Ouragan-class landing platform dock

Ouragan at sea during exercise Dragon Hammer 90
Class overview
Builders	Brest arsenal (DCN)
Operators	French Navy
Succeeded by	Foudre-class landing platform dock
In commission	1963-2007
Completed	2
Retired	2
General characteristics
Type	Landing platform dock
Displacement	5,965 tons empty, 8,500 tons loaded
Length	149 metres
Beam	21.50 metres
Draft	5.4 metres
Propulsion	L9021: 2 SEMT-Pielstick 12 PC 2V diesels, total 8600 horsepower (6,325 kW) L9022: 2 SEMT-Pielstick 12 PC 2.1 V400 diesels, total 9400 horsepower (6,910 kW) 1920 kW electrical power 2 variable-thread propellers
Speed	17 knots (31 km/h)
Range	9,000 nautical miles, at 15-knot (28 km/h) speed, 15000 at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement	12 officers, 78 warrant officers 115 enlisted crew
Sensors and processing systems	2 Racal-Decca radars
Armament	2 Simbad missile systems 4 12.7 machine guns L9021: 2 Bofors 40-AA cannons L9022: 2 30-AA Breda-Mauser cannons

The Ouragan class was a series of French landing platform docks operated by the Marine Nationale. They were called Transport de chalands de débarquement (TCD) (in English: landing craft transport).

Overview

The ships in this class were used for:

• the fast loading and unloading of landing craft, and other equipment, carrying troops and vehicles;
• carrying, supplying and operating helicopters transporting commandos or providing close support;
• transporting the mission crew;
• commanding a landing operation of limited scale.

The landing is accomplished by means of an unloading barge transported in an interior raft called a radier. The TCD could simultaneously transport, refuel and put into operation four heavy helicopters, while ensuring the control of a limited landing operation, hospitalization and care of the wounded.

The essential characteristic distinguishing the TCD was the interior raft or radier, which was submersible in three metres of water and with a rear door that put it in contact with the water. The radier's dimensions were 120 metres long under 3.5 metres of water.

The ship had a 120 metre long well deck that could be submerged 3 metres under water.

Ships in class

• Ouragan (Hurricane), L9021, (Launched November 9, 1963. Retired January 2007)
• Orage (Storm), L9022, (Launched 1968. Retired June 2007)

Fate

The two ships of this class were supposedly due for transfer to the Argentine Navy in 2006 and 2007 but the whole operation was placed on hold by the Argentine Government due to concerns about asbestos, a toxic material used in the ships' construction. They are currently moored in Toulon harbour.

Gallery

• 
  Command bridge of the Ouragan
• 
  The landing craft Ouragan and Orage docked in Toulon
• 
  Ouragan and HMS Intrepid
• 
  Ouragan and HMS Intrepid