French submarine Perle (S606)

History
France
Namesake	Pearl
Laid down	22 March 1987
Launched	22 September 1990
Commissioned	7 July 1993
Homeport	Toulon
Fate	In active service
General characteristics
Class and type	Rubis class submarine
Displacement	2600 t (2400 t surfaced)
Length	73.6 m (241 ft)
Beam	7.6 m (25 ft)
Draught	6.4 m (21 ft)
Propulsion	Pressurised water K48 nuclear reactor (48 MW) ; 2 turbo-alternators ; 1 electric engine (7 MW); one propeller 1 diesel-alternators SEMT Pielstick 8 PA 4V 185 SM; one auxiliary engine, 5 MW.
Speed	over 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range	8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi)
Test depth	over 300 m
Complement	10 officers 52 warrant officers 8 petty officers
Sensors and processing systems	DMUX 20 multifonction ETBF DSUV 62C tugged antenna DSUV 22 microphone system DRUA 33 radar
Electronic warfare & decoys	ARUR 13
Armament	4 × 533mm tubes. total mixed load of 14 F17 mod2 torpedoes 14 Exocet SM39 Mines

The Perle is a first-generation nuclear attack submarines of the French Navy.

She is the sixth and last of the Rubis series.

She was deployed in the Royal Navy Auriga 2010 exercise alongside 7 Royal Navy war ships and 1 US navy destroyer.

Notes and references

• Sous-marin nucléaire d'attaque Perle netmarine.net