The Strategic Ocean Force (french: Force océanique stratégique, FOST) has been the synonym of the

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

Submarine Forces since 1999, which the commandant commands the ensemble related to, along with the squadron of

nuclear Nuclear may refer to: Physics Relating to the nucleus of the atom: * Nuclear engineering *Nuclear physics *Nuclear power *Nuclear reactor *Nuclear weapon *Nuclear medicine *Radiation therapy *Nuclear warfare Mathematics *Nuclear space *Nuclear ...

attack submarine An attack submarine or hunter-killer submarine is a submarine specifically designed for the purpose of attacking and sinking other submarines, surface combatants and merchant vessels. In the Soviet and Russian navies they were and are called "mul ...

(french: Escadrille des Sous-Marins Nucléaires d'Attaque, ESNA). The French Strategic Ocean Force Command

ALFOST The Strategic Ocean Force (french: Force océanique stratégique, FOST) has been the synonym of the French Submarine Forces since 1999, which the commandant commands the ensemble related to, along with the squadron of nuclear attack submarine ...

was set up in 1972 under a Squadron Vice-Admiral.

Generality

The Strategic Ocean Force (french: Force océanique stratégique, FOST), created on March 1 1972, constitutes the principal composite of the Strategic French Nuclear Forces (french: Force de dissuasion Nucléaire Française, FNS). FOST has been placed under the command of a Squadron Vice-Admiral (Officers of Admiral rank) (french: L'Officier général de marine), hence the acronym ALFOST. With the dissolution of the Attack Submarine Group of the Atlantic, ultimate formation regrouping submarines with conventional propulsion, on July 1 1999, the strategic force regroups the ensemble of French submarines.

Force de dissuasion

The ''Strategic Force'' was born after the

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

from the will of général

de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (; ; (commonly abbreviated as CDG) 22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French army officer and statesman who led Free France against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government ...

to possess a nuclear arm. The French Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarines armed with

Submarine-launched ballistic missile A submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is a ballistic missile capable of being launched from submarines. Modern variants usually deliver multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), each of which carries a nuclear warhead ...

s, in relation to their discretion in the various oceanic patrol zones, ensure a guaranteed retaliatory nuclear strike (second strike). Since 1985, the strategy of

nuclear deterrence Deterrence theory refers to the scholarship and practice of how threats or limited force by one party can convince another party to refrain from initiating some other course of action. The topic gained increased prominence as a military strategy ...

in France armed six French Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarines in service, five in service since 1991, and four since 1997; maintaining a permanent presence around the

Ocean The ocean (also the sea or the world ocean) is the body of salt water that covers approximately 70.8% of the surface of Earth and contains 97% of Earth's water. An ocean can also refer to any of the large bodies of water into which the wo ...

s and

Sea The sea, connected as the world ocean or simply the ocean, is the body of salty water that covers approximately 71% of the Earth's surface. The word sea is also used to denote second-order sections of the sea, such as the Mediterranean Sea, ...

Deterrence Deterrence may refer to: * Deterrence theory, a theory of war, especially regarding nuclear weapons * Deterrence (penology), a theory of justice * Deterrence (psychology), a psychological theory * ''Deterrence'' (film), a 1999 drama starring Kev ...

is ensured in 2014 by the permanent deployment of the French Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarines of the Triomphant-class. Between 1972 and April 2014, hundreds of patrols were realized. The first submarine class of French Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarines in service was the Le Redoutable-class, the head of the series, which was put in dry-docks under authorization in March 1963, with construction commencing in 1964 and was launched on March 29 1967 in presence of

President of France The president of France, officially the president of the French Republic (french: Président de la République française), is the executive head of state of France, and the commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces. As the presidency i ...

Charles de Gaulle Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle (; ; (commonly abbreviated as CDG) 22 November 18909 November 1970) was a French army officer and statesman who led Free France against Nazi Germany in World War II and chaired the Provisional Government ...

. Trials of the latter commenced in 1969 and the boat entered into service on December 1 1971. Six French nuclear ballistic missile submarines of the ''Le Redoutable'' class capable of carrying sixteen ballistic missiles were built: * ''Le Redoutable'' (in service 1971-1991) * ''Le Terrible'' (1973-1996) * ''Le Foudroyant'' (1974-1998) * ''L'Indomptable'' (1976-2003)'' L'Indomptable'' * ''Le Tonnant'' (1980-1999) * ''L'Inflexible'' (1985-2008) Four French nuclear ballistic missile submarines of a newer generation, the ''Le Triomphant'' class, are in service in 2013 in the

force océanique stratégique The Strategic Ocean Force (french: Force océanique stratégique, FOST) has been the synonym of the French Submarine Forces since 1999, which the commandant commands the ensemble related to, along with the squadron of nuclear attack submarine ...

of the

French Navy The French Navy (french: Marine nationale, lit=National Navy), informally , is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces and one of the five military service branches of France. It is among the largest and most powerful naval forces in t ...

: * ''Le Triomphant'' (S616) (entered in service since 1997) * ''Le Téméraire'' (S617) (entered into service since 1999) * ''Le Vigilant'' (S618) (entered into service since 2004) * ''Le Terrible'' (S619) (entered into service since 2010). '' Le Terrible'' was presented on March 21 2008, and entered service at the end of September 2010 to replace the '' L'Inflexible'', last of the retrieved ''Le Redoutable'' class ballistic missile submarine in 2008. The armament systems of the ballistic missile submarines include in general: * 16 missiles M45 with

TN 75 The TN 75 is a French-built 150kt thermonuclear warhead used on France's M45 and M51 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, carried by the last of the ''Redoutable'' class submarines, S616 '' Inflexible'', and by the ''Triomphant'' class sub ...

heads (nuclear deterrence). French

Nuclear deterrence Deterrence theory refers to the scholarship and practice of how threats or limited force by one party can convince another party to refrain from initiating some other course of action. The topic gained increased prominence as a military strategy ...

also includes

M51 M51 or M-51 may refer to: * M-51 (Michigan highway), a state highway in Michigan * M51 highway (Russia) * M51 (Cape Town), a Metropolitan Route in Cape Town, South Africa * M51 Skysweeper, an anti-aircraft gun * M51 MACI mine * M51 SLBM, a Fre ...

missiles. * 4 tubes of 533mm for

F17 torpedo The DTCN F17 was a wire-guided anti-surface ship torpedo originally produced in 1971. France, Spain, and Saudi Arabia were its primary users. As of 2021, there were still used on Pakistan Navy ur, ہمارے لیے اللّٰہ کافی ہے ...

es and

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. Etymology The missile's name was given by M. Guillot, then the technical director ...

SM39

anti-ship missiles An anti-ship missile (AShM) is a guided missile that is designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea skimming variety, and many use a combination of inertial guidance and active radar homing. A good nu ...

. The mission of a French Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine is simple: leave the designated port of attachment, in the most discreet possible way, remain undetectable all along the mission to be able at any moment launch a nuclear strike, under orders of the

References

Notes

Bibliographies

Y.Cariou, FOST Force Océanique Stratégique, Marines Editions, 2007 {{DEFAULTSORT:Force oceanique strategique French naval components Nuclear weapons program of France

Generality

Force de dissuasion

See also

References

Notes

Bibliographies