French Ministry of Defence press release – Translated by Naval News
This marks a significant milestone in the Military Capability Verification (MCV) of the third submarine in the Barracuda program.
Following its first dive off Cherbourg in July, the program’s government and industrial teams conducted a series of sea trials to ensure safe navigation and assess its technical and operational performance. These trials included:
- Static dives: Submerging without propulsion to evaluate the submarine’s weight and stability, and to perform safety and operational tests on various systems.
- Surface tests: Assessing the submarine’s maneuverability and speed on the surface.
- Dive tests: Verify maneuverability at different depths and ensure the safety and functionality of critical installations, including the nuclear boiler room.
- Combat and communication systems tests: Evaluating the effectiveness of onboard systems under submerged conditions.
With a view toward admission to active service in 2025, the Tourville will begin a long-term operational deployment phase to confirm its full range of capabilities as part of a naval force. Toulon Naval Base will serve as the home port for the Tourville, which joins the four other SSNs operated by the Escadrille des sous-marins nucléaires d’attaque (or ESNA, the French SSN squadron). As the third submarine in the Barracuda program, it represents a step toward the “all-Suffren” model. The current submarine fleet includes:
- 2 Rubis-class SNAs (Améthyste and Perle, with the Émeraude recently decommissioned in Cherbourg)
- 3 Barracuda-class SNAs (Suffren, Duguay-Trouin, and Tourville)
November 27 coincides with Submariner’s Day, instituted in 2003 to commemorate the five submarines, including the Casabianca, that escaped from the Toulon naval base on November 27, 1942, following the invasion of the free zone by Nazi troops.
Submarine forces and the strategic oceanic force
- France’s submarine forces consist of 3,200 sailors and operate a fleet of 10 nuclear-powered submarines: 6 SSNs and 4 ballistic missile submarines (SSBN).
- Each submarine is operated by two alternating crews (Blue and Red).
- The job of a submariner is a highly demanding and unusual one, requiring high standards and great rigor on a daily basis.
- Since 1972, at least one SNLE has been continuously deployed at sea, ensuring France’s nuclear deterrence remains operational anywhere in the world’s oceans.
- SSNs are an essential component of the French armed forces. They are both combat vessels and instruments of power. The possession of SSNs gives the French Navy capabilities that support operational effectiveness (in terms of endurance, stealth, and performance).
- SSNs have 4 main missions: support for nuclear deterrence (by patrol the areas ahead of SSBN departures), protection of the carrier strike group (notably during aircraft carrier deployments), knowledge-anticipation, and intervention (deep strikes and deployment of special forces).
Submarines are a key capability of France’s defense.
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