French Navy FS Emeraude submarine and FS Seine support vessel in Guam as part of their long-term deployment

According to pictures released by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) on November 30, 2020, French Navy Rubis-class attack submarine FS Émeraude (S604), Loire-class tender and support vessel FS Seine (A604) are at the U.S. Naval Base Guam as part of their long-term deployment.


According to pictures released by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) on November 30, 2020, French Navy Rubis-class attack submarine FS Émeraude (S604), Loire-class tender and support vessel FS Seine (A604) are at the U.S. Naval Base Guam as part of their long-term deployment.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 Naval Base Guam tug boats assist as the French Navy Rubis-class attack submarine FS Émeraude S604 moors against the French Navy Loire-class tender and support vessel FS Seine A604 at U.S. Naval Base Guam NBG. (Picture source U.S. Navy)


Naval Base Guam is a strategic U.S. naval base located on Apra Harbor, Guam. In 2009, it was combined with Andersen Air Force Base, to form Joint Region Marianas, which is a Navy-controlled joint base. Naval Base Guam is home of Commander Submarine Squadron 15, Coast Guard Sector Guam and Naval Special Warfare Unit One and supports 28 other tenant commands. It is the home base to dozens of Pacific Command, Pacific Fleet, Seventh Fleet, and the 30th Naval Construction Regiment (NCR).

The Rubis-class is a nuclear attack submarine operated by the French Navy. The class comprises six vessels and they are the most compact nuclear attack submarines to date. The Emeraude S604 was commissioned in 1988 and used for both anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare. Rubis-Class submarines are to be replaced by the Barracuda Class nuclear-powered attack submarines.

The propulsion system of the Rubis-class consists of a nuclear-powered turbo-electric system including two turbo-alternators; one main motor (with an emergency electric motor); one CAS 48 pressurized water-cooled nuclear reactor rated at 48 MW; one Jeumont-Schneider auxiliary diesel-electric motor, providing a top speed of 25 knots. The Rubis-class submarines 48 MW reactor needs no refueling for 30 years. The submarine has a length of 73.6 m, a beam of 7.6 m, and a draught of 6.4 m. It has a crew of 70 people including 10 officers. 

The Rubis-class is armed with SM 39 Exocet anti-ship missiles launched from four 533 mm torpedo tubes; ECAN L5 Mod 3 dual-purpose torpedoes; or up to 32 FG 29 mines carried in lieu of torpedoes.

The French Navy Loire-class Seine A604 is naval support and metropolitan support ship commissioned in 2019. The ship is designed to perform can a wide range of support missions. It can be used to carry weapons and ammunition, to support submarines and surface ships, to tow underwater antennas, as well as to deploy a pollution control dam.