Mission Héraclès: Difference between revisions

'''Mission Héraclès''' was a 2001 operation of the [[French Navy]], in support of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]] against the [[Taliban]]. Its main tasks included the provision of security and order around Kabul as well as the training of the newly created [[Afghan Armed Forces|Afghan Army]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=International Crisis Management: The Approach of European States|last=Houben|first=Marc|date=2005|publisher=Routledge|year=|isbn=0203001265|location=Oxon|pages=160, 161}}</ref>

The French military actions in support of the Operation Enduring Freedom began as early as October 2001 when a group of liaison officers were sent to the [[United States Central Command|United States Central Command (CENTCOM)]] in Florida to coordinate strategy against the Taliban.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Reconstructing Afghanistan: Civil-Military Experiences in Comparative Perspective|last=Maley|first=William|last2=Schmeidl|first2=Susanne|date=2014|publisher=Routledge|year=|isbn=9781138810679|location=Oxon|pages=112}}</ref> On 21 November 2001, France decided to send the [[French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91)|aircraft carrier ''Charles de Gaulle'']] to the [[Indian Ocean]] in support of [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] against [[Taliban]]-controlled [[Afghanistan]]. The vessel is the only non-US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier with a 30-milliwatt nuclear reactor steam turbines.<ref>{{Cite book|title=U.S. Conflicts in the 21st Century: Afghanistan War, Iraq War, and the War on Terror [3 volumes]: Afghanistan War, Iraq War, and the War on Terror|last=Tucker|first=Spencer C.|date=2016|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=|isbn=9781440838781|location=Santa Barbara, CA|pages=53}}</ref> [[Force d'action navale#The aeronaval group|Task Force 473]], with 2,900 men under the command of [[Counter Admiral|Contre-Amiral]] François Cluzel, sailed on 1 December. The task force was composed of ''Charles de Gaulle'', frigates {{ship|French frigate|LamotteLa Motte-Picquet|D645|2}}, {{ship|French frigate|Jean de Vienne|D643|2}} and {{ship|French frigate|Jean Bart|D615|2}}, the nuclear [[attack submarine]] {{ship|French submarine|Rubis|S601|2}}, the tanker [[Meuse{{ship|French (A607)tanker|''Meuse'']]||2}} and the [[aviso]] [[{{Sclass|D'Estienne d'Orves|aviso|2}} class{{ship|French aviso|''Commandant Ducuing'']]||2}}. The electronic surveillance vessel ''Bougainville'' was also part of the task force.<ref name=":0" />

Embarked air power comprised sixteen [[Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard|Super ÉtendardÉtendards]]s, one [[E-2C Hawkeye]], two [[Rafale]] Ms and several helicopters. The Super Étendards carried out their first missions above Afghanistan on 19 December, executing reconnaissance and bombing missions, covering over {{convert|3,000|km}}. Overall they carried out 140 missions, averaging 12 every day.

[[ImageFile:USS Enterprise FS Charles de Gaulle.jpg|thumb|left|{{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}} (left), the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, and ''Charles de Gaulle'' (right), at the time the latest nuclear carrier.]]

On 18 February 2002, a [[Helios 1B|Helios]] observation satellite spotted abnormal activities near [[Gardez]]. The next day, after [[American Special Forces]] in the region confirmed these observations, ''Charles de Gaulle'' launched two reconnaissance Super Étendards. On 20 February, coalition forces entered the valley and [[Operation Anaconda]] began in early March.{{fact|date=March 2023}}

In March, Super Étendards and six [[Mirage 2000]] aircraft carried out airstrikes against targets claimed to be [[al Qaeda]]. A few targets suggested by US forces were denied out of fear of hitting civilians. Nevertheless, French involvement was complimented on 11 March 2002 by US President [[George W. Bush]], who mentioned "our good ally, France, has deployed nearly one-fourth of its navy to support Operation Enduring Freedom".<ref>"[https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020311-1.html President Thanks World Coalition for Anti-Terrorism Efforts]", The White House, March 11, 2002. Retrieved December 31, 2006.</ref> At this point, the French air complement had been increased to 16 Super Étendards, 6 Mirage 2000 D, 5 Rafales, and two Hawkeye AWACS. From February, the air wings of ''Charles de Gaulle'' and {{USS|John C. Stennis|CVN-74|6}} landed on each other's decks as a means of strengthening the ties between the allies.{{fact|date=March 2023}}

[[Category:2001 in the War in Afghanistan (2001–present2001–2021)]]

[[Category:Military operations of the War in Afghanistan (2001–present2001–2021) involving France]]