The Var returns from a 3-year mission
After three years spent traveling across the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia as support vessel for the admiral commanding the Indian Ocean Maritime Area (ALINDIEN), command and supply vessel Var at the end of July found the Mediterranean Sea and the naval base of Toulon.
A few figures summarize more than a long speech these three years of deployment. Thus over the period 2006-2009, the Var saw a succession of three crews, supported three admirals, covered over 118 000 nautical miles and its Alouette III has completed over 600 hours of flights.
He took part in different missions: the mission of fight against terrorism "Enduring Freedom", the fight against piracy "Atalanta" and the operation of the release of hostages of the sailboat Ponant in 2008 "Thalathine. BCR has made 105 refueling at sea to deliver more than 20 000 tonnes of fuel to buildings and french allies in operations in the area. He has participated in many inter exercises in the Arabian Sea to the China Sea.
Hong Kong to Aqaba and Kuwait City to Manila, the Var allowed the Admiral commanding the area to meet the highest military and civilian authorities of 24 countries in the area at 96 stops that were provided discovery opportunities for the crew. Strait of Bab - El Mandeb, Java Sea, Strait of Malacca, the Persian Gulf, Sunda Strait, Gulf of Bengal, Strait of Hormuz, the Var showed the flag french tirelessly on these sea lanes vital to the world economy.
On 28 July 2009, after passing the baton to the Somme during a stopover in Djibouti town, Var find the familiar landscapes of Provence, the body a little tired of this long ride but the rich heart of a thousand memories experienced exceptional crew. Beyond the numbers and nautical traveled the 540 sailors who have participated in this deployment will keep the memory of a dense and difficult task but an exciting adventure.(google translation) Source
