Brand new, the third of six new French nuclear attack submarines (SNA), the Tourville, has returned to its base in Toulon, from where it will continue the verification of its military capabilities with a view to its admission to active service in 2025.
Flying a large tricolor flag and welcomed by the jets of water from the tugboats of the Var naval base, notably the Céladon and the Lardier, which were waiting for her before the main dyke, the Tourville entered the Toulon harbor for the first time Wednesday, November 27, early in the morning. Just before its arrival, the new SNA of the French Navy was also greeted by the amphibious helicopter carrier (PHA) Tonnerre, which had just set sail and whose crew remained at the band station for the occasion. “The date of November 27 coincides with Submariner Day, established since 2003 in memory of the five submarines, including the Casabianca, which escaped from the Toulon naval base on November 27, 1942 following the invasion of the free zone by the troops of the Nazi regime,” notes the French Navy.
The Céladon and the Lardier welcoming the Tourville with their fire hose.
Le Tourville arriving in Toulon.
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Le Tourville arriving in Toulon on Wednesday November 27.
Le Tonnerre setting sail from Toulon shortly before the arrival of Le Tourville.
The Tonnerre leaving Toulon just before the arrival of the Tourville, its crew remaining at the band post to greet the arrival of the new SNA.
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Le Tourville arriving in Toulon on Wednesday November 27.
Le Tourville joining the Toulon naval base. With in this photo the ro-ro MN Calao, chartered by the Ministry of the Armed Forces for military logistics, the PHA Mistral and the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle.
Built like all the buildings in this series by the Naval Group shipyard in Cherbourg, the Tourville was delivered to the French Navy on November 16, just four months after the start of its sea trials. These were conducted in the English Channel then in the Atlantic, until its reception twelve days ago, which took place in Brest. The ship then left Point Brittany to reach the Mediterranean and its home port, where all the units of the nuclear attack submarine squadron (ESNA) were stationed. This now includes, and for the first time, more new generation SNAs than old generation ones. The Tourville is in fact added to its two elders, the Suffren and the Duguay-Trouin, admitted to active service in June 2022 and April 2024, while the ESNA only has two units of the Rubis type, the Amethyst ( 1992) and the Pearl (1993), following the departure of the Emerald (1988). The latter, which left Toulon on October 8 to carry out its final mission, reached Cherbourg on November 16, where it will be decommissioned, just as the first three SNA of this type already were, the Saphir (1984-2019), the Rubis (1983-2022) and Casabianca (1987-2023).
99.5 meters long for a displacement of 5,300 tonnes when submerged, the Suffren can use heavy F21 torpedoes, MdCN cruise missiles and Exocet SM39 anti-ship missiles, with four 533 mm tubes and a reserve for 20 weapons. They are also designed to accommodate a dry deck shelter (DDS) behind the massif that can accommodate marine commando equipment, including the third generation submarine thruster (PSM3G).
The fourth SNA in this series, the De Grasse will leave the Cherbourg construction hall in 2025 with a view to delivery in 2026. The new Rubis and Casabianca will follow, which should join the French Navy in 2028 and 2030.
– see our report aboard the SNA Duguay-Trouin
