The French replenishment tanker BRF Jacques Chevallier is part of the French carrier strike group (CSG) which is currently deployed for the Clemenceau 25 mission in the Indo-Pacific. While sailing in the Indian Ocean and taking advantage of the presence of the MSC-chartered Stena Polaris, the French vessel conducted a CONSOL operation with the latter, a first for the French Navy.
Such operation was carried out beforehand at the French Toulon naval base, where Stena Polaris was moored and completed in-port refuel training with the Jacques Chevallier in order to test this capability.
CONSOL
For the record, CONSOL consists to the direct transfer of oil or cargo from a commercial tanker to a military vessel allowing another option to the standard fuel delivery process. Indeed, in order to refuel themselves, replenishment tankers have no other choices than to port call to fill its fuel tanks and reserves for the other ships it will be serving. Typically, a commercial vessel transfers fuel to MSC’s Combat Logistics Fleet, which then supports deployed units, such as a carrier strike group.
At a time when logistics are a major issue for navies operating far from their home bases, building, maintaining and nurturing diplomatic and military partnerships in this area is crucial, especially when these are under threat due to the geopolitical context. But to complement these arrangements, and in order to achieve greater flexibility and autonomy, especially in disputed areas where friendly support bases are rare, CONSOL operations make perfect sense.
A USTRANSCOM press release mentions CONSOL was also carried out with USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier – a first since the Gulf war – MSC’s Senior Officers describes the operation as follow:
“Direct refueling with commercial tankers allows us to swiftly adapt to changing circumstances, and redirect forces without the constraints of limited fuel supplies. The extended range becomes particularly invaluable in scenarios where the proximity of friendly ports is limited or during prolonged missions where ships are far from logistical support.” Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck, MSC commander.
“When we combine our capabilities with those of our allies and our commercial partners, we multiply options and flexibility to fuel the force.” Air Force Col. John Barry, U.S. Transportation Command Global Bulk Fuels Division chief.
Naval News understands the CONSOL maneuver was conducted as part of the Strategic Interoperability Framework (SIF) enacted by the U.S. Navy and French Marine Nationale in December 2021 with the goal of enhancing high-end warfighting interoperability. Two month ago, U.S. Navy destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55) demonstrated the rearming of its vertical launching system (VLS) at the French naval base of Brest in Brittany (Western France). This was also first and was also carried out as part of the SIF.
The importance of “operational logistics”
As previously reported by Naval News, operational logistics (“LOGOPS”) is very much an area of focus for both navies. The French Navy recently experimented and demonstrated new capabilities with its new class of logistics supply ships, such as the reloading of VLS (including while underway) and the transfer of supplies to submarines. The U.S. Navy recently held its first at-sea test of a new reloading mechanism that will allow warships to rearm while underway. These capabilities are becoming increasingly important in the global context of increased tensions, and as demonstrated in the Red Sea where ordnance can be expended quite quickly (and where most allied navies had to sail out of the Red Sea to get their ammunition reloaded).
Martin Manaranche story with additional reporting by Xavier Vavasseur
