Triomphant class submarine
| | Career | |
|---|
| Ordered: |
| Laid down: | June 1989 (Triomphant) |
| Launched: | March 1994 |
| Commissioned: | March 1997 |
| General Characteristics |
|---|
| Complement: | 96 men and 15 officers |
| Surfaced displacement: | 12,640 t |
| Submerged displacement: | 14,335 t |
| Length: | 138 m |
| Maximal width: | 12.50 m |
| Height: | 10.60 m |
| Main engine: | Pressurised water K15 nuclear reactor (150 MW); turboreductor system; pump-propeller |
| Secondary Engine: | 2 diesels-alternators SEMT Pielstick 8PA4V200 SM (700 kW). |
| Power: | 30,500 kW |
| Submerged speed: | over 25 knots (46 km/h) |
| Range: | 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km) |
| Operational depth: | over 600 m |
Armament:
*Nuclear : 16 M45 SLBM missiles with TN 75 warheads
*Anti-submarine : 4 x 533 mm tubes for F17 torpedoes
*Anti-surface : Exocet SM39 |
Detection Systems:
*Sonar DMUX 80
*Sonar DUUX 5
*Sonar DSUV 61B Very Low Frequency
*Racal Decca radar (navigation) |
Electronic Warfare:
*ARUR 13
*SCC : SET (Système d'exploitation Tactique) : tactical operational system |
The
Triomphant class of strategic missile
submarines of the
French Navy are currently being introduced into service to provide the sea based component of the
French nuclear deterrent or
Force de frappe, with the
M45 SLBM. They are replacing the
Redoutable-class boats. They are called
SNLE-NG for
Sous-Marin Nucléaire Lanceur d'Engins de Nouvelle Génération (New Generation Nuclear vehicle-launching submarines). They are roughly 1000 (one thousand) times quieter than the
Redoutable-class vessels, and 10 times more sensitive [
1]. It is designed to carry the
M51 nuclear missile, which should enter active service around 2010.
The vessels are manufactured by
DCN and have a capacity of 16 missiles manufactured by
Aerospatiale (now
EADS SPACE Transportation.)
The French Navy hopes to operate a force of four SSBNs, as with the
Royal Navy's
Vanguard fleet.
Triomphant : Construction began on 9 June 1989; she was launched on 26 March 1994, and entered active service on 21 March 1997.
Téméraire : Construction began on 18 December 1993; she was launched on 21 January 1998, and entered active service on 23 December 1999.
Vigilant : Construction began in 1997; she was launched in 2003, and entered active service in 2004.
Terrible : Construction began on 24 October 2000 and she is currently under construction. She should join active service by 2008.
*
France and weapons of mass destruction*
FOST
