Less of a tightly controlled class, more a collection of similarly specified support vessels with minor variations in almost every characteristic for slightly different roles.
2320T standard in Garonne and Loire. SEMT-Pielstick 16PA2V Diesels in Rhin and Rhone, 12PA4 in Rance, Loire and Garonne. Only 1x 40mm gun in Garonne, none in Rance. Garonne had no flight deck, Loire, Rhin and Rance all had hangars, but Rance could carry 3x Alouette III.
1962-feb-23 | Laid down | Laid down A622 BSM Rhone | |
1962-dec-08 | Launched | Launched A622 BSM Rhone | |
1964-mar-01 | Commissioned | Commissioned A621 BSL Rhin | |
1964-aug-14 | Laid down | Laid down A618 BSS Rance | |
1964-dec-01 | Commissioned | Commissioned A622 BSM Rhone as submarine support ship. | |
1965-may-05 | Launched | Launched A618 BSS Rance | |
1965-jul-09 | Laid down | Laid down A615 BMS Loire | |
1966-feb-05 | Commissioned | Commissioned A618 BSS Rance | |
1966-oct-01 | Launched | Launched A615 BMS Loire | |
1967-oct-10 | Commissioned | Commissioned A615 BMS Loire The minesweeper support ship was fitted with a hangar. | |
1976 | Deployment | Deployment A618 BSS Rance by 1976, primary assignment was as a Hospital ship (bâtiment de soutien santé, BSS). | |
1981-mar | Deployment | Deployment A615 BMS Loire operating from Djibouti, with Jules Verne. | |
1981-aug-27 | Aircraft | Aircraft A615 BMS Loire operating with ALAT Alouette III 1272 / KBE, off Djibouti. | |
1982-may-13 | Port Visit | Port Visit A615 BMS Loire visited Karachi, until 26 May. | |
1984-mar-06 | Port Visit | Port Visit A615 BMS Loire visited Dakar, until 9 Apr. | |
1984-aug-26 | Port Visit | Port Visit A615 BMS Loire visited Port Said. | |
1984-aug-28 | Port Visit | Port Visit A615 BMS Loire visited Hurghada Naval Base, until 30 Aug. | |
1985-mar-30 | Refit | Refit A615 BMS Loire improvements to underwater detection gear, at Lorient untl 29 Aug. | |
1987-aug | Deployment | Deployment A621 BSL Rhin to Djibouti in support of the Clemenceau Carrier Group, until Sep. | |
1987-oct-03 | Deployment | Deployment A615 BMS Loire frequently visited during assignment to Operation Prometheus, ensuring safe passage of French commercial shipping. | |
1991-aug-08 | Port Visit | Port Visit A615 BMS Loire visited Palma, until 12 Aug. | |
1997-feb-28 | Decommissioned | Decommissioned A618 BSS Rance struck and became Q732 on 30 May 1997. | |
1997-may-12 | Decommissioned | Decommissioned A622 BSM Rhone | |
1997-nov-07 | Port Visit | Port Visit A615 BMS Loire visited Cardiff, until 10 Nov. | |
1997-nov-12 | Port Visit | Port Visit A615 BMS Loire visited Campbeltown, until 13 Nov. | |
1998-apr-06 | Refit | Refit A615 BMS Loire major maintenance period at Lorient, until early Jul. | |
1999-mar-19 | Port Visit | Port Visit A615 BMS Loire visited Istanbul, with Jeanne d Arc and Dugay-Trouin until 22 Mar. | |
1999-jun-18 | Port Visit | Port Visit A615 BMS Loire visited Dublin with NATO minesweeping force, until 21 Jun. | |
2003-dec-06 | Port Visit | Port Visit A615 BMS Loire visited Dublin, at Custom House Quay. | |
2007 | | A618 BSS Rance serving as a breakwater at Saint-Mandrier. | |
2009-may-08 | Port Visit | Port Visit A615 BMS Loire visited Malta. | |
2016-apr-11 | | A618 BSS Rance hull moved to Toulon harbour. | |
2019-may | Fate: scrapped | Fate: scrapped A618 BSS Rance towed from Toulon to Galloo Shipyard in Ghent for scrapping. | |
2019-may-18 | Fate: scrapped | Fate: scrapped A622 BSM Rhone arrived at Galloo shipyard in Ghent, after being towed from Lorient, for scrapping. | |
2020-jul-04 | Fate: scrapped | Fate: scrapped A615 BMS Loire arrived at Galoo yard, Ghent for scrapping. | |