Captain Olivier Brossollet Takes Command of the Dixmude
Captain Olivier Brossollet has taken command of the amphibious helicopter carrier Dixmude, succeeding Captain Jocelyn Delrieu.
A military ceremony was held on July 16 in Toulon for the change of command of the amphibious helicopter carrier (PHA) Dixmude.
Vice-amiral Pierre de Briançon, head of the Force d'Action Navale, formally recognized capitaine de vaisseau (CV) Olivier Brossollet as the new commanding officer of the vessel, replacing capitaine de vaisseau (CV) Jocelyn Delrieu.
A commander from the special forces
Olivier Brossollet, who takes the helm of the Dixmude, is an officer with a prestigious background. Having entered the École navale in 2001, he specialized in the "fusilier marin et commando" branch, serving within commando Trrepel and then commando Hubert, with whom he was deployed on several occasions.
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His career saw him serve as executive officer and then commanding officer of commando Hubert. His expertise is internationally recognized, notably after a two-year assignment in a US Navy commando unit (Navy SEAL Team 4).
He has solid surface force experience, having served on the frigate Aconit and as deputy operations commander of the PHA Mistral during the Jeanne d’Arc 2022 mission. Before his new assignment, he had been commanding the frigate Courbet since July 2022 and, since January 2024, held the position of Chief of Staff for amphibious operations within the French Strike Force.
Capitaine de vaisseau Brossollet is an officer of the Légion d’Honneur and holds several citations. He is married and has four children.
A remarkable operational record
Under the leadership of capitaine de vaisseau Jocelyn Delrieu, from March 2024 to July 2026, the crew of the Dixmude was engaged in numerous operational theaters. The vessel distinguished itself by participating in high-intensity exercises, such as MARE APERTO 24 and CATAMARAN 25, confirming its high level of readiness.
During this period, the PHA successfully completed three major deployments. The CORYMBE 24.5 mission took it to the Gulf of Guinea, followed by the CANOPUS 25 mission around the European continent. The highlight was the Jeanne d’Arc 26 mission, marked by five months of continuous maneuvers between the Indian Ocean and the West Atlantic.
In total, the crew accumulated 362 days at sea, traveled more than 60,000 nautical miles (approximately 111,000 kilometers), and conducted 26 cooperation and representation port visits.
Alongside its operational missions, the Dixmude continued its modernization, integrating innovation projects such as drones or remotely operated ammunition, and reinforced its self-defense capabilities.
The ship also played a significant institutional role, participating in the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the Provence landing, hosting the CHANCOM 2025 gathering European navy chiefs of staff, and celebrating 400 years of the Navy in Mayotte and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.
Photo Marine nationale.