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Royal Navy officer joins French allies for their premier training mission
2 July 2026
Royal Navy officer Samuel Johnson sailed the Mediterranean, plus Indian and Atlantic Oceans as he joined the French Navy’s premier training mission.
Sub Lieutenant Johnson was invited to join the French Navy’s flagship Mission Jeanne d’Arc – five months combining diplomacy, operational exercises and final training for the next generation of Marine Nationale leaders.
Mission Jeanne d’Arc is one of the world’s longest running military deployments, taking its name from a cruiser which back in 1912 took French officer cadets on a training cruise.
One hundred and 14 years later, it’s become a mainstay in the Marine Nationale’s calendar, serving as the final phase of training for French officer cadets before they take their place as leaders within their Navy.
The 2026 variant comprised two ships, more than 800 personnel and three helicopters, deployed for five months across four continents, making it one of the most ambitious international training missions in the world in what is the Marine Nationale’s 400th birthday.
Combining theoretical and practical training as an Officer of the Watch on the bridge and operations room officer, the extensive training programme is enriched by exercises with partner nations and often integration into operations as the ship sails across the globe.
This year’s deployment stretched from the Mediterranean and Eastern and Southern Africa, round the Cape and across the South Atlantic to Brazil, with Samuel disembarking in Rio de Janeiro.
He was one of seven nationalities invited to join French cadets on the Dixmude, which takes her name from a battle in Flanders in 1914 for the Belgian town (Diksmuide in Flemish) where a French naval brigade fought with distinction.
Escorting the assault ship (a combination of helicopter carrier and amphibious command vessel) was FS Asconit… which is the host ship in the Marine Nationale for a permanent exchange post for a Royal Navy Officer of the Watch.
It meant that Lieutenant Ryan Borthwick was on hand to assist with Samuel’s training and offer support. The pair met before the task group left Toulon and spent two weeks at sea together as cadets rotated between the two ships.
The task group made five high-profile port calls, with Samuel representing the RN and UK at diplomatic events.
But the mission wasn’t limited to diplomacy. The task group took part in Operation Papangue; a full-scale military training exercise incorporating 1,200 soldiers from nine nations in Réunion, the small French island between Mauritius and Madagascar.
“Using the Dixmude’s amphibious assault capability, we launched in the landing craft five miles off the coast,” Samuel said, “before spending four days operating in the mountains.
“I was particularly impressed with the effective seamless interaction demonstrated by the multinational naval, air, and ground assets throughout the exercise.”
Now back at HMS Collingwood in Fareham, Samuel says the few months with the French Navy was a formative experience – and encourages colleagues to seize similar opportunities.
“Speaking French everyday was initially a challenge, but the genuine warmth and hospitality shown by the French made the adjustment much smoother,” Samuel added.
“It is of the utmost importance that this exchange and others continue into the future. They are invaluable tools for strengthening bonds between our great nations —especially in times of increasing global uncertainty.
“The whole experience has given me a huge amount of respect of the Marine National, and I’m excited by the opportunity to work with them again sometime.”