPEREX, which is used annually to qualify and train Super Etendards and S-2T Turbo Trackers of the Argentine Navy.[
The SAO PAULO currently serves mainly to train pilots to fly carrier operations. She is actively used for the qualification and re-qualification of rotary and fixed-wing pilots (with about 500 catapult launches) and the first Brazilian exercises to practice carrier-based attack missions.
During 2005-2010, the SAO PAULO underwent an extensive modernization program. The upgrade included inspection and repair of the steam turbines, maintenance of the surface condensers, retubing of boilers, repair of two high-pressure compressors, revision of the AC electrical generator, purchase of spare parts; maintenance of pumps, valves, and structural items, purchase of two API oil-water separators, installation of two water cooling units, upgrade of the chemical oxygen generator, repair and treatment of oil tanks, substitution of the Naval Tactical Data System, installation of a closed-circuit television system, installation of IFF transponder, installation of MAGE system (ESM), flight deck inspection, repair, and painting, upgrade of the Optical Landing System processing unit, and revision of the aircraft catapults. The upgrade was completed in July 2009, and the SAO PAULO was initially due to be fully operational by August 2010.
Twelve Brazilian Navy A-4 Skyhawks are also scheduled to be upgraded by Embraer at a cost of $140 million. The upgrade will be similar to the ones done for the AMX and F-5EM aircraft of the Brazilian Air Force. The program includes restoring the aircraft and their current systems, as well as implementing new avionics, radar (specifically the Elta 2032 radar system), power production, and autonomous oxygen generating systems. Possible weapons to be included in the upgrade are MAA-1B, Python 4, and Derby AAMS.
The Brazilian Navy has contracted Marsh Aviation to convert four S-2T Turbo Trackers to an Airborne Early Warning configuration, and four more for tanking and Carrier Onboard Delivery duties.
According to an article in the October 2010 issue of Air Forces Monthly it has been confirmed that Brazil has purchased EX-USN C-1 Trader airframes, ex-Australian and ex-Uruguayan airframes for conversion into AEW planes and Tanker aircraft. All the planes are to be upgraded to S-2T Turbo Tracker configuration with Honeywell TPE 331-14GR engines. The purchase includes 9 airframes, 2 for tanker conversion to refuel the AF-1 Skyhawks, and 3 for AEW. The rest will be for spares or cargo duties. The AEW radar requirement is to have a range of 250 miles at 25,000 feet. The operational lifespan for the airframes is to be 10 years. They were expected to be ready in 2011 and 2012.
The SAO PAULO’s SH-3 helicopter fleet is to be replaced by six S-70B Seahawk helicopters. They were purchased in 2008, upgraded, and refurbished for delivery. The helicopters and a package of engines and support equipment were scheduled for delivery in 2009.
At the end of 2010, sea trials began, and as of 2011, the SAO PAULO has been evaluated by the CIASA (Inspection Commission and Training Advisory). She is expected to rejoin the fleet in late 2013.
The SAO PAULO’s complement is 1,920 (the ship's company is 64 officers and 1274 sailors, plus there are 582 in the air group).
14 February 1917 decommissioned.
BRASILIA, Feb 4, 2023 (Reuters) – Brazil sank a decommissioned aircraft carrier in the Atlantic Ocean off its northeast coast, the Brazilian Navy said, despite warnings from environmentalists that the rusting 1960s French-built ship would pollute the sea and the marine food chain.
The 32,000-tonne carrier had been floating offshore for three months since Turkey refused its entry to be scrapped there because it was an environmental hazard and the ship was towed back to Brazil.
The carrier was scuttled in a “planned and controlled sinking” late on Friday, the Navy said in a statement, that would “avoid logistical, operational, environmental and economic losses to the Brazilian state,” it said.
The hull of the SAO PAULO was sunk in Brazilian jurisdictional waters 350 kilometers (217 miles) off the coast where the sea is 5,000 meters deep, a location chosen to mitigate the impact on fishing and ecosystems, the Navy said.
Federal public prosecutors and Greenpeace had asked the Brazilian government to stop the sinking, saying it was “toxic” due to dangerous materials, including 9 tonnes of asbestos used in the paneling.
The Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier served the French Navy for four decades as the FOCh, capable of carrying 40 warplanes.
Defense expert and former foreign policy congressional staffer Pepe Rezende said the carrier was bought by the Brazilian Navy for just $12 million in 1998 but needed an $80 million refit that was never done.
After the carrier was decommissioned, Turkish marine recycling company Sök Denizcilik Tic Sti bought the hull for $10.5 million but had to tow it back across the Atlantic when Turkey barred entry to its shipyard.
Brazil’s Navy said it asked the company to repair the carrier at a Brazilian shipyard, but after an inspection showed it to be taking on water and was at risk of sinking, the Navy banned the ship from entering Brazilian ports. It then decided to sink SAO PAULO at the high sea.
The company’s legal representative in Brazil, Zilan Costa e Silva, said that disposal of the carrier was the Brazilian state’s responsibility under the 1989 Basel Convention on the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes.
(Reporting by Anthony BoadleEditing by Ros Russell)
Liberia 2012 $75 sg?, scott?
Guyana 2013 $250 sg?, scott?
Brazil 2016 $? sg?, scott ?
Source: Wikipedia and http://www.netmarine.net