France Has Increased Its Ballistic Missile Submarine Patrols For The First Time In Decades

[rebewranger]

France Has Increased Its Ballistic Missile Submarine Patrols For The First Time In Decades

France's revised nuclear deterrence posture comes as nuclear threats from Russia have become especially concerning due to its actions in Ukraine.
BY THOMAS NEWDICK MARCH 24, 2022
THE WAR ZONE
Triomphant_SSBNMARINE NATIONALE
 

For the first time in around 30 years, France has put three of its four ballistic missile submarines, or SSBNs, to sea at the same time, according to reports in the local media. Normally, just one of the Triomphant class SSBNs, each of which can be armed with up to 16 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), with multiple warheads, is on patrol at any given time. The significant uptick in French nuclear deterrence activity seems to be intended as a signal to Russia at a time of unprecedented tensions in Europe, including fears that nuclear weapons could be part of the Kremlin’s plans as its campaign in Ukraine stutters.

The Telegramme, the newspaper serving the Breton port city of Brest, where the Triomphant class is based, reported the development, confirming that two additional SSBNs had departed their base on the Île Longue peninsula. These then joined a third Triomphant class boat that was already on patrol, likely in the Atlantic where they normally operate. The French Navy has neither confirmed nor denied the report.

Entering service between 1997 and 2010, the French Navy’s current SSBNs, Le Triomphant, Le Téméraire, Le Vigilant, and Le Terrible, can each carry 16 of the latest M51 SLBMs that are estimated to have a range of over 6,000 miles and can each carry six to 10 multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs) of around 100 kilotons yield. The normal load is thought to consist of six MIRVs per missile, plus penetration aids to help defeat missile defenses. The total number of SLBMs available is thought to be sufficient to have a maximum of three SSBNs on patrol simultaneously if required.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44910/france-has-increased-its-ballistic-missile-submarine-patrols-for-the-first-time-in-decades

[rebewranger]

How many French troops does it take to defend Paris?  No one knows because they've  never tried it.

[Hoodat]

Hey, if France is willing to park some nukes off the Russian coast, then more power to them.  It would be nice to hear something out of our own Defense Department on this.  Something along the effect of asking Putin how good of a job they've been doing at tracking Trident submarines across the globe since 1989.

[Fishrrman]

Why would France, of all nations, need to "protect itself" with nuclear submarines?

Who would want to invade them any more, except for... muslims...?

Oh... wait...
Seems like THAT "invasion" is ongoing, and the French have done nothing...