Agosta 90B class submarine - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Agosta class submarines are French diesel attack submarine

Submarine

A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...

s (SSKs) used by Spain, Pakistan and formerly by France. The French Navy

French Navy

The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...

grouped this model of submarine in their most capable class as an océanique, meaning "ocean-going." A modernised version built for Pakistan, the Agosta 90B, has a crew of 36 plus 5 officers and can be equipped with the MESMA air-independent propulsion

Air-independent propulsion

Air-independent propulsion is a term that encompasses technologies which allow a submarine to operate without the need to surface or use a snorkel to access atmospheric oxygen. The term usually excludes the use of nuclear power, and describes augmenting or replacing the diesel-electric propulsion...

(AIP) system.

French Navy

built by Arsenal de Cherbourg

Agosta (S 620) - completed 1977 - decommissioned 1997
Bévéziers (S 621) - completed 1977 - decommissioned 1998
La Praya (S 622) - completed 1978 - decommissioned 2000 (S 623) - completed 1978 - decommissioned 2001

Spanish Navy

built by Cartagena dockyard

Galerna (S 71) - completed 1983 - in service
Siroco (S 72) - completed 1983 - in service
Mistral (S 73) - completed 1985 - in service (S 74) - completed 1985 - in service

Pakistan Navy

Two Agosta-class submarines originally destined for the South African Navy

South African Navy

The South African Navy is the navy of the Republic of South Africa.-Formation:The South African Navy can trace its official origins back to the SA Naval Service, which was established on 1 April 1922....

were cancelled following the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 418

United Nations Security Council Resolution 418

United Nations Security Council Resolution 418, adopted unanimously on 4 November 1977, imposed a mandatory arms embargo against apartheid South Africa. This resolution differed from the earlier Resolution 282, which was only voluntary...

in 1977. Built by AC Dubigeon, they were eventually sold to the Pakistan Navy

Pakistan Navy

The Pakistan Navy is the naval warfare/service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan's Navy is responsible for Pakistan's coastline along the Arabian Sea and the defense of important civilian harbors and military bases...

PNS/M Hashmat (S135) - completed in 1979, originally named Astrant
PNS/M Hurmat (S136) - completed in 1980, originally named Adventurous

The Agosta 90B, also known as the Khalid-class, is a modernised design built for the Pakistan Navy

Pakistan Navy

. Various modifications give lower acoustic signature, lower diving depth, improved battery range and performance. Greater automation also allows the crew to be reduced from 54 to 36. The submarine can be armed with up to 16 torpedoes and SM39 Exocet

Exocet

The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...

anti-ship missiles. The SM39 was test-fired from a Khalid-class submarine in 2001.

PNS/M Khalid (S137) - built in France by DCN Cherbourg, completed in 1999
PNS/M Saad (S138) - built in Pakistan with French assistance, completed in 2002
PNS/M Hamza (S139) - built in Pakistan, commissioned 14 August 2006

External links

Naval Technology page on Agosta 90B
Pakistani Military Consortium

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