French Barracuda & SNX-21

[Guest]

A early conceptual glimpse at the proposed French Barracuda SSN (top left image) and a interesting 'typhoon style' double hull SNX-21 configurable hull (top right & bottom image). The Barracuda 'looks a bit British' to me.

On SNX-21, missiles & torpedoes would appear to be located angled around 45 degrees upward between the two pressure hulls it appears. The SNX-21 hull concept must be flattering to the designers at 'Rubin' in Russia, designers of the Typhoon SSBN's, circa 1970's.

Steve Reichmuth

[ssn22]

The Barracuda does indeed look

The Barracuda does indeed look British, looks very similar to the Astute, and the Trafalgar, with the shortened lower rudder, and pumpjet close to the control surfaces.

Which country does the SNX-21 belong to? Where did you get these pictures, I have seen anything about these two classes on line yet.

Thanks

John

[anonymous]

The correct designation is 'SMX-21'.

The correct designation is 'SMX-21'. Pardon.

Both the Barracuda design and the SMX-21 concept are French proposals by the French Navy's ship and submarine builders 'DCN'.

The Barracuda does look Trafalgar and Astute 'like' in appearance according to the illustration. A fuller stern hull contour offering more buoyancy has often been explained for the Swifture/Trafalgar class (for the pump jet), along with more internal volume. The same may also hold true for Barracuda. The Barracuda is to eventually replace the Rubis SSN's. Armed with land attack cruise missiles, she will join the growing number of submarines accompanying surface task groups projecting weapons inland from the sea.

Below SMX-21 images of models from Naval Trade show.

Steve Reichmuth

See]http://www.dcn.fr/produits/sous_marin_attaque.html[/url]

http://www.dcn.fr/innovation/concept.html

http://news.sohu.com/22/37/news203973722.shtml