Christophe Gaume, commander of the BRF Jacques Chevallier

During the 36 months of assignment (5 months as commander-designate then 31 months as commanding officer) of CV Pierre Ginefri, the sailors of the Jacques Chevallier participated in the fitting out of the vessel as well as its first operational deployments. In particular, they took part in the construction and fitting out of the ship at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, its transfer to its home port, Toulon, as well as the first sea trials and first replenishments at sea (RAM).

OLIVES NOIRES EXERCISES

As early as September 2023, they completed their first operational readiness training before departing on a long-duration deployment from September 27, 2023, to February 4, 2024. During the latter, numerous trials were carried out on the installations, RAMs (including the first RAM as the vessel being replenished), as well as weapons training and international relations activities. The crew of the BRF then took part in April 2024 in the OLIVES NOIRES exercise with the hosting of an embarked OTAN staff. In April and May 2024, the Jacques Chevallier was deployed for the first time on a mission within the carrier strike group for the AKILA mission. CV Christophe Gaumé entered the École navale in 1998. A gunner by specialty, the first part of his career was oriented towards operations: LICORNE deployment (engagement of French forces during the 2002 crisis in Côte d’Ivoire), ENDURING FREEDOM (fight against terrorism in the Indian Ocean), and ATALANTE (fight against piracy in the Gulf of Aden). He commanded the hydrographic vessel La Pérouse in 2012, before serving as deputy director of the école d’application des officier de Marine in 2013. After his studies at the École de guerre in 2015, he served for a few years on staff before returning to the world of operations by serving as executive officer of the frigate Languedoc, engaged in operation AGENOR (securing the Strait of Hormuz) and CLEMENCEAU 21 (fight against the Islamic State in the Levant). In 2022, he commanded the command and replenishment ship Marne, which supported the carrier strike group during the CLEMENCEAU 22 deployment and the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. He was then appointed to the position of chief of conduct of operations in the Mediterranean Sea from the CECMED staff.

STRATEGIC UNIT

The force replenishment vessel (BRF) is a key and strategic unit in supporting the fleet because it allows ships to remain far out and for long periods at sea: transfer of fuel, food, spare parts, and ammunition in high-intensity conflict zones. Its main mission is to support the carrier strike group, and it is equipped with robust self-defense systems that guarantee its operational autonomy. The Jacques Chevallier is one of the 4 BRFs taking over from the command and replenishment ships (BCR). More efficient, built in accordance with current regulations, they will be delivered by 2029 and will feature cargo carrying capacities almost double those of the BCR generation. •

Christophe Gaume is a Knight of the Légion d’honneur and of the ordre national du mérite, holder of the croix du combattant and of a citation to the order of the division of vessels with a bronze star. With his wife Céline, commissaire des Armées, they are parents to three children.