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Monday 9 November 2015

French experimental submarine Gymnote (S655) 1963-1990


Built for testing ballistic missiles and while submerged testing arms and equipment for the nuclear submarines. Laid down at the Cherbourg Naval Dockyard on 17 March 1963, launched on 17 March 1964, commissioned on 17 October 1966, stricken on 1 October 1986 and sold to be broken up at Saint-Nazaire in June 1990. Her hull was originally laid down in 1958 to be used for the in 1969 cancelled nuclear submarine Q244. Displacement 3.000 (surfaced)-3.250 (submerged) tons and as dimensions 84 x 10m6 x 7,6 metres or 275.6 x 34.7 x 25 feet. Her crew numbered 81 men. Speed 11 (surfaced)-10 (submerged) knots. Was fitted out with two/four tubes for launching MSBS ballistic missiles.