French assault ship in harbour

The French Navy assault ship Mistral (21,000 tons) arrived in Grand Harbour this morning on a short break from operations off Libya. It is the ship's first visit to Malta. Mistral class vessels can carry up to 16 heavy helicopters as well as landing...

The French Navy assault ship Mistral (21,000 tons) arrived in Grand Harbour this morning on a short break from operations off Libya. It is the ship's first visit to Malta.

Mistral class vessels can carry up to 16 heavy helicopters as well as landing craft and a marines unit. The ship also has a communications suite enabling it to serve as a headquarters ship.

The Mistral was commissioned in 2006. A sister ship, Tonnerre, followed a year later and a third ship is nearing completion.

A similar ship of the Royal Navy, HMS Ocean, arrived in Malta yesterday.

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