History UsefulNotes / TheUltimateResistance

Knowing that Western Europe could probably not stand against a full Soviet attack, France's nuclear policy, as developed by De Gaulle, was that if it was to fall, [[TakingYouWithMe so would the invader]]. In that regard, France was probably the nation the most prone to use massive retaliation, and be the first one to bring the nukes on - even if it meant [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt global escalation]]. The policy included bombing conventional Soviet armies who would cross Germany (much to the anger of West Germans during interarmy exercises), which was as much defence as a last warning : next would be Soviet cities.

This policy has not really changed, it is simply that there seems to be no foe both hostile and strong enough that it would be needed. So while the number of nukes France possess has recently been halved for budgetary reasons, the remaining ones continue to be maintained and modernized, just in case.

Which makes this trope another RealLife aversion of CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkeys. [[spoiler:[[AwakeningTheSleepingGiant And should serve as a warning to ISIL]].]]

->''France got The Bomb, but don't you grieve\\
'Cause they're on our side... I believe.''
-->-- '''Music/TomLehrer''', "[[Quotes/VaporWare Who's Next]]?".

[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/200px-Missile_S3_monte_en_position_verticale_Musee_du_Bourget_P1010455.jpg]]

!!''L'Inflexible'' class

!!"CVF"

A new conventionally-powered carrier under development which will share some features with the UK's ''Queen Elizabeth'' class. The political decision to actually build [=PA2=] (Porte-Avions 2) is still to come and expected for 2012... at the earliest. There is a strong push to ditch the conventional CVF design and instead build a second nuclear-powered carrier using lessons learnt from the [=CdG=]. The main hurdle is financial, as the Navy also needs to fund the renewal of the frigate fleet (using the Franco-Italian FREMM design).

A carrier-based subsonic strike fighter, similar in concept to the A-7 Corsair II, but far less ugly. Soon to be retired, these planes were famously used in the anti-ship role by both Argentina and Iraq.

This aircraft has carrier and land-based versions, with only the air force having both one and two-seater sub-versions, the navy only having a single-seater (only the two-seaters carry nukes). Has seen combat in Afghanistan (the only 4.5 gen fighter to have yet done so, not counting the Super Hornet) and being marketed for export, with Brazil, Libya and the UAE seriously interested.

* TheOtherWiki
----
<<|UsefulNotes/{{France}}|>>
<<|ForcesWithFirepower|>>

These are known as SNLE (Sous-marin Nucléaire Lanceur d'Engins, literally Devices Launcher Nuclear Submarine (ship)) in French, equivalent to the U.S. Navy terms SSBN (Submarine Ship Ballistic missile launcher Nuclear powered). (Boomers are nuclear-missile subs, for you [[ViewersAreMorons civvies]])

Which makes this trope another RealLife aversion of CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkey.

[[quoteright:200:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/200px-Missile_S3_monté_en_position_verticale_Musee_du_Bourget_P1010455.JPG]]

-->-- CharlesDeGaulle

-->-- Charles de Gaulle

->''"France got The Bomb, but don't you grieve\\
'Cause they're on our side... I believe."''

->''"France got [[AtomicHate The Bomb]], but don't you grieve\\
'Cause they're on [[EagleLand our]] side... I believe."''

These weapons are

<<|ForcesWithFirepower|>>

Since the last diesel-electric subs (of the Agosta class) were retired in the 90s, the French Navy only operates [=SSNs=] (although modern [=SSKs=] are offered for export, like the cpmmercially successful Scorpene) of the Rubis-Amethyste class. Those are famous for being the smallest [=SSNs=] in the world. The whole class was upgraded to the Amethyste standard. The first unit of the successor Barracudas is currently under construction.

The second generation of French SSBNs, the first unit entered service in the mid-90s armed with the M45 missile. The fourth and last one, currently undergoing trials, is the first to be equipped with the much improved M51 rocket. The Triomphant was a quantum leap in terms of discretion (shrouded pump-jet propeller, suspended machinery, advanced signature management) and the coming Barracuda-class SSNs will build on this technical legacy.

Since the last diesel-electric subs (of the Agosta class) were retired in the 90s, the French Navy only operates SSNs (although modern SSKs are offered for export, like the cmmercially successful Scorpene) of the Rubis-Amethyste class. Those are famous for being the smallest SSNs in the world. The whole class was upgraded to the Amethyste standard. The first unit of the successor Barracudas is currently under construction.

''Foch'' was sold on to Brazil, where it remains in service as ''NAe Sao Paulo''. ''Clemenceau'' is currently being scrapped in Hartlepool after India and Egypt rejected the ship as too toxic.

* ''Foch'' is sunk in ''RedStormRising''.

A new conventionally-powered carrier under development which will share some features with the UK's ''Queen Elizabeth'' class. The political decision to actually build PA2 (Porte-Avions 2) is still to come and expected for 2012... at the earliest. There is a strong push to ditch the conventional CVF design and instead build a second nuclear-powered carrier using lessons learnt from the CdG. The main hurdle is financial, as the Navy also needs to fund the renewal of the frigate fleet (using the Franco-Italian FREMM design).

The Mirage IV was also used as a recon plaform, in an SR71-lite way. For instance it was used in the Balkans operations in the late 90s, undertaking high altitude and high-speed (Mach 2) recon runs.

-->-- '''TomLehrer''', "[[TheDragonsTeeth Who's Next]]?".

These are known as SNLE (Sous-marin Nucléaire Lanceur d'Engins, literally Devices Launcher Nuclear Submarine (ship)) in French, rather than SSBN as the U.S. Navy terms them. (Boomers are nuclear-missile subs, for you [[ViewersAreMorons civvies]])

Deciding to go it alone, without US help, meant some technologies arrived rather later than others.

These are known as SNLE (Sous-marin Nucléaire Lanceurs d'Engins) in French, rather than SSBN as the U.S. Navy terms them. (Boomers are nuclear-missile subs, for you [[ViewersAreMorons civvies]])

The newest French multi-role aircraft, replacing several other types. France was originally involved in the European Fighter Aircraft (EFA) program that would eventually create the Eurofighter Typhoon, but pulled out over fundamental disagreements, i.e. wanting a carrier version while everyone else didn't.

The Mirage IV was a strategic high-performance bomber; it resembled an enlarged version of the famous Mirage III. Both were produced by the same manufacturer, Dassault (the ''nom de guerre'' of the earlier French Resistance fighter who founded the company). It was designed to strike targets in the European part of the USSR. Initially, it was supposed to go in very high and fast; later, as Soviet air defenses improved, the strategy shifted to low-level high-speed penetration and heavy use of stand-off weapons. It was the first French nuclear delivery system and for a couple of decades, it was the mainstay of their nuclear forces.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/200px-Missile_S3_monté_en_position_verticale_Musee_du_Bourget_P1010455.JPG
->''France got [[AtomicHate The Bomb]], but don't you grieve\\
'Cause they're on [[EagleLand our]] side... I believe''.
-->-- TomLehrer, ''[[TheDragonsTeeth Who's Next]]?''.

These are known as SNLE (Sous-marin Nucléaire Lanceurs d'Engins) in French, rather than SSBN as the U.S. Navy terms them. (Boomers are nuclear-missile subs, for you civvies)

-->-- TomLehrer, ''[[ChineseWithChopperSupport Who's Next]]?''.

Click the edit button to start this new page.