The USS George H.W. Bush arrived in Marseille, France, on December 29, 2022.

The visit, say the U.S. Navy, is intended to strengthen the already close relationship between the United States and France, as the two nations work together to ensure a stable, secure, and prosperous Europe.

It also allows the sailors of George H.W. Bush CSG to experience French culture, the U.S. Navy add.

Rear Admiral Lionel Mathieu, the commanding officer of the Marseille Naval Fire Battalion, Marine Fire Battalion School, and Navy in Marseille, welcomed the arrival of the aircraft carrier and its 5,000 sailors. He highlighted the historical importance of the link between the French and US navies, which dates back over 200 years and has seen the two nations work together through a number of conflicts and joint operations.

“As the Commanding Officer of the Marseille Naval Fire Battalion, welcoming the USS Bush is an opportunity to underscore the historical importance of the link that unites us with the U.S. Navy, a link that is marked by a two-hundred-year-old cooperation: since Chesapeake Bay and up to the present days, we have been writing a lasting history through our exchanges and joint operations.”

Marseille, located on the southern coast of France, is one of France’s oldest cities and its largest seaport.

Rear Admiral Dennis Velez, the commander of CSG-10 and George H.W. Bush CSG, emphasised the close relationship between the US and France, noting recent multi-carrier operations in the Ionian Sea with NATO carrier strike groups from France and Italy.

“The relationship between the United States and France is as old as our republic itself. We work closely with our French allies as demonstrated during our recent multi-carrier operations with the French Carrier Strike Group and the Italian Carrier Strike Group.”

The U.S. Navy added that the joint operations demonstrated the coordination of dispersed allied and partner forces in a high-intensity security environment across all domains in the region, and included the swapping of decks between French Rafale fighter jets and US aviation assets, highlighting the shared commitment to interoperability and interchangeability among allies.

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Lisa has a degree in Media & Communication from Glasgow Caledonian University and works with industry news, sifting through press releases in addition to moderating website comments.
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Graham Moore
Graham Moore
1 year ago

I presume they could not get the carrier into the French naval base and moored offshore? Anyone know how designers counteract the weight of the island to avoid a list to starboard?
Does the US really have a close relationship with the French? Any recent examples of conducting kinetic operations together?
I presume the US sailors will get to savour some French cheese!

Stuart
Stuart
1 year ago
Reply to  Graham Moore

The portside overhang for the angled flightdeck counteracts the weight of the island

Graham Moore
Graham Moore
1 year ago
Reply to  Stuart

What about carriers without an angled flight deck?

Robert Blay.
Robert Blay.
1 year ago
Reply to  Graham Moore

Ballast. And yes the Americans have close ties with the French. And so do we. The British and French military have a lot in common and conducte a lot of Joint training together. The American relationship goes way beyond our military. Our intelligence communities share a huge amount of information.

Graham Moore
Graham Moore
1 year ago
Reply to  Robert Blay.

I am very well aware of US-UK collaboration; I served alongside US Marines in Camp Bastion. Just did not hear much about US-French military collaboration – Monty gives two good examples.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
1 year ago
Reply to  Graham Moore

👍

AlexS
AlexS
1 year ago
Reply to  Graham Moore

Rafales operating from CVN. Charles de Gaulle catapults are USA. So there was deep cooperation all this years. More than with RN.

And Aeronavale also buys E-2D Hawkeye.

Sean
Sean
1 year ago
Reply to  AlexS

“More than with RN” – seriously?!
The U.K. is the only Tier 1 partner in the F35 programme.
The RN and USN draw from a common Trident missile pool.
The Dreadnought and Columbia class designs share the ‘common missile compartment’.
Etc

AlexS
AlexS
1 year ago
Reply to  Sean

I am talking about carrier ops.

Sean
Sean
1 year ago
Reply to  AlexS

Even with carrier operations there’s arguably more cooperation over the last 10 years between the RN and USN, as we’ve regenerated fixed-wing capability by having our personnel aboard US carriers being trained in flight operations.
As for actual operations, the RN can and has hosted a USMC squadron aboard its carriers. That’s greater level of cooperation than just landing, refuelling, and launching, as per Rafales.

Supportive Bloke
Supportive Bloke
1 year ago
Reply to  Robert Blay.

At the most fundamental level, where the hull is centred under the flight deck + islands etc is actually adjusted, in design, so that firstly the hull balances and then so does the deck over hull.

The finer design will shift heavy machinery etc to counterbalance.

Then ultimately it is fine adjusted with ballast, as you say.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay
1 year ago

The aircraft lifts are mainly on the stbd side on US carrier’s too. Think they have 3 on the right and 1 port side.

FormerUSAF
FormerUSAF
1 year ago
Reply to  Graham Moore

And, perhaps an opportunity to visit the French Riviera? 😁

Monty
Monty
1 year ago
Reply to  Graham Moore

Operation Serval (Mali) and Operation Inherit Resolve/Chammal (anti-ISIS) are two I know of.

Graham Moore
Graham Moore
1 year ago
Reply to  Monty

Thanks Monty. Great info.

Joe16
Joe16
1 year ago
Reply to  Graham Moore

I’d imagine the intervention in Libya would be one of the largest scale in terms of numbers involved. France flew the highest percentage of NATO strikes, but obviously the US came mob-handed as usual (not a complaint). That said, it’s a decade ago now- tme flies…
Having lived in France previously, I do miss French cheese..!

Graham Moore
Graham Moore
1 year ago
Reply to  KALOU

Many thanks. I am impressed this supercarrier can get into Marseilles port.

David Cunningham
David Cunningham
1 year ago

France signed a treaty of alliance with America in 1778 as America offered help if France was invaded by great Britain. This was before the British became friends with America in 1785