First Suffren SSN to be inaugurated on July 12th.

Rufus Shinra · 07-11-19, 03:03 PM

The Suffren nuclear attack submarine will be set to water tomorrow in presence of the French president and his minister for armed forces. It is the lead class of its namesake class (Barracuda programme) and will have a 5,400 tonnes displacement, twice as much as the Rubis class submarines it replaces - the SSN featured in Wolf's Call, for the moviegoers here.

Using a hybrid nuclear-electric propulsion (running electric at low speeds and using its nuclear reactor for propulsion at higher speeds), it's going to be a revolution for the French MN, bringing its SSN to the most modern standards out there (an attention given to SSBN before with the Triomphant class). Much quieter, cruise-missile capable (using the French-made MdCN), faster and deeper-diving, it will replace the Saphir that just got retired from service a few weeks ago (built in 1984):

Among the improvements, there'll be the pump-jet propulsion, the X-shaped dive controls as well as the option for a hangar to host a diver submarine propulsion system. The first crew, led by Commander Axel Roche, will take over the ship for trials in the next few days.

The seas welcome another boat.

EDIT: there's a very nice diaporama here. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-na...-idUKKCN1U61YR

ikalugin · 07-11-19, 04:10 PM

The lightest of 4th gens

Also probably the last SSN class in the generation with maybe for exception of Chinese.

Rufus Shinra · 07-11-19, 04:24 PM

Always compact, but this time, our SSN will be larger than the old Surcouf (yes, the Rubis-class had a smaller displacement, amazingly so). Should make for a beast in coastal waters all around the world. Small, electric drive for low speeds, and the most silent torpedoes out there (the Black Shark and F21 use an entirely electric drive with new batteries that have a higher energy density than Otto fuels and such used in competitors, which should make for a paranoid's nightmare as they can creep on you from far away). Not the weapon load to fire dozens of cruise missiles at targets, but we don't really have the budget for that anyway!

But, yeah, it'll be the most modern class out there, and considering it was designed by the people whose previous boat went knock-knock with a British boomer because it was too silent to be noticed at literally point-blank range, I wouldn't be worried about its stealth.

ikalugin · 07-11-19, 05:03 PM

France is not the only (or first) country using main hybrid electric drive for SSNs.

To be honest I think the displacement is more of a consequence of French requirements - for the minimal SSN, particularly armament wise.

As that navigational accident - have you ever seen a towed array on the French boomer?

Rufus Shinra · 07-11-19, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikalugin

France is not the only (or first) country using main hybrid electric drive for SSNs.

IIRC, it's the first series-SSN to have one. I think a couple of boats were made with this during the Cold War by the US but with the technology left aside for not being good enough then. From what I see, only Tulibee and Glenard P. Liscomb ever used turbo-electric transmission, the solution having shown insufficient speed performance back then to be used in the LA class, and I haven't heard either Virginia or Seawolf having it. I think the Columbia SSBN will have a hybrid drive, though.

Maybe the new Russian boats have a hybrid drive, but I'm not aware of it, not having much information on these.

Quote:

To be honest I think the displacement is more of a consequence of French requirements - for the minimal SSN, particularly armament wise.

Heh, we're not planning to fight the entire Russian navy head-on. 24 weapons are enough for most realistic scenarios.

Quote:

As that navigational accident - have you ever seen a towed array on the French boomer?

Problem with the "human error", "technological weakness" or "incompetence" scenario is that it also requires a Royal Navy boomer crew to fail just as hard. And if you think the Her Majesty's Silent Service is LARPing Down Periscope...

In the end, the fact is that a Vanguard-class SSBN on patrol couldn't notice its counterpart in time to avoid a collision. That alone should say a lot about the discretion of both boats.

Oh, and to your question, yes, the French boomer has a towed array, a DSUV 61B. Source (in French): http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/13...a3809-tVII.pdf Search "DSUV" and you'll find the reference on page 216, the acronym SNLE being SSBN in French, while "antenne remorquée" means "towed array".

ikalugin · 07-12-19, 04:42 AM

Yes, Kazan has been launched over two years ago and now is in trials. On previous generations the use of electric drive in any significant capacity was questionable, as per same signature reduciton requirements it was heavier/bulkier than the geared turbine.

Yes, that depends on your requirements, Brits did build a larger and more capable (atleast weapons wise) SSN though. Also use of low aperture cylindrical bow is a questionable choice.

Yes, it is in the documentation (thanks for the link etc), but have you ever seen a towed array housing? I haven't, which makes me curious.

07-11-19, 03:03 PM	#1
Rufus Shinra Soundman Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: The land of the free with a glorious military history (France) Posts: 141 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	First Suffren SSN to be inaugurated on July 12th. The Suffren nuclear attack submarine will be set to water tomorrow in presence of the French president and his minister for armed forces. It is the lead class of its namesake class (Barracuda programme) and will have a 5,400 tonnes displacement, twice as much as the Rubis class submarines it replaces - the SSN featured in Wolf's Call, for the moviegoers here. Using a hybrid nuclear-electric propulsion (running electric at low speeds and using its nuclear reactor for propulsion at higher speeds), it's going to be a revolution for the French MN, bringing its SSN to the most modern standards out there (an attention given to SSBN before with the Triomphant class). Much quieter, cruise-missile capable (using the French-made MdCN), faster and deeper-diving, it will replace the Saphir that just got retired from service a few weeks ago (built in 1984): Among the improvements, there'll be the pump-jet propulsion, the X-shaped dive controls as well as the option for a hangar to host a diver submarine propulsion system. The first crew, led by Commander Axel Roche, will take over the ship for trials in the next few days. The seas welcome another boat. EDIT: there's a very nice diaporama here. https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-na...-idUKKCN1U61YR Last edited by Rufus Shinra; 07-11-19 at 03:24 PM.

07-11-19, 04:10 PM	#2
ikalugin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 3,212 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	The lightest of 4th gens Also probably the last SSN class in the generation with maybe for exception of Chinese. __________________ Grumpy as always. Last edited by ikalugin; 07-11-19 at 04:21 PM.

07-11-19, 05:03 PM	#4
ikalugin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 3,212 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	France is not the only (or first) country using main hybrid electric drive for SSNs. To be honest I think the displacement is more of a consequence of French requirements - for the minimal SSN, particularly armament wise. As that navigational accident - have you ever seen a towed array on the French boomer? __________________ Grumpy as always.

07-12-19, 04:42 AM	#6
ikalugin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 3,212 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	Yes, Kazan has been launched over two years ago and now is in trials. On previous generations the use of electric drive in any significant capacity was questionable, as per same signature reduciton requirements it was heavier/bulkier than the geared turbine. Yes, that depends on your requirements, Brits did build a larger and more capable (atleast weapons wise) SSN though. Also use of low aperture cylindrical bow is a questionable choice. Yes, it is in the documentation (thanks for the link etc), but have you ever seen a towed array housing? I haven't, which makes me curious. __________________ Grumpy as always. Last edited by ikalugin; 07-12-19 at 04:53 AM.

07-11-19, 04:24 PM	#3
Rufus Shinra Soundman Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: The land of the free with a glorious military history (France) Posts: 141 Downloads: 14 Uploads: 0	Always compact, but this time, our SSN will be larger than the old Surcouf (yes, the Rubis-class had a smaller displacement, amazingly so). Should make for a beast in coastal waters all around the world. Small, electric drive for low speeds, and the most silent torpedoes out there (the Black Shark and F21 use an entirely electric drive with new batteries that have a higher energy density than Otto fuels and such used in competitors, which should make for a paranoid's nightmare as they can creep on you from far away). Not the weapon load to fire dozens of cruise missiles at targets, but we don't really have the budget for that anyway! But, yeah, it'll be the most modern class out there, and considering it was designed by the people whose previous boat went knock-knock with a British boomer because it was too silent to be noticed at literally point-blank range, I wouldn't be worried about its stealth.