LPD Ouragan class

The Ouragan class is a series of landing craft transport vessels (LCDs) designed in France. Two ships, the Ouragan and the Orage, were built for the French Navy, commissioned in June 1965 and April 1968, respectively.

The primary mission of these LCDs was to transport and land equipment and troops on unprepared beaches, rapidly load and unload landing craft, and provide helicopter support for commando transport or close support. They could also serve as command centers for limited landing operations and provide medical care.

The main feature of the Ouragan LCDs is their submersible stern, an internal basin that can be submerged under three meters of water, allowing the landing craft to be launched. This stern is 120 meters long and is 3.5 meters deep.

Both ships were decommissioned in 2007 and were scheduled to be transferred to the Argentine Navy, but this operation was canceled due to the presence of asbestos. They were moored in Toulon before being dismantled in Ghent, Belgium, in 2016 for the Ouragan and between 2017 and 2018 for the Orage.

Built at the Brest Arsenal, the Ouragan was laid down in June 1962 and commissioned in June 1965, while the Orage was laid down in June 1966 and commissioned in April 1968. After decommissioning, they were dismantled by the Franco-Belgian group Galloo.