Redoutable-class submarine (1967)

  • Above water: 8,080 ts
  • Under water: 8,920 ts
  • Surfaced: 20 kn (37 km / h)
  • Immersed: 25 kn ( 46 km / h)
  • 350 m
  • 465 m (maximum)
  • DSUX 21 (active / passive)
  • DUXX 5 ( passive)
  • DSUV 61 B
  • 4 × 533 -mm torpedo tubes up to 18 torpedoes L5/F17
  • Up to 18 Exocet missiles

The Redoutable class was the first class of nuclear submarines of the French Navy. The strategic submarines since 1971, used by the Force océanique stratégique, the maritime arm of the force de frappe. The nuclear -powered submarines armed with 16 medium-range ballistic missiles. The last submarine of the class was decommissioned in 2006.

The Redoutable class has been replaced by the U- boats Triomphant class.

Details

In the 1950s, France was planning to build a nuclear submarine. The construction of the project armed with torpedoes Q 244 began in 1955, but was canceled in 1958.

As a new target was at the beginning of the 1960s an armed with nuclear missiles nuclear- powered submarine ( Sous- marin Nucléaire d' Lanceur Engin - SNLE ) is required.

The construction of the first French nuclear-powered armed with strategic nuclear submarine was decided in March 1963. For development project included the construction of the conventionally powered experimental submarine Gymnote (S 655). The test submarine was commissioned in 1966 and was the first French strategic missile submarine.

The first unit Le Redoutable (S 611 ) in 1964 paid to Kiel and placed in 1971 after two and a half years of testing phase in service. In 1973, the Le Terrible (S 612). The two boats were originally armed with M - 1 missiles. The solid rocket boosters were a based on the U.S. Polaris French house development, had a range of 2,400 kilometers and a nuclear warhead with a cargo of 500 kT.

The third boat, the Le Foudroyant (S 610 ), was put into service in 1974. She was armed with M - 2 rockets. The missiles had the same warhead, but had a range of 3,100 km. With regular shipyard stays the two older boats were also armed with M- 2 rockets.

The 1977 fourth boat, commissioned in L' Indomptable (S 613) was armed with M -20 missiles. The missiles had the same range and accuracy as the M 2, but were equipped with a 1.2 MT warhead. The 1980 Service Asked Le Tonnant (S 614) was also armed with these missiles. The older boats were converted accordingly.

All five boats were capable mid-1980s for the use of the Exocet missile and equipped with modern sonar. Developed in France Exocet can be started using the torpedo tubes, conventionally armed and used against surface ships.

1985 L' Inflexible (S 615) was put into service. The modernized design seen as an intermediate step towards Triomphant - class that differed fundamentally from the older submarines and is considered as a separate class. Inter alia was the L' Inflexible armed with M - 4 missiles. The M 4 missiles are almost twice as heavy as their predecessors, have a range of 4,000 miles and are (autonomous warheads ) à each with 6 MIRV 150 kT equipped.

Except for Le Redoutable (S 611 ) and then learned all the other boats a combat enhancement for the use of M - 4 missiles:

The lead ship of the class Le Redoutable (S 611 ) was decommissioned in 1991 and is now a museum ship. The Cherbourg publicly available U- boat is the largest museum submarine in the world.

In April 2001, the L' Inflexible (S 615) 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 nuclear warhead was tested despite worldwide protests in the previously last French nuclear test 1995/1996 on Mururoa.

The six submarines were stationed on the Ile Longue off Brest. Each boat had a Red and a Blue team. The crews were always two months in the service, and then exchanged with the second crew of each boat. This principle of rotation and the colors for the layers are now standard on all French submarines.

All submarines of the class, including the L' Inflexible (S 615) have now been decommissioned.

Boats of the class

  • Le Redoutable (S 611 ) Keel laid: November 1964
  • Launched: March 29, 1967
  • Commissioning: December 1, 1971
  • Decommissioning: December 13, 1991
  • Keel laid:
  • Launched: December 12, 1969
  • Year of issue: January 1, 1973
  • Decommissioning: July 1, 1996
  • Keel laid: December 12, 1969
  • Launched: December 4, 1971
  • Commissioning: July 6, 1974
  • Decommissioning: April 30, 1998
  • Keel laid: December 4, 1971
  • Launched: September 17, 1974
  • Year of issue: December 23, 1976
  • Decommissioning: 2003
  • Keel laid: October 19, 1974
  • Launched: September 17, 1977
  • Commissioning: April 3, 1980
  • Decommissioning: December 16, 1999
  • L' Inflexible (S 615) Keel laid: March 27, 1980
  • Launched: June 23, 1982
  • Commissioning: April 1, 1985
  • Decommissioning: 2006
DCNS (company) French submarine Redoutable (S611) Draft (hull) Velocity Knot (unit) Solid-fuel rocket Keel laying
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