PETE
COMMENT
Looking at French sources (below) and the color
of the smoke on a youtube/video (below) the June 12, 2020 fire on the French SSN submarine Perle appeared to be initially burning: of composite material used in the bow; of plastic wiring (see La Provence report below), and perhaps of outer and inner plastic-rubber anechoic
tiling. The cause may be sparks from an angle grinder or flame from welding cutting into the mainly single hulled bow, or a short circuit. The fire
may then have spread to plastic fittings throughout the Rubis-class Perle including the
control centre and composites used in the “fin”/ “sail” and in the hull sonars.
This explains dark coloured smoke captured in the youtube below.
The Perle (Pearl in English) almost 30 years old (since
its launch in September 1990) is probably too old to be worth repairing. French
Armed Foreces and Naval Group investigations are assessing the cause(s) and
damage. It will then fall to a political/public relations decision in a few
days, more like weeks or months to conclude Perle is probably a “write-off”.
Whether Perle can be repaired or not
there is increased pressure to commission in 2021 the first of France's Suffren-class "Barracuda" SSNs. One of France’s Rubis-class SSNs is in dry dock meaning:
- 1 is available to scout ahead of the France’s aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle taskforce when that
carrier returns to sea in September 2020 (probably to the carriers usual station in the eastern
Mediterranean for air operations over Syria).
and
- 1 is available to scout ahead of the France’s aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle taskforce when that
carrier returns to sea in September 2020 (probably to the carriers usual station in the eastern
Mediterranean for air operations over Syria).
and
- the remaining 2 Rubises are needed for Triomphant-class SSBN protection as
each SSBN enters
and leaves France’s Île Longue SSBN Base on France’s Atlantic coast.
This is noting first of class "Rubis" itself is 41 years old since its launch in 1979 - old enough for decommissioning now.
and leaves France’s Île Longue SSBN Base on France’s Atlantic coast.
This is noting first of class "Rubis" itself is 41 years old since its launch in 1979 - old enough for decommissioning now.
As greater Naval Group company
resources are now required to commission France’s Suffren-class Barracuda’s
this means less than expected Naval Group resources for Australia’s Shortfin-Barracuda Attack-class conventional submarines. Further delay in Australia Attack-class program will definitely occur.
FROM
“S”
Naval
News includes a Youtube Video (above) indicating at:
(0:11/2:37) black smoke suggesting
rubber or plastic is burning
(0:15/2:37) A huge amount of steam was
generated which was comparable to blaze of USS Miami SSN (shown at 2:04/2:37)
when a large amount of heat was generated.
(0:44/2:37). A flexible welding duct is
evident. A fire from improperly done welding may be possible.
Flame retardant foam presumably was used
for the electric cables, but also for other materials (eg: plastic stretcher beds, plastic maintenance sheets, chairs, curtains, rubber-mountings/dampeners
for equipment, rubber anechoic coating for outside of hull, etc.). All may be
flammable. Arson is also possible.
FRENCH
LANGUAGE SOURCES
La Croix (“The Cross”) Catholic newspaper (online) when translated
into English reports, June 16, 2020
https://www.la-croix.com/France/Incendie-sous-marin-Perle-limpact-sera-majeur-operations-marine-2020-06-16-1201100033
"The submarine looks like these wrecks that we see underwater,"
remarked an officer of the French Navy, who is not very optimistic about the
ship's ability to return to sea.”
The
submarine, which had no nuclear fuel and no weapons on board, was badly damaged
inside. But has its thick hull been damaged? Will the Perle that
came into service in 1993, be out of order? The Ministry of the Armed Forces has dug up the contracts to look at [maintenance and organisational] responsibilities of each entity and the hour
is with the assessors.
Judicial and technical investigations have been
launched and the General Inspectorate of the Armed Forces has seized evidence. “We
are awaiting expertise data on materials. The Minister [of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly] wants to have an
idea of the options to submit to the President of the Republic [Emmanuel Macron] before the end
of July, " said his cabinet, Monday, June 15.
The
prime contractor, Naval Group, has conducted its own investigations. "For
the moment, the origin of this fire is not known and we are examining all the
hypotheses ," said an official of the industrial group. The
most important thing is to understand and measure the extent of the damage to
know if it is possible to repair or not. "
Escort
of French SSBNs which provide nuclear deterrence
Without
waiting for the results of the expert reports, the Ministry of the Armed Forces
knows that the incident will have consequences for certain military
missions. “The fire will have no impact on operations in 2020 because
the submarine activity program had been done without the Perle ,
its technical shutdown being scheduled for one year. On the other hand,
the fire will have a major impact in 2021, and we are working to modify the
activity of the other [new Suffren-class] SSNs”, explains Captain Eric Lavault,
spokesperson for the French Navy.
Nuclear
attack submarines (SSNs) play an important role in several types of missions,
notably intelligence. They support [France’s 4 Triomphant-class SSBNs] which
ensure nuclear deterrence at sea and escort [France’s nuclear propelled] aircraft
carrier Charles-de-Gaulle, which will return to sea in September [2020].
They can also project themselves into different theatres of operations. This is
the case in the Mediterranean, near the coasts of Syria and Libya, or in the
Indian Ocean [eg. the Arabian Sea monitoring Iran].
Three
operational SSNs and one currently in maintenance
France
officially has six Rubis-class
SSNs since 1983 - five in reality after the decommissioning of Saphir in
July 2019. Three are therefore operational, the Rubis ,
the Casabianca and the Emerald , while a last
one, the Amethyst being in dry dock maintenance.
---------------------------
La
Provence, earlier, on June 14, 2020 reported https://www.laprovence.com/article/faits-divers-justice/6017078/toulon-branle-bas-de-combat-pour-sauver-la-perle.html
“ the Perle, which had undergone an interruption for [long term] maintenance and repair for 18 months since November [2019?], had another ten years of life before it before it was to be decommissioned, like the Sapphire , and the three other Rubis-class SSNs, all due to be replaced by new generation [Suffren-class Barracuda] SSNs.”
“ the Perle, which had undergone an interruption for [long term] maintenance and repair for 18 months since November [2019?], had another ten years of life before it before it was to be decommissioned, like the Sapphire , and the three other Rubis-class SSNs, all due to be replaced by new generation [Suffren-class Barracuda] SSNs.”
“When the fire occurred, the Perle was practically naked [cut open], only the electrical cables remained, which according to [Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly] could have
played a role in the spread of the fire.”
Pete and "S"
Pete and "S"
1 comment:
Hi Pete
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/06/firefighters-battled-the-french-ssn-perle-blaze-for-14-hours/
There is black smoke suggesting rubber or plastic is burning (0:11/2:37). As huge amount of steam was generated (0:15/2:37) which was comparable to blaze of USS Miami (2:04/2:37), a large amount of heat was generated. Flexible welding duct showed welding was carried out (0:44/2:37).
Misconduct of welding may be possible. Flame retardant plastic presumably is used for electric cable, but, other materials (plastic stretcher, bed, sheet, chair, curtain, rubber-mount for equipment, rubber coating for outside of hull, etc.) may be flammable. Arson is also possible.
Regards
S
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