Science Fair Projects Ideas - FS Inflexible

All Science Fair Projects

      

Science Fair Project Encyclopedia for Schools!

  Search    Browse    Forum  Coach    Links    Editor    Help    Tell-a-Friend    Encyclopedia    Dictionary     

Science Fair Project Encyclopedia

For information on any area of science that interests you,
enter a keyword (eg. scientific method, molecule, cloud, carbohydrate etc.).
Or else, you can start by choosing any of the categories below.

FS Inflexible

Career French Navy Jack
Length 130 m
Displacement 9,000 tons (submerged)
Complement 115 men
Power Plant One PWR
Power 16,000 shp
Speed 25 knots
Armament 16 M4 MSBS (Mer Sol Balistique Strategique) nuclear missiles

four 533 mm torpedo tubes
ECAN torpedoes
SM-39 Exocet

L'Inflexible is the 6th and last of the Redoutable class SNLE (Sous-marin Nucléaire Lanceur d'Engins, "Nuclear Vehicle-Launching Submarine"). Construction began on March 27, 1980; launched on June 23, 1982, it was comissionned on April 1, 1985. It is part of the Force Océanique Stratégique (FOST) ("Oceanic Strategic Force").

L'Inflexible uses basically the same design than the other Redoutable-class vessels, but has yet benefited from technologal advances over its predecessors:

  • It uses the M4 missile, which carries 6 independent 150 kilo-tonne nuclear warheads. Range it reported to be "over 4500km".
  • Miscellaneous improvements were made in electrical systems, nuclear systems (improving safety and stealth), rudder and engines (improving reability and stealth).
  • TIT (Traitement de l'Information Tactique, "Tactical Information Processor"), a cluster of French-designed computers and serial digital bus links for intersystem communication.
  • DMUX21 sonar.
  • Capability of launching the SM 39 anti-ship missile (best known as Exocet)
  • Improved inertial navigation system.
  • Improved internal communication system - SNTI, Système Numérisé de Transmissions Intérieures (Digital Internal Communication System)
  • Miscellaneous acoustical stealth improvements
  • Improved hull profile


The other Redoutable-class submarines have been modified to meet the standards of the Inflexible ("Refonte M4"). The Inflexible is to be discarded around 2008.

L'Inflexible has inspired Le Soleil ne se lève pas pour nous (No sunrise for us) by Robert Merle, a 1987 semi-fictionous book in form of a romanced documentary.

Last updated: 05-25-2005 20:46:56
10-26-2009 08:16:03
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details
Science kits, science lessons, science toys, maths toys, hobby kits, science games and books - these are some of many products that can help give your kid an edge in their science fair projects, and develop a tremendous interest in the study of science. When shopping for a science kit or other supplies, make sure that you carefully review the features and quality of the products. Compare prices by going to several online stores. Read product reviews online or refer to magazines.

Start by looking for your science kit review or science toy review. Compare prices but remember, Price $ is not everything. Quality does matter.
Science Fair Coach
What do science fair judges look out for?
ScienceHound
Science Fair Projects for students of all ages
All Science Fair Projects.com Site
All Science Fair Projects Homepage
Search | Browse | Links | From-our-Editor | Books | Help | Contact | Privacy | Disclaimer | Copyright Notice