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Class overview
Name:	Triomphant
Operators:	French Navy
Preceded by:	Redoutable
Completed:	4
General characteristics
Type:	Ballistic missile submarine
Displacement:	12,640 t (surfaced) 14,335 t (submerged)
Length:	138 m
Beam:	12.50 m
Draught:	10.60 m
Propulsion:	Pressurised water K15 nuclear reactor (150 MW), turboreductor system, Pump-jet 2 diesels-alternators SEMT Pielstick 8PA4V200 SM (700 kW) auxiliaries. 30,500 kW
Speed:	over 25 knots (46 km/h)
Range:	Essentially unlimited distance; 20 years
Test depth:	Over 400 metres
Complement:	15 officers 96 men
Sensors and processing systems:	Sonar DMUX 80 Sonar DUUX 5 Sonar DSUV 61B Very Low Frequency Racal Decca radar (navigation) SCC : SET (Système d'exploitation Tactique) : tactical operational system
Electronic warfare and decoys:	ARUR 13
Armament:	Nuclear : 16 M45 SLBM missiles with TN 75 warheads Anti-submarine : 4 x 533 mm tubes for F17 torpedoes Anti-surface : Exocet SM39
Notes:	Ships in class include: Triomphant , Téméraire , Vigilant, Terrible

The Triomphant class of strategic missile submarines of the French Navy are currently being introduced into service to provide the sea based component (the Force Océanique Stratégique) of the French 'force de frappe' (nuclear deterrent), with the M45 SLBM.

SNLE-NG

In French, they are called Sous-Marin Nucléaire Lanceur d'Engins de Nouvelle Génération ("SNLE-NG, literally "Device-launching nuclear submarine of the new generation"). They are replacing the Redoutable-class boats.

They produce approximately 1/1000th of the detectable vibration of the Redoutable-class vessels, and are ten times more sensitive in detecting other submarines. ^[1] They are designed to carry the M51 nuclear missile, which should enter active service around 2010.

The vessels are manufactured by DCNS and have a capacity of 16 M45 SLBM missiles manufactured by Aerospatiale (now EADS Astrium Space Transportation.)

List of submarines

The French Navy's goal is to operate a force of four ships (as with the Royal Navy's Vanguard fleet), of which two are on patrol at any given time.

• Triomphant : Construction began on 9 June 1989; she was launched on 26 March 1994, and entered active service on 21 March 1997.

• Téméraire : Construction began on 18 December 1993; she was launched on 21 January 1998, and entered active service on 23 December 1999.

• Vigilant : Construction began in 1997; she was launched on 19 September 2003, and entered active service on 26 November 2004.

• Terrible : Construction began on 24 October 2000 was launched on 21 March 2008. She is expected to enter active service by 2010.

Accident

On the 3 or 4 February 2009, Triomphant apparently collided with the Royal Navy submarine Vanguard. ^{[2] [3]} Triomphant was reported to have proceeded to Brest under her own power, submerged, but with extensive damage to her sonar dome.

Gallery

Comparison of different nuclear systems: left, the SNLE (Redoutable type) with the M4 missile; right, the SNLE-NG (Triomphant type) with the present M45 missile and the future M51 missile.

Le Téméraire

Le Vigilant

References

See also

• France and weapons of mass destruction
• FOST

Equipment of the French Navy Naval Action Force P400 · BATRAL · Tripartite · Durance · A69 · Jeanne d'Arc · Tourville · Georges Leygues · Cassard · Floréal · La Fayette · Foudre · Mistral · Aquitaine class multipurpose frigate · Horizon · Charles de Gaulle · PA 2 Strategic Oceanic Force Rubis-class SSN · Suffren-class SSN · Redoutable-class SSBN · Triomphant-class SSBN Naval aviation Breguet Atlantic · Super Étendard · Hawkeye · Falcon 10 · Rafale · Super Frelon · Dauphin · Panther · Lynx · NH90

SSBN classes in service  People's Liberation Army Navy Type 094 · Type 092  French Navy Triomphant  Russian Navy Delta III · Delta IV  Royal Navy Vanguard  United States Navy Ohio