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The Gymnote (S655) was an experimental submarine used for trials of submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The planned powerplant was to be a heavy water reactor, but with this not yet being ready, the vessel was equipped with diesel-electric propulsion: construction began in 1961, and Gymnote was commissioned with the hull number Q244 in 1966. Two years later, the vessel began running tests of M1 and M2 missiles. Following a major rebuild in 19787-1979, it served for testing of new M4 missiles, before receiving the final hull number S655. Gymnote was decommissioned in 1986. (Artwork by David Bocquelet)