Well call me a French nationalist but I don't believe the whole "French in decline" but for a second, economically at least. Their political standing may have taken a few knocks but they have a major advantage over all of their competitors amongst the Great Powers:
 

Nation	% Frances total economy	% Frances total budget
France	100%	100%
America	50%	66%
Australia	33%	64%
Britain	115%	133%
Germany	65%	62%
Japan	81%	86%
Manchuria	200%	217%
Russia	42%	45%
Ukraine	5%	6%

That advantage is tantalum.

France maintains the 5th largest economy in human space but the largest space force and the 2nd largest army (the Manchurian Army stands at about 5% higher in terms of spending). The other 3 larger economies do not have Frances military forces. (The base size goes Manchuria, CAR, Britain, Brazil, France, Japan, Germany, Azania, America BTW).

They thoughly stitched up the African continent for themselves and their allies (notably the UK) and maintain the Inferno mines. In the tantalum race America can probably compete with France, despite Frances head start. This is the only reason I can see for the US eclipsing France (BTW Australia could too but they sell their tantalum off).

I have thought long and hard about this, the ships in 2300AD are actually one class higher than their name suggests (due to the French influence on Space Navies). Thus the equivilents are:
 

2300AD Class	19th/ 20th Century class
Battleship (and Fighter Carriers)	"Superbattleship" a la HMS Sans Pariel
Cruiser	Battleship
Destroyer	Cruiser
Frigate	Destroyer
Fighter	Gunboat/ Torpedo Boat

Known Service Dates

(Date is when it entered service)

Ypres-12: 2259
Orage: 2279
Aconit: 2281 (2 years after first Orage complete)
Suffren: 2281
Mistral: 2286
Riche: 2290
Bonaparte: 2290
Bufer: 2293
Richeleiu: 2293
Tallayrand: 2294?

Ritage-1: 2270s
DA-2290: 2290
Ritage-2: 2297
Horloge: 2295

The last line ship design came out in 2281, before France converted to the New Military drive and other new do-dads. Therefore I think that what we know about are the second line ships sent to the frontier while the first line ships stay with the main battle fleets at the core.

Assumed and other service dates

BB DeGaulle: 2263
BB Napoleon: 2301
CV Joffre: 2299
CG Tourville: 2293
CG Avengeur: 2302
DD Marechel: 2277
DD Patrie: 2285
DD Paris: 2293
FF Fantasque: 2289
FF Normand: 2297
Ftr Martel: 2290?

(This make the average design date 2279, more than 20 years old but still acceptable. This means Frances fleet is not as modern as Americas (averaging late 2280's))

Theory behind this is that each war caused an evolution in weapons design, thus the Central Asain prompted the creation of the 3 large BB classes and a new DD class (Patrie). The Franco-German War saw France move towards a greater policy of maneuverability in space as they move from a "Gunboat" policy to one of producing serious warships.

If the Americans started producing the Spitfires in the early 2280s then it is inconcievable that the French superpower wouldn't produce a counter. These fleets don't develop in a vacuum (no pun) and if one country produces a good ship then another country will counter with a better one. (One reason why I can't accept Abraham Gubers excellent PatCom/ Battlecruiser, the French would have (checks calculator) 90 of a similar type to counter her).

French DeGaulle class Battleship (Navire de Guerre)
 

Ship	Builder	Date Laid Down	Date Completed	Last Refit
DeGaulle	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2257	2263	2295
Charlemagne	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2260	2265	2298

The DeGaulle was built at the time of a resurgent France stepping back out from under the protective shadow of her main allies to try and reassert herself as the worlds leading nation. They both now serve as fleet flagships for 2 of Frances main battle fleets, the 1st and 2nd respectively.

Both served throughout both the Central Asian and German Wars with distinction, particularly the DeGaulle which was involved in a daring raid down the Chinese Arm, splitting off the task force elements FS Suffren and Tourville to raid separate targets.

Of note during the Kafer War is the Charlemagne. She was flagship of the 2nd Fleet dispatched to Queen Alice's Star with the 6th Fleet to reinforce Grahams position. After landing her marine landers she took up an additional 6 fighters to act as a light carrier in addition to her line battleship role. During the battle proper she used her fighters in 2 wings of 6, striking with one while rearming the other.

Design Date: 2254
First Example Laid Down: 2257
First Example Completed: 2263
Fleets in Service: France

Performance

Warp: 2.234; Mass: 54678.8 tons; Power Plant: 300MW fission; Fuel: (4296 tons (16 refuels for each small craft); Crew: 1080 (40x bridge, 24x flag, 50x TAC, 210x engineering, 48x small craft, 600x troops, 20x security, 10x science, 40x stewards, 36x medical); Cargo: 11371 cubic meters; Passengers:
none; Life Support: 180 days; Comfort: 0; Cost: MLv 406.278 with ordnance and small craft

Ship Status Sheet

Move: 4; Radiated: 7; Radial reflected: 11; Lateral reflected: 14; Radial Profile: 0; Lateral profile: +4; Screens: 4; Armour: 5; Target Computer: +2

Sensor Package

Navigation, DSS, Gravitation, Standard Life, Standard Cartographic, Active-15, Passive-6

Weapons Systems and Vehicles

30 x1dbl turrets (8x 128, 5x 123, 2x 234, 5x345, 3x567, 2x 678, 3x178)
24x Ritage-1 missiles in 3 external packs
12x Ritage-2 or DA-2290 missiles in external slings
18x TTAs
6x Remote Communicators (plus 29 other comms)
2x Voir drones in magnetic slings
6x Mistral IIIbis fighters in one bay (launch 2 per turn), 8 commonly carried (launch 2 per 2 turns)
6x Dassault Landers in one bay (launch 1 per 3 turns) (10m long by 6m diameter craft)

Crew Hits

Bridge: Captain, Navigator, Helm, 6x Engineer, 6x Communications, 5x Computer
TAC: 30x Fire Control, 6x Remote Pilot, 12x Flight Control, Active Operator, Passive Operator
Flag: Admiral, 11x Staff, 12x Communications

Hull Hits: 266 (w/o armour), 1210 (with)
Power Plant Hits: 400

Damage Control: 105 (or 125 if spare bridge crew included)

The origins of the Napoleon class Battleship dates back to the loss of the Sainte Jeanne d'Arc at the First Battle of Tithonus in early 2298. Nicolas I's government had been very reluctant to build a new series of Battleships, pointing to the large excess of fighters in Frances inventory and saying that carriers were cheaper if the fighter groups already existed. The loss a Battleship considered to be the most powerful in the human space was a great shock to the government, French honour had been tarnished and amends had to be paid.

The Napoleon design had been in the French Space Navies possession for several years, based on a "squashed" Tallayrand hull, only half the length of the previous class (150m vs 300m). This allows considerably more armour protection per unit weight.

The Offensive systems are similar to the Tallayrand but several Ritage-1 packs where installed to act as "unmanned fighters" increasing the potential range of any conflict. To combat the possibility of being forced to broadsides with a superior ship several submunition dispensers were installed.

The smaller cargo bay and smaller specialist crew means that the ship is less versatile than her predecessor but importantly she could be built in a few short years.

Design Date: 2295
First Example Laid Down: 2298
First Example Completed: 2301
Fleets in Service: France

Performance

Power Plant: 415MW fusion; Warp Eff,: 3.344; Mass: 43195.326 tons; Crew: 3200 (war) (34 bridge, 40 flag, 60 TAC, 30 small craft, 49 engineer, 1041 troops, 50 security, 20 science, 50 stewards (for the officers), 107 medical); Fuel: 2362.2 tons (10 refuels for each fighter and lander); Hangars: 2 with 3 Mistral-IIIbis each (1 per turn each), 2 with 3 landers each (1 per turn each); Cargo: 18370 cubic meters; Life Support: 3200 for 180 days; Comfort: 0; Cost: MLv781.756 (with missiles and fighters)

Status Sheet

Move: 7; Screens: 6; Radiated: 5(8); Lateral Reflected: 12; Radial Reflected: 8; Lateral Profile: +4; Radial Profile: 0; Target Computer: +2; Armour: 6

Sensor Package

Active-16 and redundant, Passive-12 and redundant, Navigation, DSS, Gravitational, Advanced Cartographic, Advanced Life

Weapons Systems and Vehicles

36 x1+1dbl jack w/UTES (8x 128, 8x 123, 8x 178, 4x 345, 2x678, 2x 567, 2x 234, 2x 456)
16 Ritage-2 missiles in 8 bays
2 LL-7 dispensers (Internal, 3 shots, 10x2 warhead)
6 Mistral-IIIbis fighters
6 Dassault Landers

Crew Hits

Bridge: Captain, Navigator, Helm, 8 Engineers, 2 Communications, 3 Computer
Flag: Admiral, Fleet Exec, 18 Staff, 20 Communications
TAC: 38 Fire Control (2 Submunitions), 8 Remote Pilots, 12 Flight, Active Operator, Passive Operator

Hull: 380 (w/o armour)
Power Plant: 277

Damage Control: 72+

French Richeleiu class Battleship
 
 

Ship	Builder	Commenced	Completed	Last Refit
Richeleiu	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2285	2293	2300

French Tallayrand class Battleship
 
 

Ship	Builder	Commenced	Completed	Last Refit/ Date Destroyed
Tallayrand	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2287	2294
Sainte Jeanne d'Arc	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2288	2295	destroyed 2298

The Joffre was Amiral Tour's pet project. A verment backer of the Guerre d'Course strategy he wanted a means to establish a fully operating fighter base in a hostile system. In the event his plans for a "Flying Deathstar" were considerably toned down to this fine specimen, the Imperial French Ship Joffre.

The ship is based upon an experiment in cruiser hull design in the early 2260's for the Suffren class cruisers that was in the end not used, a 30m diameter cylinder 80m long with a extendable spin habitat at 90m spinning at exactly 1g.

She is designed to support upto 30 fighters, 3 squadrons recon/ strike (Mistral-IIIbis) and 2 squadrons strike (Bufer) capable of engaging targets upto .93 AUs away (a round trip of 24 hours), more than enough to bring all commerce within a system to a dead stop.

Theory is that the Joffre with an escort of 1 or 2 fast cruisers could move down the Chinese or American Arms and "mop up" any vessel, inflicting massive casualties on enemy commercial shipping. She is also a fine ship of the line capable of coring a major squadron, and in fact is current nominal head of the French 6th fleet (although the Cruiser Duguay-Trouin actually flies the Amirals flag).

Design Date: 2292
First Example Laid Down: 2294
First Example Completed: 2299
Fleets in Service: France

Performance

Power Plant: 300MW fusion; Warp Eff,: 3.466; Mass 32742.184 tons; Crew: 240 (32 bridge, 30 TAC, 30 Flight, 90 small craft, 35 engineer, 10 security,  5 stewards (for the officers), 8 medical); Fuel: 10080 tons (20 refuels); Hangars: 6 with 3 Mistral-IIIbis each (1 per turn each), 4 with 3 Bufers each (1 per turn each); Cargo: 4751.29 cubic meters; Life Support: 240 for 180 days; Comfort: 0; Cost: MLv952.722 (with missiles and fighters)

Status Sheet

Move: 7; Screens: 6; Radiated: 4(7); Lateral Reflected: 8; Radial Reflected: 6; Lateral Profile: +2; Radial Profile: 0; Target Computer: +2; Armour: 2

Sensor Package

Active-13, Passive-10, Navigation, DSS, Gravitational

Weapons Systems and Vehicles

10 x1+1 masked w/UTES (3x 123, 2x 345, 2x 567, 3x 178)
24 Ritage-2 missiles in 12 bays
18 Mistral-IIIbis fighters
12 Bufer fighters

Crew Hits

Bridge: Captain, Navigator, Helm, 6 Engineers, 6 Communications, 3 Computer
TAC: 10 Fire Control, 12 Remote Pilots, Active Operator, Passive Operator
Flight: 30 Flight

Hull: 152 (w/o armour)
Power Plant: 200

Damage Control: 17 (or 33 with spare crew)

French Suffren class Cruiser
 
 

Ship	Builder
Suffren	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2278	2281	destroyed 2298
DeGrasse	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2279		destroyed 2298
Bassompierre	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2280
Georges Leygues	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2281
Duquesne	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2282
Colbert	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2283
Duguay-Trouin	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2284
Jean Bart	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2285

Production stopped in 2285 to clear slips for the new Battleships. When production of cruisers resumed it was post German war and experience had changed the design radically.

French Tourville class Cruiser (aka Suffren II)
 

Ship	Builder	Date Commenced	Date Completed	Last Refit
Tourville	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2293	2297	-
Montcalm	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2294	2297	-
Dupleix	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2295	2298	-
Jean de Vienne	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2296	2299	-
La Galissoniere	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2297	2300	-
Gaiaenne	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2298	2301	-

The Tourville class consists of all French cruisers completed after 2293, when the valuable lessons of the Franco-German War had been learnt. The engineering remains the same but she has heavier armour, screens and weapons in addition to submunition launchers and bays instead of packs.

The Ritage-2 missile was to be their main offensive system as the Ritage-1 had proved a liability in the Franco-German conflict. In fact the Tourville was complete in the slip for over a year before the missile was available and the Montcalm was launched first.

In appearance the ship is less than half the length of the Suffren, this in turn leads to a better volume to surface area ratio and improved armour protection.

The ordnance packages are variable. The Tourville has 4 magnetic sling berths and has in her time carried additional drones, Ritage-1 packs and even a few fighters.

In 2297 a new class of French cruisers began construction modelled on the increasing trend towards faster, missile armed craft. With the destruction of Suffren and DeGrasse in 2298 the newer cruiser won over continuing the Tourville programme and the 2299 programme included the even smaller Avengeur class Missile Cruiser, being a pure ship killer like the Kennedy rather than a well rounded "Big Ship".

The Tourville is thus the last of the "Maximum Battleships".

Design Date: 2293
First Example Laid Down: 2293
First Example Completed: 2295
Fleets in Service: France

Performance

Warp Efficiency: 3.80; Power Plant: 240MW fusion; Mass: 15624.22 tons; Fuel: 600 tons (10 refuels for each lander); Crew: 480 (24 Bridge, 28 TAC, 6 small craft, 360 ships troops, 28 engineers, 16 medical, 3 science, 10 stewards, 5 security); Cargo Capacity: 1956.6 cubic meters; Passengers: none; Life Support: 480 people for 180 days; Comfort: 0; Cost MLv374.13 (with ordnance and vehicles)

Ship Status Sheet

Move: 8; Screens: 6; Radiated Signature: 4(7); Radial Reflected: 7; Lateral Reflected: 7; Target Computer: +2; Radial Profile: 0; Lateral Profile: +1; Armour: 8

Sensor Package

Navigation, DSS, Gravitational, Active-16, Passive-12

Weapons Systems and Vehicles

18 x1+1 double laser jack turrets with UTES (6x 123, 3x 345, 3x 567, 6x 178)
20 Ritage-2 missiles in 4 bays
Voir drone slung externally
5 Remote Communicators
3 Medium Landers carried in bay (launch 1 per 3 turns)

Crew Hits

Bridge: Captain, Navigator, Helm, 4x Engineer, 2x Communications, 3x Computer
TAC: 18x Fire Control, 5x Remote Pilot, 3x Flight Control, Active Operator, Passive Operator

Hull Hits: 92 (w/o armour volume)
Power Plant Hits: 154

Damage Control: 14 (or 26 if spare bridge crew included)

French Avengeur class Light Missile Cruiser
 

Ship	Builder	Date Commenced	Date Completed	Last Refit
Avengeur	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2299	2302	-
Gardien	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2300	2303	-
Défenseur	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2301	2203	-
Furieux	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2302	2304	-
Victorieux	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2302	2304	-
Colère de Dieu	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2302	2304	-
unnamed	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2303	2305?
unnamed	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2303	2305?
unnamed	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2303	2305?

The Avengeur class was built as a pure ship killer rather than a multi-purpose power projection platform, to this end all landing capacity has been ignored.

The destruction of DC-2 clenched the production of these vessels, with the firepower of a Suffren and similar armour protection but on a much smaller hull with a large missile armament.

In appearance the ship is only 40 meters long and 30 meters wide in engineering, she has been called the ugliest ship in the MSIF.

Design Date: 2299
First Example Laid Down: 2299
First Example Completed: 2302
Fleets in Service: France

Performance

Warp Efficiency: 4.756; Power Plant: 200MW fusion; Mass: 9961.624 tons; Fuel: none; Crew: 90 (24 Bridge, 26 TAC, 10 ships troops, 24 engineers, 3 medical, 3 stewards); Cargo Capacity: 1309 cubic meters; Passengers: none; Life Support: 90 people for 180 days; Comfort: 0; Cost MLv261.526 (with ordnance)

Ship Status Sheet

Move: 8 (9 with screens powered down, 10 with all power to engines); Screens: 6; Radiated Signature: 4(7); Radial Reflected: 6; Lateral Reflected: 6; Target Computer: +2; Radial Profile: 0; Lateral Profile: +1; Armour: 5

Sensor Package

Navigation, DSS, Gravitational, Active-16, Passive-12

Weapons Systems and Vehicles

18 x1+1 turrets with UTES (6x 1234, 3x 2345, 3x 5678, 6x 1678)
24 Ritage-2 missiles in 6 bays
6 Remote Communicators

Crew Hits

Bridge: Captain, Navigator, Helm, 4x Engineer, 2x Communications, 3x Computer
TAC: 18x Fire Control, 6x Remote Pilot, Active Operator, Passive Operator

Hull Hits: 47 (w/o armour volume)
Power Plant Hits: 130

Damage Control: 12 (or 24 if spare bridge crew included)

French Marechal class Destroyer (Contretorpilleur)
 

Ship	Builder	Commenced	Completed	Last Refit
Marechal Ney	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2275	2277	2293
Marechal Foch	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2276	2278	2293
Marechal Jourdan	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2277	2279	2293
Marechal Bouvier	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2278	2280	2293
Marechal Marsin	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2279	2280	2294
Marechal Soult	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2280	2281	2294
Marechal Suchet	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2281	2281	2294
Marechal Lemire	French Naval Yards, Alpha Centauri	2282	2282	2294

The workhorse of the French Space Navy for 2 decades, the Marechal has seen considerable action. The hull is a composite material at is armoured and fully masked. A modern electronics suite is installed (upgraded in the late 2290's after the initial clash with the Kafers) and ten Guiscard lasers with a full suite of UTES targetters are employed both defensively and offensively. Long Range offensive power comes from 8 Ritage-1 missiles although a mount is installed for a second missile pack or a sensor drone these are not normally carried.

Power comes from a Guiscard X-50 fission reactor and drives considerable defensive screens as well as her own drive, weapons and sensor systems.

A Rochard-Ligget spaceplane is attached to the hulls aft section to provide interface capacity for the ship, which is not capable of planetary landings.

The Ship is 60 meters long and averages out at 6 meters across.

These ships are now relegated to colonial service and where not deemed

Eight were in French service on 1st June 2301 out of the Fifteen produced. Two where destroyed, one in the Central Asian War and one in the Franco-German War. The remainder are in Japanese and Azanian service.

Design Date: 2274
First Example Laid Down: 2275
First Example Completed: 2277
Fleets in Service: France, Azania, Japan

Performance

Warp Efficiency: 2.461; Power Plant: 50MW fission; Mass: 5547.36 tons; Fuel: 200 tons (10 refuels for lander); Crew: 90 (16 Bridge, 15 TAC, 2 small craft, 20 ships troops, 36 engineers, 3 medical); Cargo Capacity: 481.635 cubic meters; Passengers: none; Life Support: 90 people for 90 days; Comfort: 0; Cost MLv76.722 (with ordnance and vehicles)

Ship Status Sheet

Move: 5; Screens: 3; Radiated Signature: 4(6); Radial Reflected: 6; Lateral Reflected: 8; Target Computer: +2; Radial Profile: -2; Lateral Profile: +1; Armour: 4

Sensor Package

Navigation, DSS, Gravitational, Active-10, Passive-6

Weapons Systems and Vehicles

10 x1+1 lasers in masked turrets with UTES (3x 1234, 3x 1678, 2x 2345, 2x 5678)
One Ritage-1 pack (8 missiles)
2 Remote Communicators
One Rochard-Ligget Small Armed Lander carried externally (Piloted by marines)

Crew Hits

Bridge: Captain, Navigator, Helm, Engineer, 2x Communications, 2x Computer
TAC: 10x Fire Control, 2x Remote, Flight Control, Active Operator, Passive Operator

Hull Hits: 48 (w/o armour volume)
Power Plant Hits: 60

Damage Control: 18 (or 26 if spare bridge crew included)

The Patrie class was built after the early lessons of the Central Asian War were learnt. It was clear that a destroyer with good sensors and a large battery of Ritage missiles was a desirable thing, especially if stealthy. These tradeoffs led to the abandonment of screens and the adoption of a advanced composite hull.

The original design carried 20 Ritage missiles but all were updated to the new Ritage-2 in 2299.

Design Date: 2284
First Example Laid Down: 2284
First Example Completed: 2285
Fleets in Service: France

Performance

Warp Efficiency: 2.75; Power Plant: 50MW fission; Mass: 4993 tons; Fuel: 200 tons (4 refuels for lander); Crew: 100 (20 Bridge, 16 TAC, 2 small craft, 20 ships troops, 36 engineers, 4 medical, 1 science); Cargo Capacity: 39 cubic meters; Passengers: none; Life Support: 100 people for 180 days; Comfort: 0; Cost MLv74.888 (with ordnance and vehicles)

Ship Status Sheet

Move: 6; Screens: 0; Radiated Signature: 3(6); Radial Reflected: 4; Lateral Reflected: 5; Target Computer: +2; Radial Profile: -2; Lateral Profile: 0; Armour: 5

Sensor Package

Navigation, DSS, Gravitational, Active-13, Passive-10

Weapons Systems and Vehicles

20 x1+1 lasers in double masked turrets with UTES (3x 1234, 3x 1678, 2x 2345, 2x 5678)
12 Ritage-2 missiles in 4 bays
4 Remote Communicators
One Medium Lander carried externally

Crew Hits

Bridge: (Captain, Navigator, Helm, Engineer, 2 Communications, 4 Computer)
TAC: (10 Fire Control, 4 Remote Pilots, Flight, Active Operator, Passive Operator)

Hull Hits: 34 (w/o armour)
Power Plant Hits: 60

Damage Control: 18 or 28 with bridge crew

Design Date: 2291
First Example Laid Down: 2291
First Example Completed: 2293
Fleets in Service: France

The Paris was commenced when Germany (Hanover) managed to bully the 3 non-aligned German states into the German Union and made approachs towards Bavaria. France, natually concerned for her ally began to immediately expand all of her military forces.

The French rightly guessed that fast, lightly armoured ships where needed. They had been considering the inclusion of a new miniture fusion reactor of 100MW yield. They began the construction but, being new technology, the construction took a long time. The Paris never saw action in that war.

The bulk of the Paris class is with the 3 powerful home fleets at Sol and Tirane. Several vessels were with Baptistes squadron at Beowulf, Rochmonts 3rd Fleet and 2 escorted the Napoleon to reinforce the fleet at Eta Bootis.

Performance

Warp Efficiency: 3.801; Power Plant: 100MW fusion; Mass: 5646.82 tons; Fuel: 200 tons (4 refuels for lander); Crew: 80 (20 Bridge, 22 TAC, 2 small craft, 20 ships troops, 13 engineers, 3 medical); Cargo Capacity: 273 cubic meters; Passengers: none; Life Support: 80 people for 100 days; Comfort: 0; Cost MLv100.44 (with ordnance and vehicles)

Ship Status Sheet

Move: 8; Screens: 1; Radiated Signature: 3(6); Radial Reflected: 6; Lateral Reflected: 6; Target Computer: +2; Radial Profile: -2; Lateral Profile: 0; Armour: 2

Sensor Package

Navigation, DSS, Gravitational, Active-13, Passive-10

Weapons Systems and Vehicles

10 x1+1 double lasers in masked turrets with UTES (3x 1234, 3x 1678, 2x 2345, 2x 5678)
4 L-7 Submunition Dispensers (6 shots ea. 5x2 warhead)
20 Ritage-2 missiles in 5 bays
5 Remote Communicators
One Medium Lander carried externally

Crew Hits

Bridge: (Captain, Navigator, Helm, 2 Engineer, 2 Communications, 3 Computer)
TAC: (14 Fire Control, 5 Remote Pilots, Flight, Active Operator, Passive Operator)

Hull Hits: 36 (w/o armour)
Power Plant Hits: 60

Damage Control: 6 or 16 with bridge crew

French Aconit class Frigate (Fregate)

Table does not include the 3 lost.

Ship	Builder	Commenced	Completed	Last Refit
Duperre	L'Tage, Earth	2283
Kersaint	L'Tage, Earth	2283
Cassard	L'Tage, Earth	2284
La Fayette	L'Tage, Earth	2284
Surcouf	L'Tage, Earth	2284
Courbet	L'Tage, Earth	2284
Guepratte	L'Tage, Earth	2284
Lobellia	L'Tage, Earth	2284
Aigle	L'Tage, Earth	2285
Gerfaut	L'Tage, Earth	2285
Vautour	L'Tage, Earth	2285
Bouvet	L'Tage, Earth	2285
Casabianca	L'Tage, Earth	2285
Dupetit Thouars	L'Tage, Earth	2286
D'Estrees	L'Tage, Earth	2286
Du Chayla	L'Tage, Earth	2287
Tartu	L'Tage, Earth	2287
Forbin	L'Tage, Earth	2287

The French ordered another nuclear powered frigate in 2288 to keep up with the Americans (who had started the Spitfires) and Hanovereans (who had just imported 20 3MW Old Commercial Drives from France on the pretext of a commercial run to Joi but had just started to put them in some exceptionally powerful frigates, the only ship class Hannover possessed.) but L'Tage lost the deal to a military contractor at the huge Naval Yards of Station Élevée De Tour in Geostationary orbit over Provence Nouveau.

L'Tage is still making the Aconit as of 2301 for several governments. The Ukraine bought 7 at a rate of one every other year since 2285 until the colonial disaster of 2298 (the sacking of Nova Kiev). The Ukraine also imported 3 Admiral class cruisers and 3 Munchen class destroyers from the Kingdom of Bavaria as well as fighters from L'Tage of France.

Russia bought 2, Bavaria 12, Azania 3, Australia 6 and Japan 3. Thus the production run of this vessel was 50, making it the most common interstellar warship in human space.

French Fantasque class Frigate (Fregate)
 

Ship	Builder	Commenced	Completed	Last Refit
Fantasque	French Naval Yards, L-5	2288	2289	-
Triomphant	French Naval Yards, L-5	2288	2289	-
Temeraire	French Naval Yards, L-5	2289	2290	-
Viligant	French Naval Yards, L-5	2289	2290	-
Indomptable	French Naval Yards, L-5	2290	2291	-
Tonnant	French Naval Yards, L-5	2290	2291	-
Inflexible	French Naval Yards, L-5	2291	2292	-
Redoubtable	French Naval Yards, L-5	2291	2292	-
Malin	French Naval Yards, L-5	2292	2292	-
Aventurier	French Naval Yards, L-5	2292	2292	-
Intrepide	French Naval Yards, L-5	2293	2293	-
Opiniatre	French Naval Yards, L-5	2294	2295	-
Imperieuse	French Naval Yards, L-5	2295	2295	-
Austerlitz	French Naval Yards, L-5	2296	2296	-
Castigilone	French Naval Yards, L-5	2297	2297	-

The ineffectiveness of the Aconit class frigate during the wars with Manchuria did not go unnoticed at French Naval Command. Despite the establishment being firmly routed in the "Big Ship" concept certain admirals wanted a fleet frigate to compete directly with the next generation of Nuclear Frigates in planning among all of the great powers.

The most vocal advocate of this policy was Vice Amiral Apoux, Commander of the 1st fleet and de facto commander of all French Naval forces on the Chinese Arm. He needed a frigate capable of matching of Manchurian Tungu and Ludu class frigates in use by Frances main competitor in that region. When the new military cabal of the 13th Republic sparked off a large fleet expansion in 2288, Apoux fought his corner and got 13 of these vessels ordered.

Originally carrying a single Ritage-1 pack, they were converted to Ritage-2 in 2300.

Performance

Warp Efficiency: 1.935; Power Plant: 15MW fission; Mass: 2102.66 tons; Fuel: none; Crew: 40 (14 Bridge, 14 TAC,  10 engineers, 2 medical); Cargo Capacity: none; Passengers: none; Life Support: 40 people for 100 days; Comfort: 0; Cost MLv25.595 (with ordnance and vehicles)

Ship Status Sheet

Move: 4; Screens: 0; Radiated Signature: 2(5); Radial Reflected: 5; Lateral Reflected: 6; Target Computer: +1; Radial Profile: -2; Lateral Profile: -1; Armour: 5

Sensor Package

Navigation, DSS, Gravitational, Active-10, Passive-6

Weapons Systems and Vehicles

8 x1+1 lasers in masked turrets with UTES (3x 1234, 3x 1678, 2345, 5678)
2 L-7 Submunition Dispensers (6 shots ea. 5x2 warhead)
8 Ritage-2 missiles carried in packs
2 Remote Communicators
8 Target Tracking Arrays

Crew Hits

Bridge: (Captain, Navigator, Helm, 2 Communications, 2 Computer)
TAC: (10 Fire Control, 2 Remote Pilots, Active Operator, Passive Operator)

Hull Hits: 20 (w/o armour)
Power Plant Hits: 20

Damage Control: 5 or 12 with bridge crew

Original Date of Design: August 8, 2296
First Example Laid Down: December 1, 2296
First Example Completed: April 10, 2297
Fleets of Service: France

The Normand has designed as a budget frigate for the fleet to supplement and replace the Aconit in French service. It could be series produced by any yard as the technology involved is old commercial and bearly equivilent to the best Argentina has to offer.

She is the worlds first all ordnance designed combat starship with pulse munitions and missiles for defense while a serious punch at close range due to her heavy submunition launchers.

Budget restraints have meant the removal of certain capablilities, the sensor suite was cut, the  Gravitational sensors never installed and the computer systems are only second rate. Despite this the Normandie has been ordered by several other countries, notably Japan and the Ukraine.

The French rate her as a Corvette, she is fully streamlined.

Performance

Warp Efficiency: 2.10; Power Plant: 2MW MHD Turbine; Mass: 896,14 tons; Fuel: 400 (2 weeks operations); Crew: 30 (10 Bridge, 6 TAC,  3 engineers, 10 troops, 1 medical); Cargo Capacity: 264.33 cubic meters; Passengers: none; Life Support: 30 people for 60 days; Comfort: 0; Cost MLv24.76 (with ordnance and vehicles)

Ship Status Sheet

Move: 4; Screens: 0; Radiated Signature: -1(2); Radial Reflected: 5; Lateral Reflected: 6; Target Computer: +1; Radial Profile: -2; Lateral Profile: -1; Armour: 2

Sensor Package

Navigation, DSS, Passive-12

Weapons Systems and Vehicles

2 LL-5 Submunition Dispensers (24 shots ea. 1x1 warhead, non-nuclear)
2 LL-7 Submunition Dispensers (6 shots ea. 5x2 warhead)
2 Ritage-1 missiles in 1 bay
2 Remote Communicators
2 Target Tracking Arrays

Crew Hits

Bridge: (Captain, Navigator, Helm, Communications, Computer)
TAC: (4 Fire Control, Remote Pilot, Passive Operator)

Hull Hits: 16 (w/o armour)
Power Plant Hits: 4

Damage Control: 1 or 6 with bridge crew

This is a fully streamlined spaceplane currently used on the French Tallayrand, DeGaulle and Napoleon class Navires de Guerre (Battleships), Suffren class Quatriemes (Cruisers) and other French starships.

It is 20 meters long and 6 meters in diameter. It displaces 280 cubic meters for starship basing purposes and requires an exit port of 240 square meters. For external mounting in a magnetic sling 800 square meters is required.

Performance

Warp Efficiency: N/A; Power Plant: 1MW MHD with thrusters; Mass: 94.15 tons; Fuel: 50 tons (3,72 GLifts); Crew: 1 (Pilot); Cargo Capacity: 171.27 cubic meters or 57 troops, 2 small AFV or 1 large AFV; Passengers: none; Life Support: 24 hours; Comfort: 0; Cost: Lv 560,000

Ship Status Sheet

Move: 0; Screens: 0; Radiated Signature: 1; Radial Reflected: 2; Lateral Reflected: 3; Target Computer: 0; Radial Profile: -3; Lateral Profile: -2; Armour: 0

Sensor Package

Navigation

Weapons Systems and Vehicles

none

Crew Hits

Cockpit: Pilot

Hull Hits: 1
Power Plant Hits: 3

Damage Control: 0

Rochard-Ligget Cartel S-19 Small Armed Lander

This is a fully streamlined lander in use on the French Marechal and Richeleiu class starships. It is 20 meters long and an average of 3 meters across. The atmosphere wings are retractable.

A Guiscard laser provides point defense to allow landings in more dangerous conditions.

It requires 140 meters for internal bay basing and an exit port of 120 square meters. Fo mounting in an external sling 800 square meters of hull is reqiured.

Performance

Warp Efficiency: N/A; Power Plant: 1MW MHD with thrusters; Mass: 65.975 tons; Fuel: 20 tons (2.14 GLifts); Crew: 2 (Pilot, Gunner); Cargo Capacity: 68.805 cubic meters or 23 troops or 1 small AFV; Passengers: none; Life Support: 24 hours; Comfort: 0; Cost: Lv 1,232,000

Ship Status Sheet

Move: 0; Screens: 0; Radiated Signature: 1; Radial Reflected: 2; Lateral Reflected: 3; Target Computer: 0; Radial Profile: -3; Lateral Profile: -2; Armour: 0

Sensor Package

Navigation, Passive-3

Weapons Systems and Vehicles

x1 laser in masked turret (1238)
One TTA

Crew Hits

Cockpit: Pilot, Gunner

Hull Hits: 1
Power Plant Hits: 3

Damage Control: 0

FF Ypres: 3
FF Orage: 2x 1 =2
FF Normand: 14 x 1 = 14
FF Fantasque: 15 x 1=15
FF Aconit: 18x 0.8= 14.4
DD Paris: 12x 4= 48
DD Patrie: 7x 3= 21
DD Marechal: 8x 3= 24
CG Suffren: 6x 15= 90
CG Colbert: 6x 15= 90
BB DeGaulle: 2x 16= 32
BB Napoleon: 31
BB Richeleiu/ Tallayrand: 2x 22= 44
CV Joffre:38

Starship Cost (with carried fighters): 469.6 nbps

Fighter cost: 130.8

Total Fleet Value: 600.4
Known Fleet Value: 600

Positions

Earth (Combined 1st, 5th and 6th Fleets): Joffre w/ 18 Mistral-IIIbis and 12 Bufer fighters (CV JOF), Napoleon w/ 6 Mistral-IIIbis fighters (BB NAP), DeGaulle w/ 6 Mistral-IIIbis fighters (BB DEG), Georges Leygues, Duguay-Trouin, Tourville, Jean Bart (CG SUF), Gloire, Montcalm, Dupleix, La Galissonnierre (CG COL), Paris, Lorraine, Provence, Aslace, Dunkerque, Toulouse, Strasboug, Burgundy, Bretagne, Algerie, Bretagne, Aquitaine (DD PAR), France, Patrie, Republique (DD PAT), Fantasque, Triomphant, Temeraire, Viligant, Indomptable, Inflexible, Redoubtable, Malin, Aventurier, Intrepide, Opiniatre (FF FAN), Le Normand, Le Lorrain, Le Picard, Le Gascon (FF NOR), Cassard, La Fayette, Surcouf, Courbet (FF ACN), 18 Riche fighters, 1 Mistral-IIIbis fighter.

Earth Total: 1CV, 2BB, 8CG, 15DD, 19FF, 61 fighters

Tirane (2nd Fleet): Charlemagne w/ 6 Mistral-IIIbis fighters (BB DEG), Jean de Vienne, Duquesne (CG SUF), Democratie, Justice, Verite, Marianne (DD PAT), Marechal Jourdan, Marechal Lemire, Marechal Soult (DD MAR), Guepratte, Aigle, Gerfaut, Vautour, Bouvet, Casabianca, Forbin, Tartu, Du Chayla, D'Estrees (FF ACN), Le Bearnais, L'Alsacien, Le Provencal, Le Vendeen (FF NOR), Vent, Typhon (FF ORG), 18 Riche fighters

Tirane Total: 2CG, 7DD, 16FF, 24 fighters

Core Total: 1CV, 3BB, 10CG, 22DD, 35FF, 85 fighters

Beowulf: Marechal Bouver, Marechal Marsin (DD MAR), 6 Bonaparte fighters

Augereau: 6 Bonaparte fighters

Vogelheim: Foudroyant (FF YPR)

Bessieres: 6 Bonaparte fighters

Wolf 357 (Nyotekundu):  6 Bonaparte fighters

Beta Canum Venticorum (3rd Fleet): Richeleiu w/ 6 Mistral-IIIbis fighters (BB RCH), Marechal Ney, Marechal Foch (DD MAR), Austerlitz, Imperieuse, Tonnant (FF FAN), 6 Bonaparte fighters

Kimanjano: 52 Martel fighters

Sans Souci: 2 Bonaparte fighters

Beta Comae Berenices: Marechal Suchet (DD MAR), Castigilone (FF FAN), 3 Mistral-IIIbis fighters being ferried to Tallayrand at Eta Bootis, 6 Bonaparte fighters

DM+27 28217: Lobellia (FF ACN), 2 Bonaparte fighters

Eta Bootis (4th Fleet): Tallayrand w/ 3 Mistral-IIIbis fighters (BB TLY), Bassompierre (CG SUF), Duperre, Kersaint (FF ACN)

French Arm Total: 2BB, 1CG, 5 DD, 8 FF, 104 fighters

Seurier: Le Champenois, Le Savoyard (FF NOR), 6 Bonaparte

Davout: Le Bourguignon, Le Breton (FF NOR), 6 Bonaparte

D'Artagnon: Le Basque, L'Agenais (FF NOR), 6 Bonaparte

Chinese Arm Total: 6FF, 18 fighters

GRAND TOTAL: 1CV, 5BB, 12CG, 27DD, 48FF, 207 fighters