France takes over Task Force 50

On 31 March, France took command of Task Force 50 (TF 50). This task force of the American armed forces in the Persian Gulf region is under the command of the US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT). France now temporarily controls the strike group around the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle with. These include the Fremm frigate Provencethe air defence frigate Chevalier Paulthe supplier Var and the Belgian frigate Leopold I. Including the support forces, France is thus providing 2700 soldiers. The task force's mission includes securing the sea area and combating terrorism in the region.
Both France and the UK regularly send ships to the Gulf to participate in the TF 50. The last time France took part was in 2017 with the Forbinthe Jean Bart and the Auvergne present. However, this is only the second time since 2016 that the European neighbour has been able to take command of the task force. The UK was also handed this important task by the US armed forces in November 2016. At that time, Commodore Andrew Burns, now Rear Admiral and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff, and his team were on the amphibious assault ship HMS Ocean responsible for the Group.

Text: mb; Photo: Marine Nationale