Poster transformations of the ssn "perle"

Victim of a fire in June 2020, the SNA "Perle", last born of the "Rubis" class attack submarines, was seriously damaged in a basin of the military port of Toulon.

Numerous investigations were carried out, in particular on the thick hull of the vessel (the most important element, knowing that all of the submarine's equipment was no longer on board due to maintenance). It was decided in October 2020 that the submarine would be repaired in Cherbourg, in the shipyard where it was born.

The repair process involved the cutting of the front section of the submarine, replaced by that of the "Saphir", decommissioned in 2019 and awaiting dismantling. The operation, which is atypical, but totally mastered by Naval Group, was successfully completed in the summer of 2021. The hull of La Perle has been lengthened by 1.49 meters, the idea being to keep room for the numerous cables and pipes. 

Following this refit, the Perle will continue its IPER in Toulon in 2022, for a hoped-for return to service by 2023. The SNA will then be able to sail for about ten years, before being replaced by the last of the Suffren class submarines.