Le Redoutable-class

Summary

Description

The Le Redoutable-class submarine, designated in French as Sous-marin Nucléaire Lanceur d'Engins (SNLE), played a vital role in the French Navy as part of the strategic naval component of France's nuclear triad. This class was crucial in France's shift to an independent defense policy, particularly during the Cold War era.

Initially, the Le Redoutable-class submarines constituted the strategic component of the naval element of France's Force de frappe, complementing the tactical element provided by aircraft carriers Clemenceau and Foch. The class was primarily designed for deterrence, following France's shift in defense policy under President Charles de Gaulle.

The strategic shift in French armed forces was influenced by the election of Charles de Gaulle, who sought to establish independence from both the United States and the Soviet Union. The concept of a submarine-based ""Force de Dissuassion"" emerged as a result, with a focus on deterrence. France, desiring a nuclear-powered submarine force comparable to the British Royal Navy, had to develop its expertise independently as US support was not forthcoming.

Le Redoutable commenced service in 1971, followed by other units that underwent significant upgrades over the years. The last of the class, Foudroyant, was recommissioned in 1993 with capability enhancements.

The class initially included six ballistic missile submarines, with structural differences in Inflexible leading to its separate classification. Constructed without foreign assistance, France partnered with the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives to acquire enriched uranium for experimental use and developed high-tensile steel for submarine hull adaptation.

These submarines boasted 16 missile compartments and initially launched with M1 MSBS ballistic missiles, each armed with a 400-kiloton warhead. Later upgrades transitioned to the M2 and eventually the M20 MSBS missiles, with subsequent modifications in the 1980s allowing for the second-generation MIRV-capable M4 missile.

The decommissioning of these submarines gave way to their successors, the Triomphant class.

Technical specifications

Photo of Le Redoutable class

Silhouette