HEL81071

(HEL81071) - Heller 1:400 - Foch

Construction of the Foch, twin to aircraft carrier the Clemenceau, was built in the Atlantic shipyards of Saint-Nazaire. Laid down in February 1957, it was towed to Brest for completion, Construction of the aircraft carrier continued in Brest from 13th July 1959 to 23rd July 1960, the date on which construction started. It entered active service on 15th July 1963. Initially based in Brest, it was posted to Toulon in 1976, at the end of its French career. At 265m long and equipped with a 165m long diagonal runway, it enabled the implementation of combat, interception, reconnaissance and anti-submarine aircraft. Between 1959 and 1997, like its sister ship aircraft carrier the Foch, it underwent numerous refits. In particular, the"Crusader capacity" modernisation, the "nuclear qualification", and the installation of the Crotale anti-aircraft system in 1985, at the same time that the propulsion machinery was modernised. Two 50m steam catapults enabled aircraft weighing 15/20 tonnes to take off at 132 knots. The 2 lifts could raise a 15 tonne aircraft 8.5m in 9 seconds. At the maximum speed of 112 knots, aircraft landed on the diagonal runway equipped with arrestor cables. Upon returning from its final operational missions Myrrhe - April 2000), over its 37 year career the Foch covered a little over 1 million nautical miles, 3,000 days at sea and 70,000 hours in operation. Sold to Brazil, it was renamed Sao Paulo and officially given to the Brazilian navy, in Brest, on 15th November 2000, who will use it for a further twenty years at least. During its career, it took part in the majority of French naval operations: 1968 : Deployment of Force Alfa for the securing of French nuclear tests in the Pacific. 1977-1978: Engagement and protection operations Saphir II in the Indian Ocean during the accession to independence of the republic of Djibouti. 1982-1984: Operation Olifant in the western Mediterranean during the Lebanese Civil War. 1984: Operation Mirmillon during Operation Manta 1989: Operation Capselle to protect a possible evacuation of European nationals from the coast of Lebanon. 1993-1996: Operation Balbuzard, then Salamandre in the Adriatic sea during the war in former Yugoslavia. 1998-1999 Operation Trident to ensure the security of French KFOR troops and to carry out air strikes ordered by NATO 2000: Operation Myrrhe to support commercial actions (presence, cooperation) in the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean Model Information Contains: 152 Pieces Skill Level: Advanced Age: 14+