The Tonnerre is an amphibious helicopter carrier equipped with medical facilities that make it a true floating hospital.
Emmanuel Macron announced this Wednesday, October 25, during his stay in Cairo, Egypt, the departure for Gaza of the military ship Tonnerre de Toulon, one of the three helicopter carriers of the French Navy.
This amphibious helicopter carrier of the French Navy is equipped with hospital structures on board that will be able to “support the hospitals of Gaza,” emphasized the head of state, FranceInfo reported. He also pointed out that “tomorrow a French plane will land on your soil to deliver medical equipment. Others will follow.”
The crew of this building is prepared to carry out all types of missions: troop management, evacuation of nationals, medical support, operational transport, use of airmobile and amphibious forces, as explained in more detail on the website of the Ministry of the Armed Forces in an article dedicated to this subject ship . A little over a year ago.
A French hospital ship, the Tonnerre, set sail this Wednesday for Gaza, where it will take part in aid operations for the civilian population of the Palestinian territory, we learned from a source familiar with the matter. #AFP 1/2 pic.twitter.com/I4ESxHeaiD
— Agence France-Presse (@afpfr) October 25, 2023
The building is 200 meters long and 32 meters wide. It can carry up to 16 helicopters and 80 vehicles capable of amphibious landing. It can also house medical structures, allowing it to be configured as a floating hospital.
Le Tonnerre recently intervened in Beirut after the port explosion to help the Lebanese restore their port.