French submarine Inflexible (S615)

Inflexible in 2002
History
France
Name:	Inflexible
Builder:	DCNS Cherbourg
Laid down:	27 March 1980
Launched:	23 June 1982
Commissioned:	1 April 1985
Decommissioned:	14 January 2008
Homeport:	Île Longue
Fate:	Museum ship
General characteristics
Class & type:	Redoutable-class submarine
Displacement:	9,000 tons (submerged)
Length:	130 m (430 ft)
Beam:	10.60 m (34.8 ft)
Draught:	10 m (33 ft)
Propulsion:	One PWR, 16,000 shp (12,000 kW)
Speed:	over 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Range:	Essentially unlimited
Complement:	15 officers 120 sailors
Sensors and processing systems:	1 DRUA 33 1 DMUX 21 1 DSUV 61B VLF 1 DUUX 5 ARUR 12 radar detector
Armament:	16 M4 MSBS (Mer Sol Balistique Stratégique) nuclear missiles four 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes F17 and L5 torpedoes SM39 Exocet anti-ship missile

Inflexible (S 615) is the sixth and final of the Redoutable-class SNLE ("Sous-marin Nucléaire Lanceur d'Engins", "Nuclear Missile-Launching Submarine") of the Force océanique stratégique (FOST), the submarine nuclear deterrent component of the French Navy.

Construction began on 27 March 1980. She was launched on 23 June 1982, commissioned on 1 April 1985 and decommissioned on 14 January 2008.

Design and construction

Inflexible uses basically the same design as the other Redoutable-class vessels, but has benefited from technological advances over its predecessors. The submarine uses the M4 missile, which carries 6 independent 150 kilotonnes of TNT equivalent nuclear warheads. Their range is reported to be over 4,500 kilometres (2,800 mi). The boat also has the capability of launching the SM39 Exocet anti-ship missile.

Inflexible received TIT (Traitement de l'Information Tactique, "Tactical Information Processor"), a cluster of French-designed computers and serial digital bus links for intersystem communication and DMUX21 sonar. The submarine has an improved inertial navigation system over other vessels of the class. She also has the improved internal communication system—SNTI, Système Numérisé de Transmissions Intérieures (Digital Internal Communication System).

Other miscellaneous improvements were made in electrical systems, nuclear systems, improving safety and stealth and rudder and engines, improving reliability and stealth. Inflexible has an improved hull profile.

The other Redoutable-class submarines have been modified to meet the standards of Inflexible ("Refonte M4"). Inflexible was officially decommissioned on 14 January 2008.

In popular culture

Inflexible has inspired Le Soleil ne se lève pas pour nous ("No sunrise for us") by Robert Merle, a 1987 semi-fictitious book in form of a romanced documentary.