The Submarine Forces of France (, , FSM) are one of the four main components of the

French Navy The French Navy (, , ), informally (, ), is the Navy, maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the four military service branches of History of France, France. It is among the largest and most powerful List of navies, naval forces i ...

. The force oversees all French submarines regardless of role. The headquarters staff is an independent command made up of two prime components: * The ''

Strategic Oceanic Force The Strategic Ocean Force () is one of two terms that describe the submarine component of the French Navy. Prior to 1999, FOST grouped ballistic missile submarines with a role in France's nuclear deterrent. Since 1999, they have been integrated ...

'' (), comprising several French nuclear ballistic missile submarine based at Brest. These forces are under the command of an Admiral, with the command structure, which commenced in 1972, being known as

ALFOST The Strategic Ocean Force () is one of two terms that describe the submarine component of the French Navy. Prior to 1999, FOST grouped ballistic missile submarines with a role in France's nuclear deterrent. Since 1999, they have been integrated ...

. * The Squadron of Nuclear Attack Submarines (), comprising a squadron of several

attack submarine An attack submarine or hunter-killer submarine is a submarine specifically designed for the purpose of attacking and sinking other submarines, surface combatants, and merchant vessels. In the Soviet Navy, Soviet and Russian Navy, Russian navies ...

s based at

Toulon Toulon (, , ; , , ) is a city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Located on the French Riviera and the historical Provence, it is the prefecture of the Var (department), Var department. The Commune of Toulon h ...

. French submarine forces comprise over 4,000 military and civilian personnel of which an estimated two thousand are submariners. The French Général Naval Officer (), the Amiral (

Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

) Commandant of the Strategic Oceanic Force (), commands the submarine forces, under the authority of the

Chief of Staff of the French Navy The Chief of the Naval Staff (, , abbr. CEMM) is a French general officer, adviser to the Chief of the Defence Staff (France), Chief of the Defence Staff for the French Navy and responsible to the Minister of the Armed Forces (France), Minister of ...

().

History of French submarine forces

Origin

The first

submarine A submarine (often shortened to sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. (It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability.) The term "submarine" is also sometimes used historically or infor ...

not to use human propulsion was of the

French Imperial Navy The French Imperial Navy () was the navy of the First French Empire which existed between 1804 and 1815. It was formed in May 1804 from the navy of the French First Republic, and spent its existence fighting against the Royal Navy in concert with ...

(), was launched in 1863, and was equipped with a compressed-air motor, supplied by twenty-three tanks of compressed air pressurised to . In 1888, was the first submarine equipped with specific metal batteries. ''Gymnote'' would be followed by in 1899 and then the series in 1901. Their range was . In June 1900, introduced a

double hull A double hull is a ship hull design and construction method where the bottom and sides of the ship have two complete layers of watertight hull surface: one outer layer forming the normal hull of the ship, and a second inner hull which is some di ...

, with an internal hull outside the

pressure hull A submarine hull has two major components, the ''superstructure'' and the ''pressure hull''. The external portion of a submarine’s hull—that part that does not resist sea pressure and is free-flooding—is known as the “superstructure” i ...

. During this period, France was the first navy to have a substantial submarine force. These 200-ton submarines had a range of over surfaced and submerged. , launched 1904, offered further improvement by running a diesel motor while surfaced. Seventy-six submarines were completed by 1914.

First World War

At the beginning of

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

in August 1914, the

fielded 72 submarines essentially to defend her coastlines, of which 50 units were at sea. During the conflict orders were placed for a further 90 with almost 70 launched by 1918. Fifty-nine of these boats conducted more than 1,300 sorties, fourteen of those were lost in the conflict (twelve in the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...

). Among the boats lost were which was

scuttled Scuttling is the act of deliberately sinking a ship by allowing water to flow into the hull, typically by its crew opening holes in its hull. Scuttling may be performed to dispose of an abandoned, old, or captured vessel; to prevent the vesse ...

during a tentative attack on the base of

Pula Pula, also known as Pola, is the largest city in Istria County, west Croatia, and the List of cities and towns in Croatia, seventh-largest city in the country, situated at the southern tip of the Istria, Istrian peninsula in western Croatia, wi ...

in December 1914, and would be refitted by the

Austro-Hungarian Navy The Austro-Hungarian Navy or Imperial and Royal War Navy (, in short ''k.u.k. Kriegsmarine'', ) was the navy, naval force of Austria-Hungary. Ships of the Austro-Hungarian Navy were designated ''SMS'', for ''Seiner Majestät Schiff'' (His Majes ...

and , sunk in a bombardment by

flying boat A flying boat is a type of seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a floatplane in having a fuselage that is purpose-designed for flotation, while floatplanes rely on fuselage-mounted floats for buoyancy. Though ...

s of the Austro-Hungarian Navy at the naval base of

Kotor Kotor (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Котор, ), historically known as Cattaro (from Italian language, Italian: ), is a town in Coastal Montenegro, Coastal region of Montenegro. It is located in a secluded part of the Bay of Kotor. The city has ...

on 15 September 1915, was the first submarine to be sunk in an aerial attack. At the end of the war, France received 46

U-boat U-boats are Submarine#Military, naval submarines operated by Germany, including during the World War I, First and Second World Wars. The term is an Anglicization#Loanwords, anglicized form of the German word , a shortening of (), though the G ...

s from the

Imperial German Navy The Imperial German Navy or the ''Kaiserliche Marine'' (Imperial Navy) was the navy of the German Empire, which existed between 1871 and 1919. It grew out of the small Prussian Navy (from 1867 the North German Federal Navy), which was mainly for ...

in reparations but most were scrapped between 1922 and 1923 following the signature of the

Washington Naval Treaty The Washington Naval Treaty, also known as the Five-Power Treaty, was signed during 1922 among the major Allies of World War I, Allies of World War I, which agreed to prevent an arms race by limiting Navy, naval construction. It was negotiated at ...

Interwar period

In 1922, French submarine forces counted 48 boats, all constructed after 1911. On 1 January 1930, France had the most powerful submarine fleet in the world with 110 units totaling 97,875 tons in service, construction or in authorized commission. However, the French naval construction witnessed set-backs in perfecting the submarines production (certain setbacks were witnessed as the level of maintenance for instance) and were classified as various initiatives, categorizing the submarines on a general scale while sharing the same characteristics (same dimensions, displacement, armament and other features). In any case, the French differentiated their submarines by their displacement: 600–, 1100–, and 1500-ton types. Accordingly, several classes of submarines were constructed for the years 1921–1931, out of which the most prominent were: * , first class submarine (''grand patroller''). * 1500-ton type, first class submarine (''grand patroller''). * 600-630-ton type, consisting of several series. * * ,

cruiser submarine A cruiser submarine was a very large submarine designed to remain at sea for extended periods in areas distant from base facilities. Their role was analogous to surface cruisers; 'cruising' distant waters, commerce raiding, and otherwise operatin ...

Second World War

At the declaration of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

in September 1939, France had 77 submarines out of which 47 had been launched in the previous ten years and 19 submarines under construction. A

submarine depot ship A submarine tender, in British English a submarine depot ship, is a type of depot ship that supplies and supports submarines. Development Submarines are small compared to most oceangoing vessels, and generally cannot carry large amounts of food ...

, the ''Jules Verne'', had been in service since April 1932. The French Navy had nine submarines of the 1200 tons type, 29 units of the 1500 tons type ( and had been lost accidentally in 1932 and 1939); 38 vessels of the 600 tons type ( was lost in 1928 and was condemned in 1938) plus six

minelaying A minelayer is any warship, submarine, military aircraft or land vehicle deploying explosive mines. Since World War I the term "minelayer" refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines. "Mine planting" was the term for ins ...

submarines of the and the

, which displaced 3,300 tons, being the largest submarine in the world at that time. At the

Armistice of 22 June 1940 The Armistice of 22 June 1940, sometimes referred to as the Second Armistice at Compiègne, was an agreement signed at 18:36 on 22 June 1940 near Compiègne, France by officials of Nazi Germany and the French Third Republic. It became effective a ...

, 602 type 550mm and 187 type 400mm torpedoes along with 332

naval mine A naval mine is a self-contained explosive weapon placed in water to damage or destroy surface ships or submarines. Similar to anti-personnel mine, anti-personnel and other land mines, and unlike purpose launched naval depth charges, they are ...

types were available in a French port and elsewhere in French possessions. Following the defeat during the

Battle of France The Battle of France (; 10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign (), the French Campaign (, ) and the Fall of France, during the Second World War was the Nazi Germany, German invasion of the Low Countries (Belgium, Luxembour ...

, only three submarines joined the

Free French Naval Forces The Free French Naval Forces (, or FNFL) were the naval arm of the Free French Forces during the Second World War. They were commanded by Admiral Émile Muselier. History In the wake of the Armistice and the Appeal of 18 June, Charles de Ga ...

in 1940, , (sunk by a naval mine on 21 December 1940), and (accidentally sunk or by misunderstanding during the night of the 18 and 19 February 1942). One submarine was sunk during the Norwegian Campaign and subsequently several French submarines under the command of the

Vichy government Vichy France (; 10 July 1940 – 9 August 1944), officially the French State ('), was a French rump state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II, established as a result of the French capitulation after the defeat against ...

were sunk or damaged by the

Allies An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not an explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are calle ...

in various combats taking place in the

French colonial empire The French colonial empire () comprised the overseas Colony, colonies, protectorates, and League of Nations mandate, mandate territories that came under French rule from the 16th century onward. A distinction is generally made between the "Firs ...

. During the

Battle of Dakar The Battle of Dakar, also known as Operation Menace, was an unsuccessful attempt in September 1940 by the Allies of World War II, Allies to capture the strategic port of Dakar in French West Africa (modern-day Senegal). It was hoped that the succ ...

in September 1940 two submarines of the Vichy regime were sunk but damaged a

battleship A battleship is a large, heavily naval armour, armored warship with a main battery consisting of large naval gun, guns, designed to serve as a capital ship. From their advent in the late 1880s, battleships were among the largest and most form ...

. Three submarines including ''Béveziers'', were lost in May 1942 during the

Battle of Madagascar The Battle of Madagascar (5 May – 6 November 1942) was an Allied campaign to capture the Vichy French-controlled island Madagascar during World War II. The seizure of the island by the British was to deny Madagascar's ports to the Imperial ...

. During the

Scuttling of the French fleet in Toulon The scuttling of the French fleet at Toulon was orchestrated by Vichy France on 27 November 1942 to prevent Nazi German forces from seizing it. After the Allied invasion of North Africa, the Germans invaded the territory administered by Vichy ...

five submarines, including managed to exit the base at

. The attack summary of French submarine torpedoes during the Second World War was: * 1939 : no attacks. * January to May 1940 : 4 attacks, 9 torpedoes launched all missed. * June 1940 – 1942 : **

(FNFL): 8 attacks, 13 torpedoes launched, 6 missed targets, 2 ships sunk. ** Vichy : 14 attacks, 37 torpedoes launched, 1 target sunk, 1 target damaged. * 1943 : 11 attacks, 33 torpedoes launched, 3 targets sunk, 1 target damaged. * 1944 : 16 attacks, 36 torpedoes launched, 2 targets sunk. The submarines undertook numerous unconventional operations including dropping agents, forces of the resistance and materials in occupied Europe and the '' Casabianca'' played an important role in the

liberation of Corsica The Italian occupation of Corsica refers to the military (and administrative) occupation by the Kingdom of Italy of the French island of Corsica during the Second World War, from November 1942 to September 1943. After an initial period of increa ...

by transporting special forces personnel. On 1 January 1945, France had eight submarines of the first class, twenty submarines of the second class of which four were lent by the United Kingdom, one minelaying submarine and one depot ship for submarines. On 8 May 1945, nineteen vessels were in active service of which nine were operational (three lent by the United Kingdom). On 1 January 1946 the personnel were reduced to 700 men.

Post-war

Following the

German surrender German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ger ...

, France received a total of eighty-five former German vessels, which included six combat submarines, four

midget submarines A midget submarine is any submarine under 150 tons, typically operated by a crew of one or two but sometimes up to six or nine, with little or no on-board living accommodation. They normally work with mother ships, from which they are launched an ...

(in service until 1954) as well as an Italian coastal submarine. Only four out of them were placed on permanent active duty, with the French Navy including which was in service until 1967. The reconstruction phase started with research at the end of the conflict including assimilating the advanced techniques and tactics of World War II. Five submarines of the whose construction was interrupted in 1940 were commissioned and served into the 1960s.

Conventional attack submarine

During the years 1970/1980, the diesel submarines were spread in the Submarines Squadron of the Atlantic (ESMAT) and the Submarines Squadron of the Mediterranean (ESMED). In 1995, the remaining ESMA was dissolved with the last submarine leaving port on 11 February 1997. The four and the two last were part of the Submarines Atlantic Group (GESMAT), created in 1995. The latter was in turn decommissioned on 1 July 1999 and the two ultimate ''Agosta''-class vessels, ''La Praya'' and ''L'Ouessant'', integrated the FOSt until their retirement. Since 1970, the French submarine fleet consisted of: * Four placed into service between 1958 and 1960. * Six ''Narval'' class placed into service between 1957 and 1960. * Nine ''Daphné'' class placed into service between 1964 and 1969. * Various other submarine classes. On 1 November 1970, the 1st squadron, numbering 11 units, were designated as Submarines Squadron of the Mediterranean (ESMM, then ESMED) and the 2nd squadron created in 1947 which comprised eight vessels, six of ''Narval'' class and two of the ''Daphné'' class, became the Submarine Squadron of the Atlantic (ESMA, then ESMAT). Four ''Agosta''-class vessels were placed into service in 1977 and 1978 with retirement in 2001.

Nuclear era

On 28 January 1972, the first

ballistic missile submarine A ballistic missile submarine is a submarine capable of deploying submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with nuclear warheads. These submarines became a major weapon system in the Cold War because of their nuclear deterrence capabi ...

of the left a submarine base for the first

nuclear Nuclear may refer to: Physics Relating to the nucleus of the atom: *Nuclear engineering *Nuclear physics *Nuclear power *Nuclear reactor *Nuclear weapon *Nuclear medicine *Radiation therapy *Nuclear warfare Mathematics * Nuclear space *Nuclear ...

deterrence Deterrence may refer to: * Deterrence theory, a theory of war, especially regarding nuclear weapons * Deterrence (penology), a theory of justice * Deterrence (psychology) Deterrence in relation to criminal offending is the idea or penology, t ...

patrol. With the creation of FOST, the submarine force was subordinated to support it in the role of nuclear deterrence.

French nuclear attack submarines

With the commissioning of French nuclear ballistic missile submarine in the French Navy in 1970, it was decided to construct the of French nuclear

s. Going through several designations, the nuclear-powered submarines was eventually designated the ''Provence'' class ( with the next two vessels being designated as ''Bretagne'' and ''Bourgogne''), before being christened under the

Presidency A presidency is an administration or the executive, the collective administrative and governmental entity that exists around an office of president of a state or nation. Although often the executive branch of government, and often personified b ...

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing Valéry René Marie Georges Giscard d'Estaing (, ; ; 2 February 19262 December 2020), also known as simply Giscard or VGE, was a French politician who served as President of France from 1974 to 1981. After serving as Ministry of the Economy ...

. These were one of the most compact nuclear attack submarines in the world with reactor integration. Built since 1976, the first was delivered in 1983. Six entered service in total, the last in 1993. Their nuclear propulsion and speed allows the submarines to be dispatched with total secrecy to the

, Occidental Africa, the Antilles, the

Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf, sometimes called the Arabian Gulf, is a Mediterranean seas, mediterranean sea in West Asia. The body of water is an extension of the Arabian Sea and the larger Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.Un ...

, the Pacific Ocean, and other oceans and seas. Occupied mainly, but not exclusively by operations of

anti-submarine warfare Anti-submarine warfare (ASW, or in the older form A/S) is a branch of underwater warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, submarines, or other platforms, to find, track, and deter, damage, or destroy enemy submarines. Such operations ar ...

at the profit of deterrence, since the creation of the

, the employment scope range of the attack submarines was enlarged since the middle of the years of 1990 with the leveling placement of nuclear attack submarines which can act at the profit of Carrier battle groups and maritime action. The six French nuclear attack submarines of the ''Rubis'' class are being replaced by the Barracuda class beginning in 2020. The ''Rubis'' class were the main class of nuclear attack submarines in service following the retirement of the last conventional propulsion submarines in 2001. The Squadron of Nuclear Attack Submarines (ESNA) is a component of the Strategic Oceanic Force which assimilated the Submarine Forces at the end of the 20th century. * *# (1983–2022) *# (1984–2019) *# (1987–2023) *# (1988– ) *# (1992– ) *# (1993– ) * ''Suffren'' class *# (S635) (2020– ) *# (S636) (2023–) *# (S637) (2024–) *# ''De Grasse'' *# ''Rubis'' *# ''Casabianca''

French nuclear ballistic missile submarines

Six French nuclear ballistic missile submarines of the ''Le Redoutable'' class capable of carrying sixteen ballistic missiles were built: * ''Le Redoutable'' (1971–1991) * ''Le Terrible'' (1973–1996) * ''Le Foudroyant'' (1974–1998) * ''L'Indomptable'' (1976–2003) * ''Le Tonnant'' (1980–1999) * ''L'Inflexible'' (1985–2008) Four French nuclear ballistic missile submarines of a newer generation, the ''Le Triomphant'' class, are in service in 2010 in the

force océanique stratégique The Strategic Ocean Force () is one of two terms that describe the submarine component of the French Navy. Prior to 1999, FOST grouped ballistic missile submarines with a role in France's nuclear deterrent. Since 1999, they have been integrated ...

of the

: * ''Le Triomphant'' (S616) (entered in service since 1997) * ''Le Téméraire'' (S617) (entered into service since 1999) * ''Le Vigilant'' (S618) (entered into service since 2004) * ''Le Terrible'' (S619) (entered into service since 2010). ''Le Terrible'' was presented on 21 March 2008, and entered service at the end of September 2010 to replace ''L'Inflexible'', last of the retrieved ''Le Redoutable''-class ballistic missile submarine in 2008. The armament systems of the ballistic missile submarines include in general: * 16 missiles M45 with

TN 75 The TN 75 is a French-built 150kt thermonuclear warhead used on France's M45 and M51 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, carried by the last of the ''Redoutable'' class submarines, S616 '' Inflexible'', and by the ''Triomphant'' class ...

heads (nuclear deterrence). French nuclear deterrence also includes

M51 M51 or M-51 may refer to: * M-51 (Michigan highway), a state highway in Michigan * M51 highway (Russia) * M51 (Cape Town), a Metropolitan Route in Cape Town, South Africa * M51 Skysweeper, an anti-aircraft gun * M51 MACI mine * M51 SLBM, a Frenc ...

missiles. * 4 tubes of 533 mm for F17 torpedoes and

Exocet The Exocet () is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from Warship, surface vessels, Submarine, submarines, Helicopter, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Etymology The missile's name was given by M. Guil ...

SM39

anti-ship missile An anti-ship missile (AShM or ASM) is a guided missile that is designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming variety, and many use a combination of inertial guidance and active radar homing. ...

s. The mission of a French nuclear ballistic missile submarine is simple: leave the designated port of attachment, in the most discreet possible way, remain undetectable all along the mission to be able at any moment launch a nuclear strike, under orders of the

president of France The president of France, officially the president of the French Republic (), is the executive head of state of France, and the commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces. As the presidency is the supreme magistracy of the country, the po ...

References

Notes

Bibliographies

* ''L'Encyclopédie des Sous-Marins Français'', 1^er Tome, Thierry d'Arbonneau. Éditions SPE Barthélémy, 2009 * ''L'Odyssée Technique et Humaine du Sous-Marin en France - Tome I : Du Plongeur (1863) aux Guêpe (1904)'', Gérard Garier, Marines Éditions * ''L'Odyssée Technique et Humaine du Sous-Marin en France - Tome II : Des Emeraude (1905–1906) au Charles Brun (1908–1933)'', Gérard Garier, Marines Éditions * ''L'Odyssée Technique et Humaine du Sous-Marin en France - Tome III : Des Clorinde (1912–1916) aux Diane (1912–1917)'', Gérard Garier, Marines Éditions * ''L'Odyssée Technique et Humaine du Sous-Marin en France - Tome IV : Des Joessel au Jean Corre, Ex-UB 155'', Gérard Garier, Marines Éditions

External links

- French Navy site {{DEFAULTSORT:Submarine Forces (France) French naval components Submarine services