The ' class of

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 ...

s 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 ...

is the active lead boat class of four boats that entered service in 1997, 1999, 2004, and 2010. These four superseded the older , and they provide the ocean-based component (the ) of France's

nuclear deterrent Nuclear strategy involves the development of doctrines and strategies for the production and use of nuclear weapons. As a sub-branch of military strategy, nuclear strategy attempts to match nuclear weapons as means to political ends. In addit ...

strike force, the (). Their home port is ,

Roadstead of Brest The roadstead of Brest (, ; ) is a roadstead or bay located in the Finistère Departments of France, department in Brittany (administrative region), Brittany in northwestern France. The surface area is about 180 km² (70 sq mi). The po ...

, Western Brittany.

Design and construction

The first three boats were originally armed with the French-produced and armed M45 intermediate-range missile, and the fourth vessel, , tested and is equipped with the more advanced M51 missile. Each of the first three boats were retrofitted to the M51 missile standard, with the last M45 offloaded in 2016.

Next Generation Device-Launching Nuclear Submarine

In French, these are called abbreviated as SNLE-NG. They have replaced all of the boats, with the last of those six boats being decommissioned in 2008. These submarines carry 16

submarine-launched ballistic missile A submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is a ballistic missile capable of being launched from Ballistic missile submarine, submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), each of which ...

launching tubes apiece. This class reportedly produces approximately 1/1000 of the detectable noise of the ''Redoutable''-class submarines, and they are ten times more sensitive in detecting other submarines. Initially armed with the M45 missile, they are designed to carry the new M51 missile, which entered active service in 2010. , an M51 has been test-fired from one of these submarines across the Atlantic Ocean from near France to the west, and is equipped on '. These boats were all constructed by the DCNS, and they carry an armament of 16

M45 SLBM The M45 SLBM was a French Navy submarine-launched ballistic missile (In French terminology, the MSBS - ''Mer-Sol-Ballistique-Stratégique'' (Sea-ground-Strategic ballistic missile).) Forty-eight M45 were in commission in the ''Force océanique st ...

or M51 SLBM missiles manufactured by the company (now

ArianeGroup ArianeGroup (formerly Airbus Safran Launchers) is an aerospace company based in France. A joint venture between Airbus and Safran, the company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Issy-les-Moulineaux near Paris. It consists of three core ...

), plus conventional

torpedo A modern torpedo is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target, with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target. Historically, such ...

es 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 ...

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. ...

List of submarines

The French Navy's goal is to operate a force of four ballistic missile submarines (comparable with the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

's s), of which two are expected to be on patrol at any given time.

Service history

On 3 February or 4 February 2009, ' collided with the

submarine ; the Royal Navy boat received damage to the outer casing in the area of the missile compartment on the starboard (right) side and suffered very visible dents and scrapes. ' was reported to have proceeded to Brest under her own power, submerged, but with damage to her active sonar dome under her bow.

Gallery

File:Snle-snle-ng-svg.svg, Comparison of different nuclear systems: left, the SNLE ('' '' type) with the M4 missile; right, the (' type) with the M45 missile and the M51 missile. File:SNLE-NG.jpeg, '

References

External links

{{SSBN classes in service Submarine classes Nuclear-powered submarines Ballistic missile submarines Ship classes of the French Navy