Gymnote class SSA
(France)
|
Name |
No. |
Launch |
Comm. |
Decom. |
Fate |
|
Gymnote |
S-655 |
17 Mar 1963 |
17 Oct 1966 |
1 Oct 1986 |
Scrapped (Ste. Nazaire, France) 1990 |
Notes: Gymnote was originally to be the leadship of France’s first SSN class, which was cancelled in 1959 due to cost. However the pressure hull materials had already been purchased so it was decided to complete her as a fossil-fuel powered missile trials sub. Because she was intended to operate mainly on the surface, Gymnote had many surface ship features such as nonretractable bow planes, bilge keels, and a ship-type bow. The turtleback was offset to the port side. Despite the ballistic missiles, Gymnote had no combat potential, lacking the weapons, speed, or equipment to operate autonomously. None the less, she was useful in developing France’s independent SLBM force.
Displacement: 3000t surfaced, 3250t submerged Dimensions: 277’5”x35’x25’1” Machinery: x4 Pielstick 12PA2 diesels, 2 lead-acid batteries, 2 956KW electric motors, 2 shafts with non-CP props Max speed: 11kts surfaced, 10kts submerged Diving Depth: 500’ Range: 4500NM @ 12kts surfaced Complement: 46 (8 officers, 38 enlisted) + up to 45 passengers for missile trials
WEAPONS
x4 (later x2) SLBM tubes (types varied with tests, Gymnote could not be used as an operational SSB)
SENSORS
DUUA-1 short-range active/passive sonar, I-band navigation radar