French Navy visits Ghana

Oct 17, 2003
Author: P&S

The French Navy dock landing ship FNS Siroco is due to visit the port of Tema in Ghana tomorrow (18 October 2003) for a visit that is designed to strengthen ties between the navies of Ghana and France. Following the visit a joint exercise at sea will be conducted at sea off the Ghanaian coast.

FNS Siroco (L9012) is a Foudre class dock landing ship built in 1998 and homeported at Toulon, France. The ship displaces 11,880 tonnes fully loaded and measures 168m long with a beam of 23.5m. The ship is powered by two diesel engines producing 21,600 bhp giving a speed of 21 knots. She carries a crew of 210 including 18 officers, and has accommodation for an additional 470 troops.

Armaments consist of Mistral surface to air missiles, a 40mm anti aircraft gun, two 20mm guns, and four 12.7mm machine guns. Siroco has a large midships helicopter deck with hangar for four Super Puma helicopters.

FNS Siroco took part in the humanitarian operation in support of an international force off East Timor in 1999 as well as an operational mission off West Africa also in 1999. More recently the ship took part in joint naval exercises with several navies including the South African Navy in Tanzanian waters.