Perle ready to resume overhaul after fire repairs
Perle during repairs at Cherbourg. (Photo: Naval Group)
The French MoD has announced that the fire-damaged Rubis-class submarine Perle will recommence overhaul works following extensive repairs.
Catastrophic fire damage in 2020 led Naval Group to join the aft of Perle with the front of another Rubis-class submarine Saphir.
The fire occurred in Toulon, after which the submarine was transported to Cherbourg to undergo repairs.
Perle is now being transferred to Toulon to resume major refit work before re-joining the French fleet in 2023.
On October 25, French Defence Minister Florence Parly wrote on Twitter: ‘In the aftermath of the fire in Toulon in June 2020, I declared that if the Perle was repairable, it would be repaired.
‘Today the Perle is repaired. Let us be proud of this essential first step. The Perle nuclear attack submarine will be operational in 2023.’
France’s Rubis-class submarines are equipped with a K48 nuclear reactor and SEMT Pielstick 8 PA 4V 185 SM diesel generator, giving the boats unlimited range and a top speed of over 25kt.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
Thin-line towed arrays on uncrewed vessels deliver more cost-effective sonar, says SEA
Miniaturisation of technology opens up radical sensing technologies to smaller navies under submarine threat, according to SEA sonar expert.
-
£30 million UK-New Zealand deal sends new uncrewed vehicles to Ukraine
Sam Vye, the CEO of SYOS Aerospace, which supplied the vehicles, explained the rapid development and deployment of assets in the uncrewed world.
-
HII delivers first two Lionfish SUUVs to US Navy
The SUUVs could be part of a programme that scales to 200 vehicles.
-
Indian Navy’s next generation OPV fleet advances with keel-laying of third vessel
The ship is the third in a fleet of 11, with the first vessel due to be delivered in 2026.