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Subject: New french SSBN Le Terrible to be launched this week
nominoe    3/20/2008 4:53:19 AM
The last triomhant class SSBN, "le terrible", will be launched this week. It will be equiped with the new M51 missile, and the new SYCOB combat system which will also be used in the future barracuda SSN. Le terrible is 14 000 t dived, and carries 16xM51 nuclear ballistic missile, 9 000 km range. M51 has completed a second successful launch this year. As a french, i'm very proud of our SSBN fleet, even if it's very expensive, especially when you hope they will remain unused. SSBN are the more sophisticated machines mankind is able to build nowadays. There are two kinds of states. States with SSBN, and others.
 
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markrigh    still M45   3/20/2008 8:59:00 AM
Hi nominoe

Le terrible won't carry 16 M51 until 2010 unless they accelerate its production. The M45 can still do the job.
 
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markrigh    2010?   3/20/2008 9:04:00 AM
my bad, more like 2012-2013!!!
 
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nominoe       3/21/2008 10:29:36 AM
you are right, and "Le terrible" will not be operational until then either. It won't carry m45.
 
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TC27       3/30/2008 7:37:40 PM
In broad terms how do these French boats compare to the Vanguards and Ohios?
 
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nominoe       3/31/2008 6:09:39 AM
In broad terms how do these French boats compare to the Vanguards and Ohios?

Nobody will really answer this of course. I would say that the three are up to the job.

Triomphant are said to be 1000 x more quiet than the previous  Redoutable class, and noise level is comparable to ambiant sea noise. Triomphant are equipped with pump jet propulsion, anechoic skin, and every noisy equipment is suspended. I would say that these ships are very quiet. DCN makes very fine submarines (scorpene, etc...) and Triomphant class are the jewel on their crown.

About fire power, 16 x 6 warheads M45 or M51 (8000 km range) missiles make a very serious deterrent.

[IMG]http://www.lefigaro.fr/medias/2008/03/21/8966dc06-f6c1-11dc-8393-0f8d07a9ceef.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://www.ouest-france.fr/of-photos/2008/03/20/caNO_2316054_1_apx_470__w_ouestfrance_.jpg[/IMG]

But the real question is not about comparing SSBN. The real question is : are triomphant quiet enough to avoid detection by foreign SSN? I hope so but people who know the answer won't tell it. And crew training is also very important.
 
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