USAF HH60G Pave Hawks detached onboard French Navy's Tonnerre LHD

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World Navy Force News - France/USA
 
 
 
USAF HH60G Pave Hawks detached onboard French Navy's Tonnerre LHD
 
From 1 to 3 October 2011, a detachment of US Air Force’s Personal Recovery (PR) with HH60G Pave Hawk was operating from the French Navy’s Tonnerre BPC (Mistral Class LHD) offshore Sirte, Libya.
     
From 1 to 3 October 2011, a detachment of US Air Force’s Personal Recovery (PR) with HH60G Pave Hawk was operating from the French Navy’s Tonnerre BPC (Mistral Class LHD) offshore Sirte, Libya.
USAF HH60G Pave Hawks land on French Navy's Tonnerre off Libya
(picture: EMA/French Navy)

     
The Air Force personnel, coming from Greece on October 1st, were projected on the Marine Nationale ship Tonnerre by the coalition to validate the ability of BPC (Batiment de Projection et Commandement, Mistral Class) to host an extra CSAR party. The goal being to increase on very short notice, closer to the coast, this capacity. (Pave Hawks have the ability to be air refueled which makes them perfect for this role.)
     
From 1 to 3 October 2011, a detachment of US Air Force’s Personal Recovery (PR) with HH60G Pave Hawk was operating from the French Navy’s Tonnerre BPC (Mistral Class LHD) offshore Sirte, Libya.
French and US crewmen have a chat onboard Tonnerre LHD
(picture: EMA/French Navy)
     
From 1 to 3 October 2011, a detachment of US Air Force’s Personal Recovery (PR) with HH60G Pave Hawk was operating from the French Navy’s Tonnerre BPC (Mistral Class LHD) offshore Sirte, Libya.
HH60G Pave Hawk on the deck of Tonnerre BPC
(picture: EMA/French Navy)
     
The US Air Force crews said they were impressed by the comfort of the BPC and the capacity of its helicopters hangar.

In the U.S., PR detachments operate to the benefit of civilian populations during shipwrecks for example, or recently during Hurricane Katrina. Abroad, it is in Afghanistan that they are currently mainly deployed. "We come directly from the province of Helmand in the south, where we just spent four months," said Major José.
     
From 1 to 3 October 2011, a detachment of US Air Force’s Personal Recovery (PR) with HH60G Pave Hawk was operating from the French Navy’s Tonnerre BPC (Mistral Class LHD) offshore Sirte, Libya.
A USAF airman show the Pave Hawk's cockpit to his French counterpart
(picture: EMA/French Navy)
     

The mission of the Tonnerre was the occasion of many exchanges. "A pilot from 55th Rescue Squadron (RS) is currently assigned to our unit, the helicopter squadron 01,067 Pyrenees, says a French Commander. "We share the same procedures. The difference is that our helicopters are less spacious and older than the Caracal, "explains Captain Chris with a smile.

     
From 1 to 3 October 2011, a detachment of US Air Force’s Personal Recovery (PR) with HH60G Pave Hawk was operating from the French Navy’s Tonnerre BPC (Mistral Class LHD) offshore Sirte, Libya.
French Navy crew from Tonnerre prepare to refuel a USAF HH60G Pave Hawk
(picture: EMA/French Navy)
     

On October 3rd at noon, the American detachment left the Thunder to join the military base in Kalamata, Greece. On the way, an air tanker refueled the HH60Gs twice during the four hours of flight necessary to reach the Greek soil.
From: http://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/autres-operations/operation-harmattan-libye/actualites/libye-le-tonnerre-accueille-un-detachement-americain

     
From 1 to 3 October 2011, a detachment of US Air Force’s Personal Recovery (PR) with HH60G Pave Hawk was operating from the French Navy’s Tonnerre BPC (Mistral Class LHD) offshore Sirte, Libya.
A French Army Tigre helicopter takes off while a French Army Cougar and USAF HH60G sit on the deck of French Navy's Tonnerre
(picture: EMA/French Navy)