Vulcain class

Service And Conflict Use

1. May 15, 1985

   Keel laid

   The lead ship Vulcain was laid down at Chantiers et ateliers de la Perrière in Lorient.

   Sources: Category:Vulcain (ship, 1986)

2. Jan 17, 1986

   Launched

   Vulcain was launched in January 1986, beginning the class's French Navy service life.

   Sources: Category:Vulcain (ship, 1986)

3. Oct 11, 1986

   Commissioned

   The lead ship entered service later in 1986, with the class remaining in French use as BBPD support ships.

   Sources: Category:Vulcain (ship, 1986), Liste des navires de la Marine nationale

4. Jan 30, 1991

   French mine-clearance campaign off Kuwait

   French mine-warfare forces joined clearance operations off the Kuwaiti coast, and public sources associate sister ship Pluton with the campaign.

   Sources: The French Naval Campaign off the Kuwaiti Coasts

Vulcain class Images

Related Weapon Systems

Naval SystemsÉridan class minehunterMinehunter classThe Éridan class is the French Navy's national subclass of the Tripartite minehunter family, built at Arsenal de Lorient and fitted for precise mine countermeasures with hull sonar and PAP 104 vehicles. French Navy material describes the class as a specialist platform for detecting, identifying, and neutralizing submerged mines, with use as a precursor for amphibious and naval-air operations.

Naval SystemsFrankenthal class minehunterMinehunter classThe Frankenthal class is a German Navy minehunter class built by Lürssen, Abeking & Rasmussen, and Krögerwerft for precise mine countermeasures in shallow waters. Bundeswehr data describe a non-magnetic steel hull, Seefuchs underwater drones, mine-laying rails, and a 27 mm MLG fit on the 54.4-meter MJ332 boats.

Naval SystemsOphrys classDive support and mine countermeasures vessel classThe Ophrys class is a French Navy dive support and mine-countermeasures vessel class built by Merré Shipyard and designed by Neuman. The aluminium, low-magnetic boats support clearance divers in shallow-water mine disposal and use diesel-electric propulsion for slow station-keeping.

Naval SystemsThales MCM USVMine countermeasures uncrewed surface vesselThales MCM USV is the mine-countermeasure uncrewed surface vessel element of the Franco-British SLAM-F/MMCM program. Public reporting describes the crewless craft as carrying TSAM towed sonar and SAMDIS multi-view sonar to detect and classify naval mines, with French Navy deliveries beginning in December 2024 and further production deliveries following in 2025.

Naval SystemsAshura-class speedboatFast patrol boat / fast inshore attack craftThe Ashura-class speedboat is a small Iranian fast patrol and fast inshore attack craft family used by Iranian naval forces and especially associated with the IRGC Navy's asymmetric small-boat fleet. Public sources describe gun, rocket, troop-carrying, and mine-capable versions, making the family one of the clearer military variants within Iran's broader small attack boat inventory.

Naval SystemsIranian small attack boatsSmall attack boat / fast attack craftIranian small attack boats are a mixed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy fast attack craft and fast inshore attack craft force used for swarm harassment, mine laying, anti-ship missile attack, and littoral sea denial around the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. The family covers domestically produced speedboats and named classes such as Ashura/Ashoora, Tareq, Zolfaghar/Peykaap, Thondor/Houdong, Boghammar-derived craft, and Bladerunner-derived craft rather than a single standardized design.

Sources