Redoutable
Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:26 am
The 70c. French stamp shows the nuclear submarine Redoutable, which has a displacement of 7,900 tons on the surface, and 9,000 tons submerged. Length overall is 420 ft., beam 348 ft., draft 32.8 ft. She has one pressurised water-cooled reactor. Main engines consist of two turbo-alternators and one electric motor. Auxiliary propulsion is provided by one diesel. Surface speed 20 knots, submerged, over 25 knots. Missiles: 16 tubes amidships, Polaris type I.C.B.Ms, with a range of 1,900 miles. Four torpedo tubes. Her complement, consisting of two alternating crews, is 135 (14 officers, 121 ratings). She is France's first nuclear-powered submarine, ballistic missile-armed, and her submerged cruise duration is three months. The diesel engine has bunkers for a range of 5,000 miles. The Redoutable was laid down at the Cherbourg Naval Dockyard on March 30, 1964 and was launched March 29, 1969, becoming operational 1970.
SG1849 Sea Breezes 5/70