어뢰 프랑스 해군, 신형 F21어뢰 실사격 훈련

[위종민]

프랑스 해군이 12월 14일 신형 F21어뢰로 최근 퇴역한 초계함 F792 Premier-Maître L'Her 함에 실사격 훈련을 실시했네요. 

장소와 발사한 함정은 공개하지 않았지만, 기사에서는 퇴역한 함정이 최근 브레스트에서 퇴역했었고, 비스케이 만에서 실사격훈련 알림이 있었으며 최근 취역한 SSN 쉬프랑이 브레스트에서 목격됐어서 쉬프랑함이 대서양에서 실시한 것으로 추정하고 있습니다. 

2004년 이후로 20년만에 프랑스 해군이 실시한 SINKEX라고 합니다. 

French Navy Sinks Target Ship with new F21 torpedo - Naval News

French Navy Sinks Target Ship with new F21 torpedo - Naval News

Estienne d'Orves-class PM l'Her hit by the F21 torpedo on dec. 14. French Navy picture.

French Navy Sinks Target Ship with new F21 torpedo

On December 14, a nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) fired an F-21 torpedo at a live target: the hull of the former Aviso 'PM L'Her', which had been cleared of pollutants beforehand. This shot confirm‎s the new capabilities of the French Navy's submarines.

Martin Manaranche  18 Dec 2024

French Navy press release – Translated from French by Naval News

The shot was fired with a warhead-fitted heavyweight F21 torpedo – not a test one, capable of destroying both surface and underwater threats. Part of the Polaris approach to high-intensity preparation, this experiment tested the capabilities of this new-generation weapon. Designed to equip Rubis-class and Suffren-class nuclear-powered attack submarines, as well as nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN), the F21 torpedo represents an evolution in the armament of these units, with a level of stealth, range, strike speed and detection capabilities superior to previous weapons.

This campaign planned in the frame of the military programming law is of major interest to our forces. It comes as close as possible to reality, and provides unprecedented human and operational lessons. BZ to our sailors!

The complexity and demanding nature of the environment in which the participants evolved strengthened the pugnacity of the crews, and fed tactical reflections on tomorrow’s warfare. The Polaris approach is in line with this approach, and is helping the Navy to grow in these domains.

-End-

Decommissioned ‘PM L’Her’ sinking after being hit by the F21 torpedo. French Navy picture.

Naval News comments:

The event marked the first time the new F21 torpedo was “live fired” (i.e. with a warhead) against a target ship. Contacted by Naval News, a French Navy spokesperson explained this test was not a “SINKEX” (sinking exercise). “We do not speak about “SINKEX” because the primary objective [of this test] is to measure the effects of the F21 on a real target. In addition the term “SINKEX” is a dated term, which refers to something different from this shot. The official term used for this experiment is “realistic target shooting””.

This event is very significant as live ammo firing against surface targets has become a rarity in France. The spokesperson confirmed that the last French Navy “SINKEX” took place two decades ago. In 2004 with the sinking of the decommissioned LST Champlain off the coast of la Martinique island in the Caribbean Sea (French oversea territory). The same year, the frigate Commandant Bory was also sunk during a SINKEX.

The French Navy spokesperson declined to disclose the name or exact class of the SSN which launched the new generation torpedo citing “operational reasons”. Naval News understands the test likely took place in the Atlantic. There were some notice to mariners published last week in the Bay of Biscay for live fire exercise while none were published in the Mediterranean Sea off Toulon. In addition, the target ship was previously based in Brest and decommissioned earlier this year. The submarine involved was likely the first-in-class submarine Suffren as the SSN was recently spotted in Brest area.

The spokesperson confirmed that the F21 new generation heavyweight torpedo is fully operational on all French submarines.

This test is also a strategic message of the French Navy’s readiness. While Marine Nationale crews regulary conduct missiles firing (Crews of each major combatant vessel are expect to live-fire a “complex weapon system” once every two year, a rule put in place by former Chief of Staff of the French Navy Admiral Prazuck), the launch of warhead-fitted torpedoes against decommissioned ships are a rarity among European navies. This can be explained by the new environmental standards and the lack of appropriate decommissioned assets.

The French Navy Chief of Staff – Admiral Nicolas Vaujour commented the exercise as follow:

“As part of an experimental firing, one of our nuclear attack submarines fired a combat torpedo against a hull.
The firing was a success. It testifies to the Navy’s high level of preparation, against a backdrop of escalating conflicts and complex aeromaritimes operations.
The main objective: to raise the level of training and reinforce crew know-how. The firing was carried out under the most realistic conditions possible, with scenarios adapted to the new threats.
The hull, which had been fully cleaned and secured, sank to a depth of over 4,000 meters. It presents no danger, either to the environment or to maritime activities.“

This live firing exercise is part of a new type of exercise strategy called POLARIS. Put in place by former head of French Navy Admiral Vandier, POLARIS exercises are designed to increase the complexity and intensity of training for crews and ships, to make them better prepared to high intensity combat. One concrete result of POLARIS (which started in 2021) if the high performance of French crews in the Red Sea theater.

About F21 Heavyweight Torpedo

The F21 heavyweight torpedo is the last generation in service within the French Navy equipping submarines fleet replacing ageing F17 Mod. 2. The first batch of torpedoes was delivered back in November 2019 and delivery of new batches is still ongoing.

According to Naval Group, the F21 features exceptional performances, fulfilling the stringent French Navy requirements: advanced self-guided mode, shallow and confined water capability, latest generation of countermeasures resistance and compliance with nuclear submarines safety norms. Thanks to its intelligence, range and firepower, it offers navies an unrivaled tactical advantage by increasing the spectrum of operational scenarios.

The F21 has a standard NATO diameter (533 mm), a length of 6 meters and weighs 1,550 Kg. It has a speed in excess of 50 knots and a range of more than 27 nautical miles (50 Km). Its operational attack depth is comprised between -33 feet (10 m) and +1,630 feet (500 m).

The torpedo is wire-guided initially and then uses acoustic homing. Its electric motor is driven by an aluminum silver-oxide (AgO-Al) battery. The back end of the torpedo is provided by Atlas Elektronik (and is said to come from the SeaHake mod4) which allowed French engineers from the DGA and Naval Group to fully focus their time and budget during the research and development phase on the intelligence, guidance and tracking features of the F21.

An “F21 Mod 2” evolution is funded and being developed. One of the many improvements include a fully French back end / propulsion section.

Xavier Vavasseur contributed to this story.

[백선호]

프랑스는 1980년대에 취역해 2010년대에 퇴역한 F70형 호위함에 다른 나라들과 다르게 533 mm 어뢰를 달고 다녔는데 이제는 수상함에서 저런 큰 어뢰를 달고 다니지는 않네요.

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torpille_DTCN_L5

[위종민]

324mm와 533mm 어뢰는 무게가 거의 6배~8배 가량 차이나는데 꽤 오랫동안 533mm를 달고 다녔네요. 대수상 용도는 아닐 테고, 경어뢰로는 잠수함을 잡는 데 부족하다고 느낀 것일지..

[사처포(곽명기)]

왕초보가 어뢰사진을 보고 놀라 자빠짐니다.
유선이라 사거리(?)가 어느 정도인지, 고수에게 여쭙니다.

[위종민]

기시상으론 항속거리가 50km, 최고속도는 50노트 이상이고 유선유도 후 음향호밍 유도 방식이라고 합니다.

[사처포(곽명기)]

친절한 설명,
고맙습니다.

[ssn688]

>back end of the torpedo is provided by Atlas Elektronik (and is said to come from the SeaHake mod4) which allowed French engineers from the DGA and Naval Group to fully focus their time and budget during the research and development phase on the intelligence, guidance and tracking features of the F21.
프랑스가 웬일이야? 했더니, 추진부는 DM2A4 것을 집어왔군요 :) Mod.2에서 국산화하겠다고 합니다만...