French submarine Suffren

Suffren (Q284) is a French nuclear attack submarine. It is the lead ship of the Suffren class, stemming from the Barracuda program. The vessel was laid down on 19 December 2007, and launched on 1 August 2019 at Cherbourg. It is expected to enter service in 2021, after testing by the Marine Nationale throughout 2020.

For other ships with the same name, see French ship Suffren.
Suffren at Cape Brun off Toulon on 26 July 2020
History
France
Name: Suffren
Builder: Naval Group
Laid down: 19 December 2007
Launched: 1 August 2019
Commissioned: 2021 (planned)
General characteristics
Class and type: Suffren-class submarine
Displacement:
  • 4,765 t surfaced
  • 5,300 t submerged
Length: 99.5 m (326 ft 5 in)
Beam: 8.8 m (28 ft 10 in)
Draught: 7.3 m (23 ft 11 in)
Propulsion:
  • K15 150 MW Nuclear reactor
  • 2 x turboreductors groups: 10 MW (13,000 hp) propulsion alternator feeding electric engines
  • 2 x emergency electric engines
  • 1 x pump-jet
Speed:
  • >25 kn (46 km/h; 29 mph), submerged
  • 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph), surfaced
Range: Unlimited
Endurance: 70 days of food[1]
Complement:
  • 12 officers
  • 48 petty officers
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • Hull and flank sonar Thales UMS-3000
  • SYCOBS
  • SEACLEAR
  • Velox-M8
Armament:

Design

Unlike previous French submarines, Suffren is not equipped with a periscope, but rather an optronic mast[4], 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[1]. Previously special forces used torpedo tubes and handheld propulsion systems.

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

It is said to be ten times quieter than the previous generation Rubis-class nuclear attack submarine.[4]

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 very spacious separate living quarters for men and women.[4]

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. It is expected to be delivered to the French Navy the same year, with an expected commissioning in 2021.

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References
  1. "France's Future SSNs: The Barracuda Class". Defense Industry Daily. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  2. "Nouvelle génération de torpille lourde pour la Marine nationale : la F21" (PDF). Naval Group. October 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  3. Vavasseur, Xavier (8 February 2015). "Exclusive Interview With The French Navy On The Barracuda SSN Program". navy-recognition.com. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  4. "Macron inaugure le Suffren, premier sous-marin conçu pour embarquer des femmes". Le Huffington Post (in French). 2019-07-12. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
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