Agosta-class submarine

French submarine Ouessant at Brest in 2005
Class overview
Operators:	French Navy (former)  Spanish Navy  Pakistan Navy  Royal Malaysian Navy
Preceded by:	Daphné class
Succeeded by:	Scorpène class S-80 class
Subclasses:	Agosta 90B
In commission:	1977 – Active in service in Spain and Pakistan
General characteristics
Displacement:	1,500 long tons (1,524 t) surfaced 1,760 long tons (1,788 t) submerged (France, Spain) 2,050 long tons (2,083 t) submerged (Pakistan)
Length:	67 m (219 ft 10 in) (France, Spain) 76 m (249 ft 4 in) (Pakistan)
Beam:	6 m (19 ft 8 in)
Speed:	12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph) submerged 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) submerged (snort)
Test depth:	300 m (980 ft) (France, Spain) 350 m (1,150 ft) (Pakistan)
Complement:	5 officers 36 men
Sensors and processing systems:	Thomson CSF DRUA 33 Radar Thomson Sintra DSUV 22 DUUA 2D Sonar DUUA 1D Sonar DUUX 2 Sonar DSUV 62A towed array
Armament:	SM 39 Exocet 4 × 533 mm (21 in) bow torpedo tubes ECAN L5 Mod 3 & ECAN F17 Mod 2 torpedoes

The Agosta-class submarines are French diesel attack submarines (SSKs) used by Spain, Pakistan and formerly by France. The French Navy 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 (AIP) system.

Ships

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
• Ouessant (S 623) – completed 1978 – decommissioned 2001

Spanish Navy

built by Cartagena dockyard

• Galerna (S 71) – completed 1983 – in service
• Siroco (S 72) – completed 1983 – decommissioned 2012
• Mistral (S 73) – completed 1985 – in service
• Tramontana (S 74) – completed 1985 – in service

Pakistan Navy

Two Agosta-class submarines originally destined for the South African Navy were cancelled following the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 418 in 1977. Built by AC Dubigeon, they were eventually sold to the Pakistan Navy.

• 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. Various modifications give lower acoustic signature, increased 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 anti-ship missiles.^[1] The SM39 was test-fired from a Khalid-class submarine in 2001.^[2]

• 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

References

1. "SSK Agosta 90B Class Submarine, France". naval-technology.com. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
2. "Pakistan Navy Test-fires Two Missiles". People's Daily. 11 March 2001. Retrieved 19 May 2015.

External links

• Naval Technology page on Agosta 90B