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Charles de Gaulle vs Enterprise

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Specifications
Charles de Gaulle Enterprise
Origin 🇫🇷 France 🇺🇸 United States
Category Aircraft carrier Aircraft carrier
Type Aircraft carrier Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
Manufacturer DCN Newport News Shipbuilding
Year introduced 2001 1961
Number built 1 unit 1 unit
Estimated unit price $3,500 million $451 million
Displacement 42,500 tons 94,781 tons
Maximum speed 27.0 knots 33.0 knots
Range Unlimited Unlimited
Length 261.5 m 342.0 m
Beam 64.4 m 78.4 m
Crew 1,350 5,828
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Charles de Gaulle Enterprise
Armament
  • 4 × 8 cell A-43 Sylver launchers carrying MBDA Aster 15 missiles
  • 2 × 6 cell Sadral launchers carrying Mistral missiles
  • 8 × Giat 20F2 20 mm cannons
  • 3 × Nexter Narwhal 20mm autocannons
  • 3 × NATO Sea Sparrow launchers (24 missiles)
  • 3 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS mounts
  • 2 × RAM launchers (22 missiles)
Propulsion 2 × Areva K15 pressurised water reactors (PWR), 150 MWt each; 2 × Alstom steam turbines with a total 61 MW (82,000 hp) shaft power; 4 × diesel-electric; 2 × shafts 8 × Westinghouse A2W nuclear reactors, 4 x Westinghouse geared steam turbines, 4 × shafts, 280,000 shp (210 MW)

Overview

The Charles de Gaulle and the Enterprise are both Aircraft carrier classes.

The Enterprise displaces 94,781 tons — 2.2:1 the Charles de Gaulle's 42,500 tons. The Charles de Gaulle reaches 27 knots vs 33 knots for the Enterprise. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Charles de Gaulle vs 99,999 for the Enterprise. The Charles de Gaulle carries a crew of 1,350 vs 5,828 for the Enterprise.

The Charles de Gaulle was produced in 1 units vs 1 for the Enterprise. Cost per hull is $3,500M for the Charles de Gaulle vs $451M for the Enterprise. The Charles de Gaulle was commissioned in 2001, 40 years after the Enterprise (1961).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Charles de Gaulle-class or Enterprise-class?
The Enterprise-class has greater displacement at 94,781 tons compared to the Charles de Gaulle-class's 42,500 tons.
Which is faster, the Charles de Gaulle-class or Enterprise-class?
The Enterprise-class is faster with a maximum speed of 33 knots compared to the Charles de Gaulle-class's 27 knots.
Which has longer range, the Charles de Gaulle-class or Enterprise-class?
Both the Charles de Gaulle-class and Enterprise-class are nuclear-powered and have unlimited range, limited only by food supplies and crew endurance.
Which is longer, the Charles de Gaulle-class or Enterprise-class?
The Enterprise-class is longer at 342.0 meters compared to the Charles de Gaulle-class's 261.5 meters.
How many crew members do the Charles de Gaulle-class and Enterprise-class have?
The Enterprise-class has a larger crew complement of 5,828 compared to the Charles de Gaulle-class's 1,350 crew members.
Which is more expensive, the Charles de Gaulle-class or Enterprise-class?
The Charles de Gaulle-class is more expensive at approximately $3.5 billion per unit compared to the Enterprise-class at $451 million.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Charles de Gaulle-class or Enterprise-class?
Both the Charles de Gaulle-class and Enterprise-class have been built in equal numbers with 1 vessels each.