French navy docked at HMAS Cairns as part of a five month deployment

The French navy is in port at HMAS Cairns as part of Mission Jeanne D’Arx, a long-term annual operational deployment, marks the end of the training course for cadets at the French Naval Academy.

Looking forward to few days of shore leave, the crew from the French navy Frigate, FS La Fayette said they were delighted to make their inaugural visit to Cairns.

Docked at HMAS Cairns on Tuesday, Commander Ghislain Deleplanque said the Far North Queensland stopover for the stealth frigate was a crucial element of their six month deployment as part of Mission Jeanne D’Arx, a long-term annual operational mission which marked the end of the training course for cadets at the French Naval Academy.

Commander Deleplanque said from February 8 until mid-July 2023, the Jeanne d’Arc group will be deployed in many areas of strategic interest, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, through the Red Sea, the Indian and Pacific Oceans, as well as the

Caribbean Sea.

The French navy frigate La Fayette has docked at HMAS Cairns as part of the 155 day worldwide Mission Jeanne d'Arc. La Fayette Commander Ghislain Delepanque is welcomed to Cairns by HMAS Cairns Commander Alfonso Santos. Picture: Brendan Radke

He said the FS La Fayette and sister ship FS Dixmude – which is currently in Townsville – also participated in Exercise La Parouse which took place last month in the Bay of Bengal and involved ships, aircraft and personnel from Australia, France, India, Japan, UK, and USA.

The French navy frigate La Fayette has docked at HMAS Cairns as part of the 155 day worldwide Mission Jeanne d'Arc. La Fayette navigational officers Camille Vandevelde and Nolwenn Maignan on the frigate's bridge. Picture: Brendan Radke

“An objective of the deployment is liaise with our Australian counterparts, we have a long history of cooperatinon.” he said.

“We came through the Torres Strait with an Australian Patrol Boat five days and did many exercises.

“La Fayette is a versatile warship and on this specific mission we have the training of cadets.

“We are very excited, it was a two month trip to come here”.

The French navy frigate La Fayette has docked at HMAS Cairns as part of the 155 day worldwide Mission Jeanne d'Arc. La Fayette Commander Ghislain Delepanque and HMAS Cairns Commander Alfonso Santos welcome Ensign Pierreloup Beaurepaire and Ensign Houges Perrot to Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke

Meanwhile, Ensign Pierreloup Beaurepaire and Ensign Hogues Perrot said they were excited to make their first visit to Australian.

“We look forward to visit the Great Barrier Reef,” they said.

“We have been warned about crocodiles and stingers,”

The French navy frigate La Fayette has docked at HMAS Cairns as part of the 155 day worldwide Mission Jeanne d'Arc. Commander Ghislain Delepanque on the bridge of La Fayette. Picture: Brendan Radke

HMAS Cairns Commander Alfonso Santos said it was wonderful to have the French navy visit the Far North.

He said it showed the importance of Cairns as a strategic port in the Pacific.

Originally published as French navy docked at HMAS Cairns as part of a five month deployment