Chaland de transport de matériel

The CTMs are landing craft that are derived from the American LCM-8 class.[3] They measure 23.8 metres (78 ft 1 in) long with a beam of 6.35 metres (20 ft 10 in) and a draught of 1.25 metres (4 ft 1 in).[4][5] Each ship has a bow ramp.[5] They have a standard displacement between 48 and 56 tonnes (47 and 55 long tons) and fully loaded displacement of 150 tonnes (150 long tons).[4][6] The vessels are propelled by two propellers that were initially driven by two Poyaud 520 V8 diesel engines capable of creating 330 kilowatts (440 hp).[5][6][lower-alpha 1] They were later exchanged for Poyaud-Wärtsilä 18V8M1 diesels creating 340 kW (450 bhp).[4] This gave the CTMs a maximum speed of 9.5 knots (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph). The ships carry 3.4 tonnes (3.3 long tons) of fuel and have a range of 380 nautical miles (700 km; 440 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).[4][5] The landing craft have capacity for 90 tonnes (89 long tons) of cargo and room for 200 personnel.[5] They are equipped with a small navigational radar and two 12.7-millimetre (0.50 in) machine guns. The machine guns are often not mounted.[4][5] The vessels had an initial complement of 6,[6] declining to 4.[4]

The CTMs were constructed in two batches. The first three ships of the first batch were ordered on 18 July 1964. Further orders were placed in 1965 and 1966. The first batch consisting of CTM 1 to CTM 16, was constructed in the 1960s to support nuclear testing in the Pacific. A second series was ordered in 1982 to replace the older, worn out units.[3] Six units were operated by the French Army, but were returned to the navy in 2010.[4][5] Several vessels have since been transferred to navies around the world, including Morocco, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Chile and Brazil while others have been cannibalised for spare parts.[4]

A new landing craft was developed by STX France and DCNS, called the CTM NG, with the CTM referring to this class and the NG meaning "Nouvelle Génération". These vessels represent an improved design over the Chaland de transport de matériel.[26][27]

The remaining CTMs are being gradually replaced from 2021 by fourteen new Engins de débarquement amphibie standard (standard amphibious landing craft) – EDA-S – built by SOCARENAM over a period of ten years. With a slightly larger size, they will be deployed from the Mistral class and overseas bases.[28][29] French forces deployed in overseas bases in Mayotte, New Caledonia, Martinique and French Guiana are to receive one vessel each in order to support local operations. Two vessels are also planned to be deployed for operations around Djibouti. The vessels have a payload capacity of 65 to 80 tonnes at a maximum speed of 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph) (at full load). The first two EDA-S vessels (Arbalète and Arquebuse) were delivered to the navy in November 2021[30][31] and entered service in July 2022. The next four in the program are intended for the naval base at Toulon and are to start delivery in mid-2023.[32] Deliveries will continue up to 2025.[33]

• Couhat, Jean Labayle, ed. (1986). Combat Fleets of the World 1986/87. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85368-860-5.
• "Les Chalands de transport de matériel (CTM)". Netmarine (in French). 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
• Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 (112th ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN 978-0-7106-2888-6.
• Wertheim, Eric, ed. (2013). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World (16th ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9-7-815911-4954-5.