SUBMARINES

LE TRIOMPHANT CLASS

 

Le Triomphant Class submarine

Le Triomphant class of strategic missile submarines of the French Navy are currently being introduced into service to provide the sea based component (the Force Océanique Stratégique) of the French nuclear deterrent or Force de frappe, with the M45 SLBM.

 

 

 

They are replacing the Redoutable-class boats. In French, they are called Sous-Marin Nucléaire Lanceur d'Engins de Nouvelle Génération ("SNLE-NG, literally "Device-launching nuclear submarine of the new generation").

They are roughly one thousand times quieter than the Redoutable-class vessels, and ten times more sensitive in detecting other submarines. They are designed to carry the M51 nuclear missile.

The vessels are manufactured by DCN and have a capacity of 16 M51 SLBM missiles manufactured by Aerospatiale (now EADS Astrium Space Transportation.)

The French Navy's goal is to operate a force of four SSBNs (as with the Royal Navy's Vanguard fleet), of which two are on patrol at any given time.
 

LE TRIOMPHANT CLASS Specifications
Country of Manufacture France
Number in Service 4
Crew 15 officers and 96 ratings
Armament 16 x M45 SLBM
Length 138m
Beam 12.5m
Draught 10.5m
Displacement 14,335 tonnes submerged
Powerplant K15 PWR
Performance 25 knots submerged – range unlimited
First of Class 1997