The Triomphant class submarine is ballistic missile submarines of the French Navy is the active class of four boats that entered service in 1997, 1999, 2004, and 2010. These four supersede the older Redoutable-class, and they provide the ocean-based component (the Force Océanique Stratégique in French) of the French Force de Frappe - its nuclear deterrent strike force.
The first three boats are all armed with the French-produced and armed M45 intermediate-range missile, and the fourth vessel Terrible, has tested and is equipped with the more advanced M51 missile. Each of the first three boats are to be retrofitted to the M51 missile standard, starting with Vigilant in Winter 2010, then Triomphant and lasting with Téméraire in 2018.SNLE-NG
In French, Triomphant class submarine called Sous-Marin Nucléaire Lanceur d'Engins de Nouvelle Génération ("SNLE-NG, literally "Device-launching nuclear-powered submarine of the new generation"). They have replaced all of the Redoutable-class boats, with the last of those six boats being decommissioned in 2008. These submarines carry 16 Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile launching tubes apiece.
This class reportedly produces approximately 1/1000 of the detectable noise of the Redoutable-class boats (submarines), and they are ten times more sensitive in detecting other submarines. Initially armed with the 45 missile, they are designed to carry the new M51 missile, which entered active service in 2010. As of October 2010, an M51 has been test-fired from one of these submarines across the Atlantic Ocean from near France to the west, and is equipped on the Terrible.
These boats were all constructed by the DCNS, and they carry an armament of 16 M45 SLBM or M51 SLBM missiles manufactured by the Aerospatiale company (now EADS Astrium Space Transportation.), plus conventional torpedoes and Exocet anti-ship missiles.
List of submarines
The French Navy's goal is to operate a force of four ballistic missile submarines (comparable with the Royal Navy's Vanguard-class submarines, of which two of the French boats are expected to be on patrol at any given time.
- Triomphant : Construction began on 9 June 1989; she was launched on 26 March 1994, and entered active service on 21 March 1997.
- Téméraire : Construction began on 18 December 1993; she was launched on 21 January 1998, and entered active service on 23 December 1999.
- Vigilant : Construction began in 1997; she was launched on 19 September 2003, and entered active service on 26 November 2004.
- Terrible : Construction began on 24 October 2000; she was launched on 21 March 2008, and entered active service on 20 September 2010.
| Triomphant Class Submarine overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Triomphant |
| Builders: | DCNS |
| Operators: |  French Navy |
| Preceded by: | Redoutable |
| Building: | 0 |
| Planned: | 4 |
| Completed: | 4 |
| Active: | 4 |
| Laid up: | 0 |
| Lost: | 0 |
| Retired: | 0 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | ballistic missile submarine |
| Displacement: | 12,640 tonne (surfaced) 14,335 tonne (submerged) |
| Length: | 138 m |
| Beam: | 12.50 m |
| Draught: | 10.60 m |
| Propulsion: | K15 pressurised water reactor (150 MW), turboreductor system, Pump-jet two diesel-powered generators SEMT Pielstick 8PA4V200 SM (700 kW) auxiliaries. 30,500 kW |
| Speed: | over 25 knots (46 km/h) |
| Range: | Essentially unlimited distance; 20 years |
| Test depth: | Over 400 metres |
| Complement: | 15 officers 96 sailors |
| Sensors and processing systems: | Sonar DMUX 80 |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: | ARUR 13 |
| Armament: | Nuclear : 16 M45 SLBM or M51 SLBM missiles with TN 75 warheads |
| Notes: | boats in the class include: Triomphant (S 616), Téméraire (S 617) , Vigilant (S 618), Terrible (S 619) |
