French submarine Émeraude (S604)

Emeraude by Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer in early morning
History
France
Namesake:	Emerald
Laid down:	October 1982
Launched:	12 April 1986
Commissioned:	15 September 1988
Homeport:	Toulon
Fate:	In active service
General characteristics
Class and type:	Rubis class submarine
Displacement:	2600 t (2400 t surfaced)
Length:	73.6 m (241 ft)
Beam:	7.6 m (25 ft)
Draught:	6.4 m (21 ft)
Propulsion:	Pressurised water K48 nuclear reactor (48 MW) ; 2 turbo-alternators ; 1 electric engine (7 MW); one propeller 1 diesel-alternators SEMT Pielstick 8 PA 4V 185 SM; one auxiliary engine, 5 MW.
Speed:	over 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Range:	8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi)
Test depth:	over 300 m
Complement:	10 officers 52 warrant officers 8 petty officers
Sensors and processing systems:	DMUX 20 multifonction ETBF DSUV 62C tugged antenna DSUV 22 microphone system DRUA 33 radar
Electronic warfare & decoys:	ARUR 13
Armament:	4 × 533mm tubes. total mixed load of 14 F17 mod2 torpedoes 14 Exocet SM39 mines

L'Émeraude is a nuclear attack submarine from the first generation of attack submarines of the French Navy.

The boat is the fourth of the Rubis series. Between May 1994 and December 1995, the boat undertook a major refitting which upgraded capabilities to the level of the Améthyste.

On 30 March 1994, an accidental explosion occurred in the engine compartment while the boat was engaged in a naval exercise off Toulon. The explosion killed ten men, including the commander, who were examining the turbo-alternator room. The boat returned to base under diesel and battery power.

In June 2009, the Émeraude was sent to the mid Atlantic to aid in the search for the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the ill-fated Air France Flight 447.

Tampion of the Emeraude