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Le Redoutable vs Type 209

Le Redoutable submarine side profile drawing
🇫🇷 Le Redoutable
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Specifications
Le Redoutable Type 209
Origin 🇫🇷 France 🇩🇪 Germany
Category Submarine Submarine
Type Nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Diesel-electric attack submarine
Manufacturer Arsenal de Cherbourg (DCAN) Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft
Year introduced 1971 1971
Number built 6 units 68 units
Estimated unit price NA $285 million
Displacement 8,000 tons 1,285 tons
Maximum speed 15.0 knots 11.0 knots
Range Unlimited 11,000 nm at 10 knots
Length 128.0 m 64.4 m
Beam 10.6 m 6.5 m
Crew 135 36
Max depth 200 m 500 m
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
Le Redoutable Type 209
Armament
  • 16 × M4 MSBS (Mer-Sol Balistique Stratégique) nuclear missiles
  • 4 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes
  • F-17 and L-5 torpedoes
  • SM-39 Exocet anti-ship missile
  • 8 x 533 mm torpedo tubes
  • 14 torpedoes
  • UGM-84 Harpoon missiles
  • SeaHake mod 4 torpedoes
  • SUT torpedoes
  • SST torpedoes
  • Mark 24 Tigerfish torpedoes
  • DM2A3 torpedoes
  • Blackshark torpedoes
  • A184 mod. 3 torpedoes
  • DM2A4 torpedoes
  • Mark 37 torpedoes
  • Mark 48 torpedoes
  • Mines
Propulsion One PWR 16,000 shp (12,000 kW), HEU <= 90% Diesel-electric, 4 diesels, 1 shaft, 6,100 shp (4,500 kW)

Overview

The Le Redoutable and the Type 209 are both Submarine classes.

The Le Redoutable displaces 8,000 tons — 6.2x the Type 209's 1,285 tons. The Le Redoutable reaches 15 knots vs 11 knots for the Type 209. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the Le Redoutable vs 11,000 for the Type 209. The Le Redoutable carries a crew of 135 vs 36 for the Type 209. Submerged displacement is 9,000 tons for the Le Redoutable vs 1,810 tons for the Type 209. The Type 209 can dive to 500 m compared to 200 m for the Le Redoutable.

The Le Redoutable was produced in 6 units vs 68 for the Type 209.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the Le Redoutable-class or Type 209-class?
The Le Redoutable-class has greater displacement at 8,000 tons compared to the Type 209-class's 1,285 tons.
Which is faster, the Le Redoutable-class or Type 209-class?
The Le Redoutable-class is faster with a maximum speed of 15 knots compared to the Type 209-class's 11 knots.
Which has longer range, the Le Redoutable-class or Type 209-class?
The Le Redoutable-class is nuclear-powered with unlimited range, while the Type 209-class has a range of 11,000 nautical miles.
Which is longer, the Le Redoutable-class or Type 209-class?
The Le Redoutable-class is longer at 128.0 meters compared to the Type 209-class's 64.4 meters.
How many crew members do the Le Redoutable-class and Type 209-class have?
The Le Redoutable-class has a larger crew complement of 135 compared to the Type 209-class's 36 crew members.
Which can dive deeper, the Le Redoutable-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class can dive deeper with a maximum depth of 500 meters compared to the Le Redoutable-class's 200 meters.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the Le Redoutable-class or Type 209-class?
The Type 209-class has been built in greater numbers with 68 vessels compared to 6 vessels of the Le Redoutable-class.