This website uses cookies to manage authentication, navigation, and other functions. By using our website, you agree that we can place these types of cookies on your device.

Read More

Suffren SSN, first of Baracuda class will begin sea trials in spring 2016

Posted On
a
World Navy Force News - France/DCNS
 
 
 
Suffren SSN, first of Baracuda class will begin sea trials in spring 2016
 
Suffren, first of the new Baracuda class of nuclear powered submarine, will begin its sea trials in the spring of 2016 for delivery to the French Navy in 2017. Assembled in the arsenal of DCNS Cherbourg, the 99.5 meters hull is almost finished, but there is still over four years of work to complete the first ship.

Suffren is the first in a series of six nuclear powered submarines ordered by the Marine Nationale (French Navy) to replace the current Ruby class. The ships will be named after French admirals and famous sailors (Those names were already used in the past to name several French Navy frigates): Suffren, Duguay-Trouin, Tourville, Duquesne, De Grasse, Dupetit-Thouars.

They will enter service between 2017 and 2027 at a rate of one every two years. The total program costs 8.5 billion euros.
     
Suffren, first of the new Barracuda class of nuclear powered submarine, will begin its sea trials in the spring of 2016 for delivery to the French Navy in 2017. Assembled in the arsenal of DCNS Cherbourg, the 99.5 meters hull is almost finished, but there is still over four years of work to complete the first ship.
Baracuda SSN class model shown by DCNS during Euronaval 2010
     
The Suffren/Baracuda class is the fourth type of nuclear submarines built in France, after Le Redoutable class (six ships), Rubis class (six ships) and Le Triomphant class (four ships). The launch of the next generation of French SSBNs will not occur for another three to five years.

With 5 000 tonnes, the Suffren class is two times larger than the Rubis class. Their propulsion is provided by a K15 nuclear reactor , the same type used in Le Triomphant class and Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. The design of the submarine now incorporates diving bars in a "St. Andrew's cross" configuration (X-shaped), where the aft/stern diving bars also act as rudder.
     
Suffren, first of the new Barracuda class of nuclear powered submarine, will begin its sea trials in the spring of 2016 for delivery to the French Navy in 2017. Assembled in the arsenal of DCNS Cherbourg, the 99.5 meters hull is almost finished, but there is still over four years of work to complete the first ship.
Baracuda SSN (source: DCNS)
     

Another major evolution is the end of the optical periscope. Baracuda class now comes with an "optronics mast", manufactured by Sagem, with four cameras that transmit their images via optical fiber through the hull. This technique is already used by the Royal Navy on the Astute class.

Sailors will no longuer be on watch in the rear section of the submarine, as is the case now for propulsion. Sensors and cameras will be used to monitor this key part of the vessels.

The Suffren class will have a small crew of sixty sailors, while it will have accomodations for up to seventy-five people including a dozen commandos. The new French SSN class will also be able to carry a Dry Deck Shelter on its hull to store special equipment for navy commandos, a first in the French Navy.

The "Suffren" are designed to carry a mixed male/female crew, eventough the decision to include females in bumarine crews has not been taken yet by French admirals.

Pending the delivery of the first ship, infrastructure work will take place at Toulon naval base where the new class will be homeported. The existing ponds are large enough to accommodate the Suffren, but submariners agree that the maneuver, already difficult, will become even more difficult.
From: http://www.marianne2.fr/blogsecretdefense/Le-nouveau-Suffren-a-la-mer-au-printemps-2016_a378.html