Discover

(Redirected from Redoutable class submarine)

The '''Redoutable'' class submarine' is a ballistic missile submarine class of the French ''Marine Nationale '', the oceanic part (''Force Océanique Stratégique'', FOST) of the ''Force de frappe''. In French, the type is called ''Sous-marin Nucléaire Lanceur d'Engins'' (SNLE), literally "Missile-launching nuclear submarine".
The class entered active service in 1971 with ''Le Redoutable'', six submarines were built in total. Only one is still active, ''L'Inflexible'' (S615) based at Ile Longue, Brest. The structural changes in ''L'Inflexible'' have seen it regarded as a different class from the early boats. The class has been superseded by the ''Le Triomphant'' class, firing the larger M45 missile (M51 from around 2010).
The first submarine, ''Le Redoutable'', was ordered in 1963, built at Cherbourg, launched in 1967 and commissioned in 1971. Later submarines were very heavily upgraded from 1985 to fire the 2nd generation MIRV capable M4 missile - ''Le Tonnant'' was recommissioned in 1987; ''L'Indomptable'' in 1989; ''Le Terrible'' in 1990; and ''Le Foudroyant'' in 1993.
Boat list:

★ ''Le Redoutable'' (1971-1991)

★ ''Le Terrible'' (1973-1996)

★ ''Le Foudroyant'' (1974-1998)

★ ''L'Indomptable'' (1976-2003)

★ ''Le Tonnant'' (1980-1999, first M2 submarine)

★ ''L'Inflexible'' (1985-2006, first M4 submarine)

Contents

External Links/Sources

External Links/Sources

★ More Information

★ ''An Illustrated Guide to Modern Submarines'' by David Miller