Aréthuse-class submarine
The Aréthuse class were [List of List of submarines of France|submarines of France|submarines] built for the French Navy in the 1950s. They were designed as attack submarines for anti-submarine warfare and were referred to as Sous-marins de Chasse by the French Navy. These submarines had advanced sensors and were very quiet. They were influenced by the World War II German Type XXIII U-boats. The are an enlarged version built for the French, Pakistani, Portuguese, Spanish and South African navies.
Description
Designated Sous-marins de Chasse by the French Navy the Aréthuse class were designed as attack submarines specifically for operations in the Mediterranean Sea. The design was influenced by the German World War II Type XXIII U-boats, though were larger, with a heavier armament and faster when submerged but retained a small silhouette and great manoeverability. They had a standard displacement of, surfaced and submerged. Vessels of the class were long with a beam of and a draught of. The Aréthuse class were the first French submarines to use a diesel-electric propulsion system and were powered by two 12-cylinder SEMT Pielstick diesel engines driving one shaft rated at surfaced. They also mounted two electric generators that produced connected to one electric motor for use while submerged rated at. The generators were placed on spring suspensions and the motor was attached directly to the shaft creating a near-silent operational environment while submerged. The submarines had a maximum speed of surfaced and submerged.Aréthuse-class submarines were armed with four torpedo tubes in the bow for four torpedoes. The submarines carried four reloads. They were designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare. They were equipped with DUUA I sonar. The Aréthuse-class submarines had a complement of 40 including 6 officers. By 1981, their sonar had been upgraded to one active DUUA II sonar, one passive DUUA II sonar, one passive ranging DUUX 2 sonar. They had a diving depth down to roughly.