- Operation Foch is the naval group's first military exercise in the Atlantic and North Sea in ten years.
- With the spread of the coronavirus in Europe, the mission has undergone some modifications.
- Some exercises have been modified, especially those that planned to dock.
And during this time, at sea, a major European maritime operation is deployed. Operation Foch is the first exercise by the Carrier Strike Group (GAN) in the Atlantic and North Sea in ten years. But with the spread of the coronavirus in Europe, the mission has undergone some modifications.
Imagine the Charles-de-Gaulle aircraft carrier, around twenty fighter planes, helicopters, a frigate, a tanker and a submarine traveling the waters off our coast since January. In all, 2,700 sailors from different countries are thus mobilized for this operation which consists in "securing" a "strategic area". The army will say no more.
Help for a sinking sailboat
In March, it was a Charles-de-Gaulle helicopter that came to the aid of a sinking German sailboat off Cherbourg, in the English Channel. A rescue operation not included in the program, while nautical activities were already prohibited due to the containment measures taken the day before by the French government
Since then, the economy has forced this military “regional cooperation” to revise its objectives downwards. Contacted by 20 Minutes, the General Staff of the armies emphasizes, however, that "the carrier strike group has maintained the programming of the operations and major maneuvers that were initially planned (...) with the Danish, Dutch and Swedish Air Forces" .
However, some exercises have been modified, especially those that planned to dock. "The health precaution measures linked to the Covid-19 epidemic require an adaptation of the physical rest periods of sailors who, in addition to a 60-hour layover in Brest, have been at sea since February 26," explains the General Staff. . Rest periods of 24 to 36 hours at dock [without permission to leave the ship] or at anchor will be carried out. "
The same rules for barrier gestures
Even within ships, soldiers are therefore subject to strict health measures with "an area allowing the isolation and monitoring of people whose condition would require it". The same rules for barrier gestures are required, as is the limitation of the number of meetings and people present, but also gatherings in common living spaces.
“Since March 11, no physical contact has been established between the different crews of the buildings. The exchanges are made by videoconference, "says the General Staff. As long as the morale of the troops follows ...
The Foch mission is due to end at the end of April, after three months of deployment, as initially announced.
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