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42-577: The French Strategic Ocean Force Command ALFOST was set up in 1972 under a Squadron Vice-Admiral. The Strategic Ocean Force ( French : Force océanique stratégique, FOST ), created on March 1, 1972, constitutes the principal composite of the Strategic French Nuclear Forces ( French : Force de dissuasion Nucléaire Française, FNS ). FOST was placed under the command of a Squadron Vice-Admiral (Officers of Admiral rank) ( French : L'Officier général de marine ), hence

84-455: A double hull , with an internal hull outside the pressure hull . During this period, France was the first navy to have a substantial submarine force. These 200-ton submarines had a range of over 100  nmi (190  km ; 120  mi ) surfaced and 10 nmi (19 km; 12 mi) submerged. Aigrette , launched 1904, offered further improvement by running a diesel motor while surfaced. Seventy-six submarines were completed by 1914. At

126-703: A French port and elsewhere in French possessions . Following the defeat during the Battle of France , only three submarines joined the Free French Naval Forces in 1940, Rubis , Narval (sunk by a naval mine on 21 December 1940), and Surcouf (accidentally sunk or by misunderstanding during the night of the 18 and 19 February 1942). One submarine was sunk during the Norwegian Campaign and subsequently several French submarines under

168-552: A newer generation, the Le Triomphant class , are in service in 2010 in the force océanique stratégique of the French Navy : The armament systems of the ballistic missile submarines include in general: The mission of a French nuclear ballistic missile submarine is simple: leave the designated port of attachment, in the most discreet possible way, remain undetectable all along the mission to be able at any moment launch

210-828: A nuclear strike, under orders of the president of France . Chief of Staff of the French Navy The Chief of the Naval Staff (French: Chef d’état-major de la Marine , acronym: CEMM ) is a French general officer , adviser to the Chief of the Defence Staff for the French Navy and responsible to the Minister of the Armed Forces for preparing the Navy for its engagement. Since 1 September 2023,

252-710: The Amiral ( Admiral ) Commandant of the Strategic Oceanic Force ( French : Commandant la Force Océanique Stratégique, ALFOST ), commands the submarine forces, under the authority of the Chief of Staff of the French Navy ( French : Chef d'Etat-Major de La Marine ). The first submarine not to use human propulsion was French submarine  Plongeur  (2) of the French Imperial Navy ( French : Marine Impériale Française ),

294-612: The Navy General Staff (French: Etat-major de la Marine , acronym: EMM), over the Navy Military Personnel Directorate (French: Direction du personnel militaire de la Marine , acronym: DPMM), as well as over all the commands, directorates and services that make up the French Navy. He ensures the preparation of the naval forces. As such, he is responsible for instruction and training, as well as maintenance of operational readiness. He develops

336-652: The Vice-Admiral Chief of the Navy General Staff becomes, in the 1920s, the designated commander of the French maritime forces in the event of war, and the staff tasks fall in such circumstances to the Major General of the Navy, his first deputy in time of peace. From 26 August 1939 to 6 June 1943, the organisation of the French Navy no longer included a general staff, but instead a "staff of

378-530: The "directorate general for underwater warfare" (French: Direction générale de la guerre sous-marine, acronym: DGGSM) with sometimes overlapping areas of action; this observed redundancy logically led to the dissolution of the DGGSM at the end of the war and the attribution of its many prerogatives to the offices of the Navy General Staff. In order to have a system allowing a flexible transition between peacetime — period of preparation — and wartime — period of action —

420-492: The "joint" level by the staff of the armed forces and its chief: the Chief of the Defence Staff. The Chief of the Naval Staff thus lost his responsibilities for directing maritime operations to the Chief of the Defence Staff in 1971b. In the 2000s, a large part of the organic prerogatives – force preparation – was again transferred to the Chief of the Defence Staff, but the Chief of the Naval Staff remained his main adviser regarding

462-506: The 600 tons type ( Ondine was lost in 1928 and Nymphe was condemned in 1938) plus six minelaying submarines of the Saphir class and the cruiser submarine Surcouf , which displaced 3,300 tons, being the largest submarine in the world at that time. At the Armistice of 22 June 1940 , 602 type 550mm and 187 type 400mm torpedoes along with 332 naval mine types were available in

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504-436: The Chief of the Naval Staff has been Admiral Nicolas Vaujour  [ fr ] . The Chief of the Naval Staff is the top representative of the French Navy. He advises and assists the Chief of the Defence Staff . He provides him with Navy -specific expertise. He maintains bilateral relations with foreign navies. He participates in inter-administrative bodies in the field of State action at sea. He has authority over

546-820: The FOSt until their retirement. Since 1970, the French submarine fleet consisted of: On 1 November 1970, the 1st squadron, numbering 11 units, were designated as Submarines Squadron of the Mediterranean (ESMM, then ESMED) and the 2nd squadron created in 1947 which comprised eight vessels, six of Narval class and two of the Daphné class, became the Submarine Squadron of the Atlantic (ESMA, then ESMAT). Four Agosta -class vessels were placed into service in 1977 and 1978 with retirement in 2001. On 28 January 1972,

588-635: The French Naval Academy on behalf of the Minister of the Armed Forces . Before the First World War , the Chief of the Naval Staff was above all the head of the military cabinet of the Minister of the Navy, and this mode of operation is the source of the name used; the officer who had effective authority over the Navy was then the admiral commanding the naval army, sometimes unofficially referred to as " amiralissime ", in reference to

630-476: The French Navy including Roland Morillot which was in service until 1967. The reconstruction phase started with research at the end of the conflict including assimilating the advanced techniques and tactics of World War II. Five submarines of the Aurore class whose construction was interrupted in 1940 were commissioned and served into the 1960s. During the years 1970/1980, the diesel submarines were spread in

672-777: The French Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarines of the Triomphant-class . Between 1972 and April 2014, hundreds of patrols were realized. The first submarine class of French Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarines in service was the Le Redoutable-class , the head of the series, which was put in dry-docks under authorization in March 1963, with construction commencing in 1964 and was launched on March 29, 1967, in presence of President of France Charles de Gaulle . Trials of

714-643: The French maritime forces" which acted as such for the time of war. Admiral Darlan thus became commander-in-chief of the French maritime forces before being called to other functions in February 1941 in Vichy France. After the Second World War, the gradual disappearance of the portfolio of Minister of the Navy led to entrusting part of the Minister's prerogatives to the Chief of the Naval Staff. However over time these prerogatives were taken over at

756-617: The Submarines Squadron of the Atlantic (ESMAT) and the Submarines Squadron of the Mediterranean (ESMED). In 1995, the remaining ESMA was dissolved with the last submarine leaving port on 11 February 1997. The four Agosta and the two last Daphné class were part of the Submarines Atlantic Group (GESMAT), created in 1995. The latter was in turn decommissioned on 1 July 1999 and the two ultimate Agosta -class vessels, La Praya and L'Ouessant , integrated

798-587: The acronym ALFOST. With the dissolution of the Atlantic Attack Submarine Group, the submarines with conventional propulsion were grouped with the nuclear submarines from July 1, 1999. The Strategic Force was born after the World War II from the will of général de Gaulle to possess a nuclear arm. The French Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarines armed with Submarine-launched ballistic missiles , in relation to their discretion in

840-527: The attack submarines was enlarged since the middle of the years of 1990 with the leveling placement of nuclear attack submarines which can act at the profit of Carrier battle groups and maritime action. The six French nuclear attack submarines of the Rubis class are being replaced by the Barracuda class beginning in 2020. The Rubis class were the main class of nuclear attack submarines in service following

882-584: The ballistic missile submarines include in general: The mission of a French Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine is simple: leave the designated port of attachment, in the most discreet possible way, remain undetectable all along the mission to be able at any moment launch a nuclear strike, under orders of the President of France . Y.Cariou, FOST Force Océanique Stratégique, Marines Editions, 2007 Submarine forces (France) The Submarine Forces of France ( French : Forces Sous-Marines, FSM ) are one of

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924-479: The base at Toulon . The attack summary of French submarine torpedoes during the Second World War was: The submarines undertook numerous unconventional operations including dropping agents, forces of the resistance and materials in occupied Europe and the Casabianca played an important role in the liberation of Corsica by transporting special forces personnel. On 1 January 1945, France had eight submarines of

966-540: The beginning of World War I in August 1914, the French Navy fielded 72 submarines essentially to defend her coastlines, of which 50 units were at sea. During the conflict orders were placed for a further 90 with almost 70 launched by 1918. Fifty-nine of these boats conducted more than 1,300 sorties, fourteen of those were lost in the conflict (twelve in the Mediterranean ). Among the boats lost were Curie which

1008-851: The command of the Vichy government were sunk or damaged by the Allies in various combats taking place in the French colonial empire . During the Battle of Dakar in September 1940 two submarines of the Vichy regime were sunk but Bévéziers damaged a battleship . Three submarines including Béveziers , were lost in May 1942 during the Battle of Madagascar . During the Scuttling of the French fleet in Toulon five submarines, including Casabianca managed to exit

1050-473: The concepts and doctrines for the employment of naval forces. He reports to the Chief of the Defence Staff on the availability of assets and the operational readiness of the naval forces. Regarding capabilities, the Chief of the Naval Staff develops the French Navy's military requirements. He defines support and infrastructure needs. He is responsible for the operational evaluation of new equipment. He decides their commissioning and their withdrawal from service at

1092-437: The end of their life. In terms of human resources, regarding the military personnel of the French Navy, he is responsible for their recruitment, initial and continuous training, discipline, morale and wellbeing, professional and career paths, as well as management of the workforce, jobs and skills. Regarding civilian personnel under his authority, he expresses the needs in terms of employment, manpower and skills. He takes part in

1134-577: The first ballistic missile submarine of the Redoutable class left a submarine base for the first nuclear deterrence patrol. With the creation of FOST, the submarine force was subordinated to support it in the role of nuclear deterrence. With the commissioning of French nuclear ballistic missile submarine in the French Navy in 1970, it was decided to construct the Rubis class of French nuclear attack submarines . Going through several designations,

1176-811: The first class, twenty submarines of the second class of which four were lent by the United Kingdom, one minelaying submarine and one depot ship for submarines. On 8 May 1945, nineteen vessels were in active service of which nine were operational (three lent by the United Kingdom). On 1 January 1946 the personnel were reduced to 700 men. Following the German surrender , France received a total of eighty-five former German vessels, which included six combat submarines, four midget submarines (in service until 1954) as well as an Italian coastal submarine. Only four out of them were placed on permanent active duty, with

1218-408: The four main components of the French Navy . The force oversees all French submarines regardless of role. The headquarters staff is an independent command made up of two prime components: French submarine forces comprise over 4,000 military and civilian personnel of which an estimated two thousand are submariners. The French Général Naval Officer ( French : L'Officier général de marine ),

1260-528: The implementation of the ministerial policy concerning civilian personnel and participates in social dialogue bodies. He has responsibilities in terms of risk management and nuclear safety. The authority of the Chief of the Naval Staff is exercised over several bodies: He chairs the board of directors of the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Navy (French: Service hydrographique et océanographique de la Marine , acronym: SHOM) and supervises

1302-680: The last in 1993. Their nuclear propulsion and speed allows the submarines to be dispatched with total secrecy to the Mediterranean , Occidental Africa, the Antilles, the Persian Gulf , the Pacific Ocean, and other oceans and seas. Occupied mainly, but not exclusively by operations of anti-submarine warfare at the profit of deterrence, since the creation of the Strategic Oceanic Force , the employment scope range of

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1344-495: The latter commenced in 1969 and the boat entered into service on December 1, 1971. Six French nuclear ballistic missile submarines of the Le Redoutable class capable of carrying sixteen ballistic missiles were built: Four French nuclear ballistic missile submarines of a newer generation, the Le Triomphant class , are in service in 2013 in the force océanique stratégique of the French Navy : The armament systems of

1386-406: The level of maintenance for instance) and were classified as various initiatives, categorizing the submarines on a general scale while sharing the same characteristics (same dimensions, displacement, armament and other features). In any case, the French differentiated their submarines by their displacement: 600–, 1100–, and 1500-ton types. Accordingly, several classes of submarines were constructed for

1428-526: The nuclear-powered submarines was eventually designated the Provence class ( with the next two vessels being designated as Bretagne and Bourgogne ), before being christened under the Presidency of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing . These were one of the most compact nuclear attack submarines in the world with reactor integration. Built since 1976, the first was delivered in 1983. Six entered service in total,

1470-405: The preparation and employment of the Navy. Admiral Bernard Louzeau decided at the end of the 1980s to replace the emblem of the French Navy, "a gold anchor intertwined with a cable", by a logo representing "a white ship’s bow with two blue and red waves". Admiral Pierre-François Forissier decided to provide the Navy with an anthem whose lyrics were written in 2011 by Lieutenant Christian Beauval and

1512-498: The retirement of the last conventional propulsion submarines in 2001. The Squadron of Nuclear Attack Submarines (ESNA) is a component of the Strategic Oceanic Force which assimilated the Submarine Forces at the end of the 20th century. Six French nuclear ballistic missile submarines of the Le Redoutable class capable of carrying sixteen ballistic missiles were built: Four French nuclear ballistic missile submarines of

1554-505: The signature of the Washington Naval Treaty . In 1922, French submarine forces counted 48 boats, all constructed after 1911. On 1 January 1930, France had the most powerful submarine fleet in the world with 110 units totaling 97,875 tons in service, construction or in authorized commission. However, the French naval construction witnessed set-backs in perfecting the submarines production (certain setbacks were witnessed as

1596-461: The title of " généralissime " used at the time in the Army. The First World War called all this into question, because an immense work of reorganisation had to be carried out at the headquarters in " rue Royale "a to conduct a long-lasting industrial maritime war and to be able to face the new threats posed by German submarines and underwater mines: a sort of "second staff" was even created, called

1638-508: The various oceanic patrol zones, ensure a guaranteed retaliatory nuclear strike (second strike). Since 1985, the strategy of nuclear deterrence in France armed six French Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarines in service, five in service since 1991, and four since 1997; maintaining a permanent presence around the Oceans and Seas . Deterrence is ensured in 2014 by the permanent deployment of

1680-563: The years 1921–1931, out of which the most prominent were: At the declaration of World War II in September 1939, France had 77 submarines out of which 47 had been launched in the previous ten years and 19 submarines under construction. A submarine depot ship , the Jules Verne , had been in service since April 1932. The French Navy had nine submarines of the 1200 tons type, 29 units of the 1500 tons type ( Prométhée and Phénix had been lost accidentally in 1932 and 1939); 38 vessels of

1722-755: Was scuttled during a tentative attack on the base of Pula in December 1914, and would be refitted by the Austro-Hungarian Navy and Foucault , sunk in a bombardment by flying boats of the Austro-Hungarian Navy at the naval base of Kotor on 15 September 1915, was the first submarine to be sunk in an aerial attack. At the end of the war, France received 46 U-boats from the Imperial German Navy in reparations but most were scrapped between 1922 and 1923 following

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1764-484: Was launched in 1863, and was equipped with a compressed-air motor, supplied by twenty-three tanks of compressed air pressurised to 180  psi (1,200  kPa ). In 1888, Gymnote was the first submarine equipped with specific metal batteries. Gymnote would be followed by Morse in 1899 and then the Farfadet -class series in 1901. Their range was 100 miles (160 km). In June 1900, Narval introduced

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