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FS Saphir (S602)

1984 COLD WAR MODERN NAVY

History

The French Navy's Rubis-class nuclear-powered attack submarines were originally planned to be eight, until two were cancelled, leaving only six to be led by FS Rubis (S601). The FS Saphir (S602) - the subject of this article - followed as the second ship of the class, her construction began on 1 September 1979.

Originally named "Brittany", she was renamed "Saphir" in 1981 and officially entered service with the French Navy on September 1, 1979 and July 6, 1984.

Sister ships in the class include Casablanca (S603), Emerald (S604), Amethyst (S605) and Pearl (S606).

The sapphire displaces 2,600 tons underwater and 2,400 tons at the surface. She was designed to have a length of 241 feet, a beam of 25 feet, and a draft of 21 feet. As a nuclear-powered submarine, her propulsion system is centered on a K48 series pressurized water nuclear reactor connected to 2 turbogenerators, 1 of which drives a single shaft in the stern. The vessel is also equipped with 1 SEMT Pielstick 8PA4V 185 SM diesel generator and 1 auxiliary engine to provide propulsion for surface cruising.

With this arrangement, the Saphir can reach speeds of up to 25 knots, and thanks to nuclear technology, the range becomes essentially unlimited. Endurance is limited by the food supply on board, which can keep the crew at sea for about 45 days before they need to replenish their food.

The ship was tested at a depth of 300 meters, greatly expanding the attack submarine's tactical capabilities. The ship has seventy employees.

At the heart of any attack submarine are its weapons and sensor/processing systems. Therefore, the Saphir is equipped with 4 x 533mm torpedo tubes to launch F17 Mod 2 torpedoes as well as SM39 "Flying Fish" anti-ship missiles.

The ship can carry up to 14 reloads, each load or a mix of loads, and can also be used to lay mines if necessary. Processing systems include the DMUX 20 series multifunction kit, the ETBF DSUV 62C towed antenna array, the DRUA 33 series radar and the ARUR 16 system.

The Saphir, like the rest of the class, suffered from low speed and noisy operation from the start, leading to AMETHYSTE's 1989 conversion program ("AMEleoration Tactique HYdrodynamique Silence Transmission Ecoute"). The main goal of the program was to reduce the vessel's acoustic signature - the Canadian Navy itself rejected the design, not only because of cost, but also because of noise. Design changes include a more rounded nose cap (as opposed to the original blunt shape), improved sonar fittings, and improved electronics.

Amethyste and Perle were the first ships to be restored, while the other four remained to the standard from 1989 to 1995.

So far, the lifespan of sapphire has been rather lacklustre. In September 2001, she was asked to conduct a torpedo attack on a Cold War-era T47-class D-Estree destroyer, which had been downgraded to a target.

During COMPTUEX 2015, she was credited for "sinking" the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, in an Allied wargame.

At the time of writing (2019), Saphir is still on active duty and her home port is outside Toulon. She and her sisters plan to be succeeded by the Barracuda/Suffren class vessel under construction from January 2019 (details elsewhere on this site).