LE REDOUTABLE class

France began its first study to equip itself with a nuclear powered submarine in 1956, but different organizational and technological problems forced the project to be abandoned in 1958. However, that same year General de Gaulle came to power and decided that France should possess a nuclear deterrent force against all aggressors, and that should be independent of the United States. After this slogan, all the means for the indigenous construction of both nuclear reactors, missiles and their launchers, in this case, the submarines are put. On March 2, 1963, the order was given to start the program for a “Sous-marin Nucléaire Lanceur d’Engins (SNLE)” or for a “nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN)”. This program would end successfully with the launch of the first French SSBN, the S-611 Le Redoutable on March 29, 1967.

LE REDOUTABLE class gallery and more info