Foch

Foch may refer to:

People with the surname Foch

Other uses

French aircraft carrier Foch (R99)

Foch was the second Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier of the French Navy. She was the second warship named in honour of Marshal Ferdinand Foch. Serving with the French Navy from 1963 to 2000, the vessel was sold to Brazil and renamed São Paulo.

Foch was laid down 15 November 1957 and launched 23 July 1960. The aircraft carrier was commissioned 15 July 1963 with the ship identification number R 99.

Ironically Ferdinand Foch is famously quoted in 1911 saying "Airplanes are interesting toys but of no military value" although this was only eight years after the first powered human flight.

Design

The Clemenceau-class aircraft carriers, of which Foch, now renamed and reflagged as São Paulo, is the last surviving member, are of conventional CATOBAR design. The landing area is 165.5 metres (543 ft) long by 29.5 metres (97 ft) wide; it is angled at 8 degrees off of the ship's axis. The flight deck is 265 metres (869 ft) long. The forward aircraft elevator is to starboard, and the rear elevator is positioned on the deck edge to save hangar space. The forward of two 52 metres (171 ft) catapults is at the bow to port, the aft catapult is on the forward area of angled landing deck. The hangar deck dimensions are 152 by 22–24 metres (499 by 72–79 ft) with 7 metres (23 ft) overhead.