French submarine Inflexible (S615)

• Surfaced: 18 kn (33 km / h)
• Immersed: 25 kn ( 46 km / h)

• 250 m
• 330 m (maximum)

The L' Inflexible (S 615 ) was a strategic nuclear submarine of the French Navy. The submarine was a transitional design of the Redoutable Triomphant class to class and is the only submarine L' Inflexible class.

The armed with 16 ballistic nuclear missiles L' Inflexible was used 1985-2006 by the French nuclear forces.

Details

The L' Inflexible (S 615) was appointed in September 1978. Externally it was almost indistinguishable from the older boats of Redoutable class. Unlike their predecessors, the five L' Inflexible was armed with the much heavier M4 missiles. The rockets had a larger 900 km range was known as the M 20 The decisive innovation of missile weapons used so far that the M 4 not only carried a warhead, but a multiple warhead were equipped with six autonomous warheads of 150 kT. Further, the electronics and the drive were advanced.

After the introduction of L' Inflexible up on Le Redoutable (S 611 ) all older boats Redoutable class were modernized accordingly and also armed with M 4 missiles.

In April 2001, L' Inflexible successfully launched an M - 45 rocket. The M 45 provide an intermediate step to the in-progress 51- M missiles; they have new warheads with stealth characteristics, higher penetration speed and improved resistance to EMP. The submarines of the Triomphant class are currently equipped with M - 45 missiles.

Until its closure in 2006, the L' Inflexible (S 615 ) was also armed with M - 45 missiles.