French Navy Ame`thyste class, also known as improved Rubis class SSN The Nuclear Attack Submarines, SSNs, are designated in French SNA-`Sous-Marins Nucleaires d`Attaque`   The main differences between these boats and the Rubis class was upgraded sonar and electronics and a role more suited to hunting submarines then surface ships as the Rubis class was designed to do. They are slightly longer but have the same weapons outfit and propulsion unit. Specifications, Ame`thyste class, Ame`thyste S-605: Displacement (srf/sub tons): 2,410/2,730 Dimensions (L*B*D feet): 241`5*24`9*21`0 Propulsion: 1*GEC Alsthom CAS-48 Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR), drives two turbo-alternators, which in turn provide the power for a single large Jeumont-Schneider 9,500hp electric motor, one screw Speed (sub knots): 25 Range (srf/sub miles@knots): not relevant Diving depth (feet): 985 Complement: 8 officers 62 enlisted Missile: SSM (submarine launched anti-ship missiles) Aerospatiale SM 39 Exocet launched from the torpedo tubes. Torpedo: 4*21" (533 mm) bow torpedo tubes, atotal mix of 18 torpedoes or Exocet missiles. Armament: none Mines: 32*FG-29 instead of torpedoes or missiles Construction It was intended to built four hulls under this class; two were cancelled in 1991-Turquoise S-607 and Diamant S-608. Ame`thyste S-605 and Perle S-606 were laid down by CDN- Cherbourg Naval Dockyards and launched in May 1988 and September 1990 respectively. Back to History Index