Agosta 90B class submarine

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France

Operators:	French Navy Pakistan Navy Spanish Navy
In service:	1977
Out of service:	2001 in France Active in service in Spain and Pakistan
Ships in Class
Ships in class:	France: Agosta, Beviziers, La Praya, Quessant Spain: Galerna, Siroco, Mistral, Tramontana Pakistan: Hashmat, Hurmat, Khalid, Saad, Hamza (S139)
General Characteristics
Displacement:	Geneva: 1,230 long tons Surface displacement: 1,500 long tons Submerged displacement: 2,050 long tons (Pakistan), 1,760 long tons (France, Spain)
Length:	76 m (Pakistan), 67 m (France, Spain)
Beam:	6.80 m
Draught:	4.97 m
Pressure hull diameter:	5.33 m
Buoyancy coefficient:	14%
Periscope depth:	14.20 m
Diving depth:	350 m (Pakistan) 300 m (France, Spain)
Speed:	Maximum dived: 20.5 kt Snorting speed: 10.5 kt Surfaced speed: 12 kt
Range:	10,000 nm
Endurance:	68 days
Test depth:	350 m (Pakistan), 300 m (France, Spain)
Radar:	Thomson CSF DRUA 33
Sonar:	Thomson Sintra DSUV 22; DUUA 2D; DUUA 1D; DUUX 2; DSUV 62A towed array
Armament:	Aerospatiale SM 39 Exocet SSM; 4 × 21 in (533 mm) bow torpedo tubes. ECAN L5 Mod 3 & ECAN Fl7 Mod 2

Agosta 90B class submarines are French attack submarines (SSKs) used by France, Spain, and Pakistan. The French Navy grouped this model of non-nuclear submarine in their most capable class as an océanique, meaning "ocean-going." An Agosta 90B has a crew of 36 plus 5 Officers.

[edit] Propulsion

The units sold to Pakistan were sold with a system known as MESMA. The MESMA air-independent propulsion system allows the submarine to remain submerged three times longer. The MESMA system consists essentially of a turbine receiving high-pressure steam from a combustion chamber, burning a gaseous mixture of ethanol and liquid oxygen.

The French, and Spanish units were outfitted with standard diesel engines that were rated at 3,600 hp (2.68 MW).

The submarine was propelled by an electric motor rated at 3.4 MW (4,560 hp).

[edit] Ships

French Navy

built by Arsenal de Cherbourg

- Agosta (S 620) - completed 1977 - decommissioned 1997
- Beviziers (S 621) - completed 1977 - decommissioned 1998
- La Praya (S 622) - completed 1978 - decommissioned 2000
- Quessant (S 623) - completed 1978 - decommissioned 2001

Spanish Navy

built by Cartagena dockyard

- Galerna (S 71) - completed 1983 - in service
- Siroco (S 72) - completed 1983 - in service
- Mistral (S 73) - completed 1985 - in service
- Tramontana (S 74) - completed 1985 - in service

Pakistan Navy

built by AC Dubigeon - originally ordered for the South African Navy but embargoed due to the arms embargo - sold to the Pakistani Navy

- PNS/M Hashmat (S135) - completed in 1979 - originally named Astrant
- PNS/M Hurmat (S136) - completed in 1980 - originally named Adventurous

The Agosta 90B is a modernised design built for the Pakistani Navy,

- PNS/M Khalid (S137) - built in France by DCN Cherbourg - completed in 1999
- PNS/M Saad (S138) - built in Pakistan with French assistance - completed in 2002
- PNS/M Hamza (S139) - built in Pakistan by Pakistani engineers without any assistance in 2006 - commissioned 14 August 2006