Le Triomphant (S616)

The Triumph (S616) Story

Le Triomphant (S616) (translated as "The Triumphant") is a modern French Navy nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, developed in the late 1980s and built in the early 1990s. She became the flagship of her class, leading the "Triomphant Class" which now includes Temeraire (S617), Terrible (S618) and Vigilant (S619). The Triomphant was laid on June 9, 1989, and launched on March 26, 1994. She was built by Cherbourg Shipyard Construction and Armed Naval Direction (DCN). After completing the necessary sea trials, she officially entered service on 21 March 1997 and is currently active in the French fleet (2012).

She made her home port at Ile Longue ("Long Island") in the Atlantic Ocean, northwest of France. Triomphant and many of its ilk around the world are primarily used as a national deterrent for the emergence of nuclear power (and later nuclear-armed world powers).

Triomphant is a powerful submarine type rivaling any other modern type in the world, its lethality lies in its ability to precisely strike targeted areas with its stockpiled nuclear weapons. When officially created in 1998, the Triumph class became the main nuclear attack submarine in the French arsenal.

The

Triomphant has a traditional design on the outside, with a streamlined and clean hull, with a tapered bow and stern tubular shape. The sails were mounted amidships, with suitable dive planes on either side of the tower. She is powered by a K15-series pressurized water nuclear reactor capable of full speed (under water) of 25 knots and an essentially unlimited operating range - enabling Triomphant to respond to French interests anywhere in the world.

The K15 reactor has a lifespan of 20 to 25 years before it needs to be replaced. Inside the vehicle were 110 personnel, including 15 officers, who were further divided into predetermined shift groups. Sensors include the versatile Thomson-Sintra DMUX 80 (passive bow and sides), DUUX 5 (passive ranging intercept) and DSUV 61B series sonars (towed array) and Racal Decca radar systems.

Electronic countermeasures are provided by the Thomson-CSF ARUR-13/DR 3000U ESM system. The vessel has a surface displacement of approximately 14,000 short tons and a submerged displacement of 15,800 short tons.

The total length is 138 meters, the width is 12.5 meters, and the draft is 10.60 meters.

As with any attack submarine, the heart and soul of the Triumph is her ballistic missile supply. It carries 16 M45 SLBM (Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile) missiles, each armed with a TN 75 warhead (6 x 110 kiloton thermonuclear) and powered by a three-stage solid-fuel motor (each missile has approximately ten times) the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II). These missiles can reach land-based targets up to 6,000 kilometers away and are guided by inertial/digital systems. The rocket is about 11 meters high and is placed vertically in the launch tube, which is mounted in the hull (behind the tail). As a primary deterrent, if war broke out, the M45 could be launched from the ship while the submarine was still submerged.

In addition to the basic nuclear payload, the Triumph is equipped with 4 x 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes that fire F17 series torpedoes. The F17 has a range of up to 20 km and uses a wire-guided system through active/passive homing measures. The Der Torpedo is equipped with a 250 kg warhead capable of destroying all types of man-made high seas targets.

Triomphant can also use the Exocet SM39 family of anti-ship missiles to counter enemy surface threats from a distance. The missile has been in use since 1973 and it has proven to be a reliable anti-ship measure.

After commissioning in 1997, Triumph was assigned to general patrol duties. In 2002, it entered the overhaul period, which lasted nearly 2.5 years. In 2004, it was revealed that their nuclear reactor was leaking, prompting repairs and subsequent public assurances.

Probably the most notable incident related to HMS Triumph's service history was her collision with the Royal Navy's HMS Vanguard in Atlantic waters in February 2009. The hull of the Triumph was damaged and contained very expensive sonar equipment. She was then transferred to the port of Brest for repairs. Both ships were armed with nuclear ballistic missile weapons at the time of the accident.

No casualties were reported, and both ships were able to sail back to their respective ports on their own power for repairs.

The French Navy recognizes its nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine as "SNLE", which means "Sous-Marin Nucleaire Lanceur d'Engine" ("Nuclear Powerplant Launched Submarine").

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