The underwater nuclear power of attack (shortened in SNA in French and SN for “Sinkable Ship Nuclear” according to the Code NATO) are Sous-marin S with nuclear propulsion. Contrary to the SNLE which have for only mission the Nuclear deterrence, SNA are intended for missions of protection and projection of power.

The first of this class of warships was the US Nautilus (SN) which entered in service in 1955.

Roles

• They are hunters. They have several roles:

• anti-submarine Fight : detection, tracking and possibly destruction of unfavourable submarines (SNA, SNLE or SMD), on mission individual (patrol) or protection of a group of combat of surface, in particular of an air and sea group.
• anti-ship Fight : maybe on mission of protection of a group of surface, or on mission offensive: naval Blockade, strategies of prohibition.
• Action against the ground with the use of Missile S of cruising.
• Information : interception electronic, catches of optical sights and infra-red discrete.
• Participation in actions of Special forces with the unloading of commandos and naval frogmen.
• discrete mining out of hostile water.

Advantages compared to the traditional submarine

Traditional submarines (code NATO: S or SSK - K for Killer) are also designed for these missions. But the nuclear propulsion, completely independent of the atmosphere, brings to SNA an advantage determining of tactical and strategic mobility and in discretion:

• Whereas the traditional submarines are constrained to go back on the surface (or to the periscopic immersion by using a Schnorchel) to supply the diesel engines in air (oxygen) and, thus to reload their electric batteries, after a few tens of hours of diving to the electrical motors (a few days for those equipped with propulsion AIP), making them thus detectable and vulnerable, the submarines with nuclear propulsion can remain several months in diving, thus preserving their discretion.
• They can also support in the duration important speeds in diving which a traditional submarine could not maintain any more few tens of minutes without entirely discharging its batteries.

Armament of SNA

• Torpedo S: they are heavy torpedes with long operating range, generally wire-guided, with active or passive acoustic homing head.
• aerodynamic missiles: with change of medium (i.e. lançable in diving). 2 types:
• anti-ship with active electromagnetic homing (radar) like the SM-39, derived from the Exocet, or the SubHarpoon;
• of cruising (action against the ground) inertial navigation and satellite retiming, like the Tomahawk.
• mines

French SNA

Six SNA of Classe Ruby are in service in the National marine. An order of six SNA of Classe Barracuda was placed; the first should enter in service in 2017.

Related articles

• Class Ruby

External bonds

• Underwater nuclear of attack Site of the National marine

Random links:

Striatum | Autoethnonyme | B2FH | Zenith Omega of Toulon | Quad (music)