The Redoutable was the first nuclear submarine of the French navy. She was commissioned in 1971 and decommissioned in 1991. The 16 ballistic nuclear missiles had an explosive force of 500KT at a range of 3100 km.
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More InformationSince 2000 it is exhibited as a museum ship in the maritime museum Cité de la Mer in Cherbourg-Octeville.
Some characteristics
The Redoutable is 128 m long, and has a diameter of 10.6 m and was operated by a crew of 135 men. During her 20 years of service, she was 90,000 hours under water and covered a distance 1,270.000 km (32 times around the world). She weighed 8000 tons.
Inside the Redoutable
We enter the submarine at the stern and see the powerful drive shafts for the huge propeller above us.
These flow into the steam turbine, whose steam is generated with the waste heat of the nuclear reactor. The electrolysis plant for the fresh air production is as well housed in the stern.
The thick white, jacketed pipes serve the air supply equipment. From the waste heat of the reactors, the required electrical energy is generated. Therefore, the electrical control unit is also housed here.
The Redoutable was divided into a front and a rear part. Inbetween was the reactor. A connection existed only over a tiny corridor above the reactor.
After the decommissioning of the submarine, the reactor was removed and replaced by a miniature cinema. Here, you can see the reconstruction in the movie. The footage also shows the corridor above the reactor.
Behind the (former) reactor, we reach the seawater desalination plant for the fresh-water supply. Through a glass floor you can see the lower floor.
This is followed by the largest section of the ship, the tract with the missile launch silos. The round container for the missile are clearly visible. On the outer wall are the computer for the launcher of the missiles. Target and clearance were subject to strictest controls.
Via a staircase you can see the upper part of this room before you reach the red illuminated command center. It is dominated by two powerful periscopes in the background.
Over stairs you reach the middle floor with the accommodations for the crew. While officers already had single berth cabins, the crew had to share the cabin with sixth. There is a small but comfortable day room and a canteen with kitchen.
The basement can be viewed through a glass floor. Here is the dental surgery. Also, an operation room was on board. The sanitary facilities with all their cables would not necessarily meet our expectations.
Finally we reach the last section, the room where the torpedoes are fired.
Leaving the submarine you can still take a look at the gap between the inner and outer shell. The room was used as a ballast tank to submerge.
Before the start of the visit you get an audio-guide, available in different languages. The audio guide conveys a variety of other details. There was also a workshop where all repairs could be done on board without having to enter a port.
During long dives, the behavior of the crew was also observed accurately. One found out that, with the emerge of the of discman, the isolation of the team members increased. Crew members put on their headphones and withdraw from activities.
Thus, after two dives, the discman was banned to generate greater solidarity.
Conclusion
We are not proponents of weapons or military equipment, but we found the visit of the Redoutable a very impressive experience. The degree of complexity of the various systems in such a confined space is a daunting challenge.
For average citizens it is hardly conceivable, that 135 people live and work here for a longer period of time. And in case of a crisis call, the challenge is even greater, due to the enormous emotional strain and high responsibility, the crew has to bear.
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