French SSN Perle Fire Causes & Will Impact Australia's Attack-class Program

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

-  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. 

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.

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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.”

“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"