The nuclear attack submarine Tourville in Toulon
Following its delivery to the Marine nationale, the nuclear attack submarine Tourville, third of six Suffren-class submarines, has reached...
This is an important step in the Verification of Military Capabilities (VCM) of the third submarine in the Barracuda program. After the first dive off Cherbourg last July, the state and industrial teams of the program conducted various sea trials to first ensure that the submarine navigates safely and then to test its technical and operational performance.
ACTIVE SERVICE DURING 2025
The Tourville thus carried out static dives, i.e. submerged without propelled movement, to check the trim and stability of the submarine on one hand, and to conduct safety and proper functioning trials of the various systems on the other. It also carried out surface trials, to test the maneuverability and speed of the submarine, and diving trials, to check the maneuverability capabilities at different immersion depths, as well as the safety and submerged operation of the systems, including its nuclear reactor. Finally, it conducted diving trials of its combat system and communication systems. With a view to admission to active service in 2025, the SNA will begin a long-duration operational deployment phase to verify all the operational capabilities of the submarine integrated into a naval force. In concrete terms, the naval base of Toulon remains the home port of the SNA Tourville, which joins the 4 other SNAs operated and deployed by the escadrille des sous-marins nucléaires d'attaque (ESNA). Nevertheless, as the third submarine of the Barracuda program, it embodies the tipping point towards the "all-Suffren" model. Thus, the Marine nationale now has 3 Barracuda-type SNAs (Suffren, Duguay-Trouin, Tourville) and 2 Rubis-type SNAs (Améthyste, Perle, with the Émeraude having recently reached Cherbourg for decommissioning). Upon its arrival in Toulon, November 27 coincided with Submariner's Day, established since 2003 in memory of the five submarines, including the Casabianca, which escaped from the Toulon naval base on November 27, 1942, following the invasion of the free zone by Nazi regime troops.
SUBMARINE FORCES
The French submarine forces are made up of 3,200 sailors. They have 10 nuclear submarines, including 6 nuclear attack submarines (SNA) and 4 nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SNLE). Each submarine is crewed by 2 crews (blue and red) who succeed each other on board. The profession of submariner is an extraordinary, high-level job, requiring high standards and great rigor on a daily basis. Since 1972, at least one SNLE has been at sea to ensure, anywhere in the world's seas and oceans, the permanent sea presence of the nuclear deterrent. Indeed, the SNAs constitute an essential component of the French armed forces. They are both combat vessels and instruments of power. Owning SNAs provides the Marine nationale with capabilities to support operational effectiveness (in terms of endurance, stealth, and performance). In detail, the SNAs have 4 major missions, including support for nuclear deterrence (notably area sanitization during SNLE departures), protection of a carrier strike group (during aircraft carrier deployments), knowledge and anticipation, and finally, intervention (deep strike) or with the deployment of special forces.