Le Triomphant class submarine
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Le Triomphant |
| Operators: |  French Navy |
| Preceded by: | Le Redoutable |
| Completed: | 4 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Ballistic missile submarine |
| Displacement: | 12,640 t (surfaced) 14,335 t (submerged) |
| Length: | 138 m |
| Beam: | 12.50 m |
| Draught: | 10.60 m |
| Propulsion: | Pressurised water K15 nuclear reactor (150 MW), turboreductor system, Pump-jet 2 diesels-alternators SEMT Pielstick 8PA4V200 SM (700 kW) auxiliaries. 30,500 kW |
| Speed: | over 25 knots (46 km/h) |
| Range: | Essentially unlimited |
| Test depth: | Over 400 metres |
| Complement: | 15 officers 96 men |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
Sonar DMUX 80 |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: |
ARUR 13 |
| Armament: |
Nuclear : 16 M45 SLBM missiles with TN 75 warheads |
| Notes: | Ships in class include: Le Triomphant , Le Téméraire , Le Vigilant, Le Terrible |
The 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 [1]. They are designed to carry the M51 nuclear missile, which should enter active service around 2010.
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 : Construction began on 9 June 1989; she was launched on 26 March 1994, and entered active service on 21 March 1997.
- Le Téméraire : Construction began on 18 December 1993; she was launched on 21 January 1998, and entered active service on 23 December 1999.
- Le Vigilant : Construction began in 1997; she was launched on 19 September 2003, and entered active service on 26 November 2004.
- Le Terrible : Construction began on 24 October 2000 was launched on 21 March 2008. She is expected to enter active service by 2010.
 Comparison of different nuclear systems: left, the SNLE (Redoutable type) with the M4 missile; right, the SNLE-NG (Triomphant type) with the present M45 missile and the future M51 missile. |
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[edit] See also
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