Émeraude

Émeraude was a nuclear attack submarine from the first generation of attack submarines of the French Navy. Having been in service since 1988, she was retired in 2024. The boat was the fourth of the Rubis series. Between May 1994 and December 1995, the boat undertook a major refitting, which upgraded capabilities to the level of Améthyste.

Background and design

== Service history == On 30 March 1994, an accidental explosion occurred in the engine compartment while the boat was engaged in a naval exercise off Toulon. The explosion killed ten men, including the commander, who were examining the turbo-alternator room. The boat returned to base under diesel and battery power.

In June 2009, Émeraude was sent to the mid Atlantic to aid in the search for the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the ill-fated Air France Flight 447. In February 2021, the submarine successfully concluded a passage of the South China Sea. In October 2024, Émeraude departed Toulon for the final time, transitting to Cherbourg for her decommissioning but taking part in exercises with the Moroccan Navy en route. On 15 November 2024, the submarine arrived in Cherbourg to be decommissioned.

See also

List of submarines of France

Notes and references

Citations

=== Sources === Sous-marin nucléaire d'attaque Émeraude netmarine.net Couhat, Jean Labayle, ed. (1986). Combat Fleets of the World 1986/87. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85368-860-5. Jordan, John (1995). "France". In Chumbley, Stephen (ed.). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 95–131. ISBN 1-55750-132-7. Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2009). Jane's Fighting Ships 2009–2010 (112 ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN 978-0-7106-2888-6. Wertheim, Eric, ed. (2013). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World (16th ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9-7-815911-4954-5.