Suffren at Cape Brun off Toulon on 26 July 2020
History
France
NameSuffren
NamesakeAdmiral comte Pierre André de Suffren de Saint Tropez, bailli de Suffren
BuilderNaval Group
Laid down19 December 2007
Launched1 August 2019
Commissioned6 November 2020[1]
In service3 June 2022[2]
General characteristics
Class and typeSuffren-class submarine
Displacement
  • 4,765 t surfaced
  • 5,300 t submerged
Length99.5 m (326 ft 5 in)
Beam8.8 m (28 ft 10 in)
Draught7.3 m (23 ft 11 in)
Propulsion
  • K15 nuclear reactor, 150 MW (200,000 hp)
  • 2 x Turbo-generator groups: 10 MW (13,000 hp) each
  • 2 x emergency diesel generators 480 kW (640 hp) each
  • 1 x pump-jet electrically driven
Speed
  • >25 kn (46 km/h; 29 mph), submerged
  • 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph), surfaced
RangeUnlimited
Endurance70 days of food[3]
Complement
  • 12 officers
  • 48 petty officers
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Hull and flank sonar Thales UMS-3000
  • SYCOBS
  • SEACLEAR
  • Velox-M8
Armament

Suffren (Q284/S635)[6] is a French nuclear attack submarine. It is the lead ship of the Suffren class, stemming from the Barracuda programme. The vessel was laid down on 19 December 2007 and launched on 1 August 2019 at Cherbourg. It was commissioned on 6 November 2020;[7] while full operational service had originally been anticipated in 2021, this was pushed back into 2022 after further testing/trials by the French Navy.[8] Pursuant to testing the submarine was then declared fully operational on 3 June 2022.[9]

Design

Unlike previous French submarines, Suffren is not equipped with a periscope, but rather an optronic mast,[10] which allows for much longer range and outside visible spectrum detection of targets.

A first for the French Navy is the ability to deploy a small underwater vehicle for special forces use (similar to the US Navy ASDS) thanks to a dry deck shelter.[3] Previously special forces used torpedo tubes and handheld propulsion systems.

The vessel also has the ability to use the MdCN ground attack cruise missile in its submarine-borne version, launched via torpedo tube.

It is said to be ten times quieter than the previous generation Rubis-class nuclear attack submarine.[10]

Crew

Suffren is optimized for a small complement thanks to extensive automation throughout the ship. While being twice the size, it has a smaller crew than the preceding Rubis class. This combined larger hull and smaller crew compared to the Rubis class makes this ship the first French submarine to be designed to allow women on board. It has spacious separate living quarters for men and women.[10]

Construction and career

The submarine was unveiled to the public on 12 July 2019 in Cherbourg, with a three-year delay, in front of French President Emmanuel Macron and Defense Minister Florence Parly. The K15 nuclear reactor came online on 18 December 2019. Sea trials started in 2020. The submarine was commissioned on 6 November 2020 and became fully operational on 3 June 2022.[11]

From July to October 2023, the submarine operated in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf for three months, accompanied for part of its deployment by the frigate Languedoc.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "New Suffren Barracuda-class nuclear-powered attack submarine officially commissioned by French Navy".
  2. ↑ "Le SNA Suffren admis au service actif". 3 June 2022.
  3. 1 2 "France's Future SSNs: The Barracuda Class". Defense Industry Daily. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Nouvelle génération de torpille lourde pour la Marine nationale : la F21" (PDF). Naval Group. October 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  5. ↑ Vavasseur, Xavier (8 February 2015). "Exclusive Interview With The French Navy On The Barracuda SSN Program". navy-recognition.com. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  6. ↑ Vavasseur, Xavier (27 November 2021). "Naval Group Rolls Out 2nd Barracuda Type Submarine". Naval News. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  7. ↑ "New Suffren Barracuda-class nuclear-powered attack submarine officially commissioned by French Navy".
  8. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (7 January 2022). "Le Suffren dans l'attente de son admission au service actif". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "French Navy's 1st Suffren-Class Nuclear Powered Submarine Enters Service". Naval News. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 "Macron inaugure le Suffren, premier sous-marin conçu pour embarquer des femmes". Le Huffington Post (in French). 12 July 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  11. ↑ "French Navy's nuclear attack submarine Suffren fully operational". navyrecognition.com. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  12. ↑ Groizeleau, Vincent (5 October 2023). "Le SNA Suffren rentre de son premier déploiement en océan Indien". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 5 October 2023.
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