Rubis-class submarine

The Rubis class is a class of nuclear-powered attack submarines operated by the French Navy. It comprises six boats, the first entering service in 1983 and the last in 1993. Two additional units originally planned were cancelled as a result of post-Cold War budget cuts. All six submarines of the Rubis class are based at Toulon and are part of the Escadrille de sous-marins nucléaires d'attaque. Smaller than contemporary designs of other major world navies, the Rubis class shares many of its system designs with the conventionally-powered Agosta class. In the late 1980s, the Rubis class was proposed to Canada in the context of their plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

Améthyste in August 2021
Class overview
NameRubis class
BuildersDCNS
Operators Marine Nationale
Preceded by
Succeeded bySuffren class
Built1976–1990
In commission1983–present
Planned8
Completed6
Cancelled2
Active3
Retired3
General characteristics
TypeNuclear attack submarine
Displacement
  • 2,400 t (2,400 long tons) (surfaced)
  • 2,600 t (2,600 long tons) (submerged)
Length73.6 m (241 ft 6 in)
Beam7.6 m (24 ft 11 in)
Draught6.4 m (21 ft 0 in)
Propulsion
  • Pressurised water CAS-48 nuclear reactor (48 MW), LEU 7%
  • 2 propulsion turbo generators (2 x 3,150 kW)
  • 1 electric motor (8,448 shp); 1 shaft
  • 1 auxiliary diesel generator SEMT Pielstick 8PA4V185SM (450 kW)
Speed25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
RangeUnlimited distance; 20–25 years
Endurance45 days
Test depth>300 m (980 ft)
Sensors and
processing systems
  • DMUX 20 active/passive sonar
  • ETBF DSUV 62C towed array passive sonar
  • DSUV 22 passive cylindrical array sonar with active transducer
  • DRUA 33 radar
Electronic warfare
& decoys		ARUR 13
Armament

The submarines of the class were built in two batches, with the final two built to an improved standard to reduce noise emissions that plagued the original design. Dubbed the AMÉTHYSTE rebuild, the first four hulls were refitted to its standard until they were practically indistinguishable from the final two hulls.

The Rubis class is being phased out and replaced with a new generation of nuclear-powered attack submarines, the Suffren class. The lead boat, Suffren, entered operational service in June 2022. Three of the six Rubis-class submarines, Saphir, Rubis and Casabianca have been decommissioned in 2019, 2022 and 2023 respectively.

Background and design
Silhouette before Améthyste rebuild
Silhouette after Améthyste rebuild

The Rubis class was the second attempt at constructing a nuclear-powered attack submarine. The first, also dubbed Rubis, had been authorised in 1964 but cancelled in 1968, just as the first boat was about to commence construction. However, a new naval plan in 1972, called Plan Bleu, stated a requirement for 20 attack submarines of both nuclear-powered and conventionally-powered types.[1] The new design, designated Type SNA 72 and called a sous-marin nucléaire de chasse (French: nuclear attack submarine) was smaller than any contemporary nuclear-powered attack submarine design in other major world navies. The small hull design was capable due the development of a compact, integrated nuclear reactor-exchanger with turbo-electric drives.[2] Even then, the project was only considered feasible if equipped with weapons and sensors already in service, with the fire-control, torpedo-launching and submarine-detection systems also found in the Agosta class.[2][3]

As built the first four submarines of the class measured 72.1 metres (236 ft 7 in) long overall with a beam of 7.6 m (24 ft 11 in) and a draught of 6.4 m (21 ft 0 in). The Rubis class had a standard displacement of 2,265 tonnes (2,229 long tons), 2,385 t (2,347 long tons) surfaced and 2,670 t (2,630 long tons) submerged.[3] The boats are of single-hull construction made of 80 HLES high elasticity steel and the forward diving planes are situated high on the conning tower. The Rubis class can dive to depths over 300 m (980 ft).[2]

The submarines are powered by a CAS-48 pressurised water nuclear reactor creating 48 megawatts utilising 7% low-enriched uranium,[4] driving two 3,950-kilowatt turbo-alternator sets. These power a single propeller creating 7,100 kilowatts (9,500 shp).[5] At low speeds, the submarines use natural circulation to reduce noise emissions. In case of a reactor failure, the Rubis class have an emergency electric motor powered by batteries supplied by a SEMT-Pielstick 16PA4 diesel generator set creating 480 kW. Using the emergency power unit, the vessel has a range of 50 nautical miles (93 km; 58 mi) and endurance for 15 hours.[2][5] The submarines had an initial speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) and endurance for 45 days (60 days maximum). Manned by two crews, they have an active yearly service of 240 days. The crews initially numbered 66 including 9 officers.[3][5]

Sharing sensors and weapons with the Agosta class, the Rubis class mount four 533-millimetre (21 in) torpedo tubes forward. The submarines have storage for a mix of 14 F17 Mod 2 torpedoes and SM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles. The F17 Mod 2 torpedoes are wire-guided and have a range of 10.8 nmi (20.0 km; 12.4 mi) at 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph) and operable to a depth of 600 m (2,000 ft). Each torpedo carries a 250-kilogram (550 lb) warhead. The submarines can fire and guide two torpedoes simultaneously. The Exocets have a range of 27 nmi (50 km; 31 mi) at Mach 0.9 and carry a 165 kg (364 lb) warhead. Instead of torpedoes, the submarine can embark up to FG 29 naval mines.[6] The submarines initially mounted a DRUA 33 navigation/search radar, ARUR and ARUD electronic warfare systems, DSUV 22 multi-function passive sonar array, DUUA 2B active sonar, and DUUX 2 acoustic intercept sonar.[3]

AMÉTHYSTE rebuild

The initial design of the Rubis proved to be problematic with unexpectedly high noise levels. This led to the Améthyste silencing program (AMÉlioration Tactique HYdrodynamique Silence Transmission Ecoute, literally Silent Acoustic Transmission Tactical Hydrodynamic Improvement) which was applied during construction of the fifth (Améthyste) and sixth (Perle) hulls. The hull form was reshaped and lengthened to 73.6 m (241 ft 6 in) while the superstructure and external bow were made of glass-reinforced plastic.[7] To further reduce noise emissions, the machinery was given flexible mountings.[2] The program included upgrades to the sonar and additional upgrades of the electronics. The Rubis class had a DSUB 62C towed passive sonar array, DUUG 2 sonar intercept, DMUX 20 sonar suite installed and had their acoustic intercept upgraded to DUUX 5. With the upgrades tested and proven, the original four boats were rebuilt to the same standards between 1989 and 1995 and were nearly identical to the final two ships of the class.[5][6]

Boats
Rubis class construction data[2][6]
Pennant Name Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Status
S601 Rubis (ex-Provence) DCNS, Cherboug, France 11 December 1976 7 July 1979 23 February 1983 Decommissioned November 2022
S602 Saphir (ex-Bretagne) 1 September 1979 1 September 1981 6 July 1984 Decommissioned July 2019
S603 Casabianca (ex-Bourgogne) 19 September 1981 22 December 1984 21 April 1987 Decommissioned 27 September 2023[8]
S604 Émeraude 4 March 1983[lower-alpha 1] 12 April 1986 15 September 1988 In service
S605 Améthyste 31 October 1984 14 May 1988 3 March 1992 In service
S606 Perle 22 March 1987 22 September 1990 7 July 1993 In service
S607 Turquoise Cancelled 1991
S608 Diamant Cancelled 1992

Construction and career
Rubis
Saphir
Casabianca

The first hull was laid down in December 1976 and launched in 1979. The first ship cost 850 million French francs to build.[9][10] The first three vessels originally sported the names Provence, Bretagne and Bourgogne respectively, but their names were changed to their current monikers in November 1980.[5] Rubis was financed via the Third Military Equipment Plan, and the following three hulls were part of the Fourth Military Equipment Plan.[3] Rubis' reactor went critical in February 1981 and trials began in June. Hulls five and six were ordered on 17 October 1984 and the seventh on 24 April 1990. However, plans for the eighth submarine of the class were cancelled in September 1991 and construction for the seventh was delayed. Eventually construction of the seventh hull was cancelled in June 1992, but not before the French Navy attempted to sell the vessel as a conventionally-powered submarine, but found no buyers.[5] All six submarines are based at Toulon as part of the Escadrille de sous-marins nucléaires d'attaque.[6]

Saphir was the first to undergo the AMÉTHYSTE rebuild, being out of service from November 1989 to May 1991. Rubis followed from September 1992 to July 1993.[5] On 20 August 1993, Rubis collided with the oil tanker Lyria.[11] From 1993 to 1994, Casabianca underwent the AMÉTHYSTE rebuild. On 30 March 1994, Émeraude had a steam leakage in the secondary steam loop, suffering ten casualties including the vessel's commanding officer. Émeraude would undergo the AMÉTHYSTE rebuild from May 1994 to December 1995.[5]

During the Péan inter-allied manoeuvres of 1998, Casabianca managed to "sink" the United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Ticonderoga-class cruiser that was escorting her.[12] In September 2000 Saphir experienced excessive radioactivity in the primary reactor loop forcing the submarine to be withdrawn from service for six months to undergo recoring.[5]

During COMPTUEX 2015, an exercise led by the United States Navy, Saphir successfully defeated the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and her escort, managing to "sink" the US carrier. This was widely advertised by the French Navy but unmentioned by the US Navy.[13][14]

On 12 June 2020, Perle caught fire in dry dock while undergoing major renovations. The fire broke out around 10:35 local time in the forward section of the submarine and was described as being "unbelievably fierce". According to French naval sources, there were no weapons or nuclear fuel aboard at the time.[15] In October 2020 it was announced that Perle would be repaired using the forward section of the decommissioned boat, Saphir. The repairs were projected to be completed in 2022 and her return to service was anticipated in 2023.[16][17] Perle returned to sea in May 2023 to begin post-refit sea trials.[18]

The French Navy started replacing the Rubis class with the Suffren-class submarines in 2020.[5]

Proposed Canada class

In 1987, the Canadian White Paper on Defence recommended the purchase of 10 to 12 Rubis or Trafalgar-class submarines under technology transfer, which would be known as the Canada class.[19] with the choice of the type of submarine due to be confirmed before Summer 1988.[20] The goal was to build up a three-ocean navy and to assert Canadian sovereignty over Arctic waters.[21]

Neither design met the Canadian Statement of Requirement (SOR), the initial Rubis design being deemed noisy underwater and slow. It also came with the caveat that the first 4–5 submarines would have to be built in France. However, unlike the British Trafalgar class, the Rubis design did not require United States permission to transfer the nuclear propulsion technology, as the Americans were certain to invoke their veto of the sale to Canada. The French brought back a revision to their design baptized Canadian AMETHYSTE, underlining the fact that the proposal was for the new standard carried by the fifth French submarine of the series, the Améthyste, a standard the previous 4 boats would also soon be upgraded to in order to solve the issues plaguing the original design, notably the noisiness.[5][6] The French also added an "ice pick" so the submarine could operate under ice and were developing a modification for their torpedo tubes which were too short to use the Mark 48 torpedoes.[22] The purchase was finally abandoned in April 1989 due to opposition to nuclear submarines, American opposition to the program and high costs, particularly with the end of the Cold War.[23][24]

See also

Notes
  1. Jordan has the date as 1 March 1983[2]

Citations
  1. Jordan 1995, p. 96.
  2. Jordan 1995, p. 124.
  3. Couhat 1986, p. 121.
  4. McCord, Cameron (June 2013). Examination of Proposed Conversion of the U.S. Navy Nuclear Fleet from Highly Enriched Uranium to Low Enriched Uranium (PDF) (Bachelor of Science). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. p. 24. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  5. Wertheim 2013, p. 200.
  6. Saunders 2009, p. 244.
  7. Wertheim 2013, pp. 200–201.
  8. Groizeleau, Vincent (29 September 2023). "Cherbourg : dernière cérémonie des couleurs pour le SNA Casabianca". Mer et Marine.
  9. Moirand, René. "First nuclear attack submarine to enter service more than four months late". Le Monde. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  10. Geistdoerfer, Alice (June 1997). "Des Sous-Mariniers "Un Corps D'Elite" de la Marine nationale française" (PDF) (in French). Mission du patrimoine ethnologique Ministère de la Culture. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  11. Simons, Marlis (August 1993). "Oil Spills as Nuclear Sub Hits a Tanker Off France". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 June 2008.
  12. "Sous-marin nucléaire d'attaque Casabianca" (in French). netmarine.net. 2012. Archived from the original on 10 March 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  13. Lagneau, Laurent (4 March 2015). "Un sous-marin nucléaire d'attaque français a fictivement coulé le porte-avions USS Theodore Roosevelt". opex360.com (in French). Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  14. "In 2015, a 30 Year Old French Nuclear Submarine 'Sank' a U.S. Aircraft Carrier". The National Interest. 21 December 2016. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  15. Mackenzie, Christina (16 June 2020). "French submarine burns in 'unbelievably fierce fire' for 14 hours". Defense News. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  16. Groizeleau, Vincent (16 March 2022). "SNA Perle : remise en service prévue dans un an". Mer et Marine (in French). Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  17. Vavasseur, Xavier (22 October 2020). "Euronaval: France To Repair Fire-Damaged SSN Perle With Forward Section Of SSN Saphir". Naval News. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  18. Lagneau, Laurent (19 May 2023). "Le sous-marin nucléaire d'attaque Perle a effectué sa première plongée depuis sa modification". zone militaire.
  19. Challenge and Commitment: A Defence Policy for Canada (PDF). Ottawa: Department of National Defence (Canada). 1987. pp. 52–54. ISBN 0-660-12509-9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 July 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  20. Defence Update 1988-89 (PDF). Ottawa: Department of National Defence (Canada). 1989. ISBN 0-662-55733-6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
  21. Spicer, Keith (10 September 2007). "Canada's Arctic claims". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on 27 January 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  22. Ferguson, Julie H. (1995). Through a Canadian Periscope: The Story of the Canadian Submarine Service. Toronto: Dundurn Press. pp. 317–318. ISBN 1-55002-217-2.
  23. German, Tony (1990). The Sea is at Our Gates: The History of the Canadian Navy. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart. p. 324. ISBN 0-7710-3268-4.
  24. Milner, Marc (2010). Canada's Navy: The First Century (Second ed.). Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 294. ISBN 978-0-8020-9604-3.

References
  • Couhat, Jean Labayle, ed. (1986). Combat Fleets of the World 1986/87. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85368-860-5.
  • Jordan, John (1995). "France". In Chumbley, Stephen (ed.). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 95–131. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  • Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 (112 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN 978-0-7106-2888-6.
  • Wertheim, Eric, ed. (2013). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World (16th ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9-7-815911-4954-5.
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