NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Bévéziers 1980 Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Agosta	S620	Q80	Arsenal de Cherbourg	10.11.1972	19.10.1974	28.7.1977	decommissioned 2.1997, deleted 2009
Bévéziers	S621	Q81	Arsenal de Cherbourg	17.5.1973	14.6.1975	27.9.1977	decommissioned 2.1998, deleted 2009
La Praya	S622	Q82	Arsenal de Cherbourg	1974	15.5.1976	9.3.1978	decommissioned 6.2000, deleted 2009
Ouessant	S623	Q83	Arsenal de Cherbourg	1974	23.10.1976	27.7.1978	decommissioned 7.2001, TS for Malaysia 2005

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	1250
Displacement normal, t	1510 / 1760
Length, m	67.6
Breadth, m	6.80
Draught, m	5.40
No of shafts	1
Machinery	2 SEMT-Pielstick 16PA4 V185VG diesel-generators, 1 electric motor
Power, h. p.	4600
Max speed, kts	12.5 / 20
Fuel, t	diesel oil 185
Endurance, nm(kts)	8500(9) (snorkel) / 280(3)
Armament	4 - 550 TT (bow, 20)
Electronic equipment	DRUA-33 radar, DUUA-1D, DUUA-2D, DUUX-2A sonars, ARUR, ARUD ECM suites, DLA D3 CCS
Complement	54
Diving depth operational, m	300

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

These ocean-going submarines were of double-hull construction, the space between the two hulls was used for ballast, fuel tanks, auxiliary tanks and for the sensing heads of most of the acoustic equipment. The outer shell was cylindrical, graduating to an oval form forward to accommodate the sensors. The profile was more streamlined than that of earlier French submarines, and influenced the design of the SNA of the Rubis class. All deck fittings retracted into recesses in the outer casing to improve waterflow. The forward diving planes were close to the bow, and were complemented by cruciform control surfaces aft.

The propulsion system featured a 320-cell battery with twice the capacity of the Daphné class. The maximum underwater speed of 17.5kts can be sustained for one hour, and can be boosted to 20.5kts for 5 minutes to enable the submarine to take evasive action. In addition to the main electric motor there was a small 32hp 'creep' motor for silent operations, capable of driving the submarine at 3.5kts.

The reduction to only four torpedo tubes was made possible by the high hit probability of modem wire-guided torpedoes. The tubes employed a pneumatic ram to discharge the torpedo, enabling firing to take place at any speed or depth. They can accept both 550mm and 533mm torpedoes. Bévéziers was the trials boat for the SM39 submarine-launched variant of the Exocet SSM, and the remaining three units of the class had since been retro-fitted with this capability.

Modernizations

1985-1987, all: + ability to launch SM39 Exocet SSM (4 SM39)

1988-1991, all: - DRUA-33 radar, DUUA-1D sonar, ARUR ECM suite; + DRUA-33C radar, DSUV-22C, DSUV-62A towed array sonars, ARUR-12 ECM suite

Naval service

No significant events.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.