| Career (France) | |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | Sapphire |
| Laid down: | 1 September 1979 |
| Launched: | 1 September 1981 |
| Commissioned: | 6 July 1984 |
| Renamed: | renamed Saphir in 1980 |
| Homeport: | Toulon |
| Fate: | In active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Rubis class submarine |
| Displacement: | 2600 t (2400 t surfaced) |
| Length: | 73.6 m |
| Beam: | 7.6 m |
| Draught: | 6.4 m |
| Propulsion: |
Pressurised water K48 nuclear reactor (48 MW) ; 2 turbo-alternators ; 1 electric engine (7 MW); one propeller |
| Speed: | over 25 knots (46 km/h) |
| Range: | - |
| Endurance: | 45 days |
| Test depth: | over 300 m |
| Complement: |
10 officers |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
DMUX 20 multifonction |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: |
ARUR 16 |
| Armament: |
[1] 4 x 533mm tubes.
|
The Saphir (S 602) is a first-generation nuclear attack submarine of the French Navy. She was to be named Bretagne but was renamed Saphir in 1981.
She is the second of the Rubis series. Between October 1989 and May 1991, she undertook a major refit which upgraded her to the level of the Améthyste.
In September 2001, she torpedoed and sank the ex-destroyer D'Estrée expended as a target ship off Toulon.
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