The Le Redoutable-class represented the first generation of French-designed and -constructed ballistic missile submarines (Sous-marin Nucléaire Lanceur d’Engins, SNLE; abbreviated with SSBN in English). A total of six vessels was constructed, including Redoutable (S611; commissioned in 1971), Terrible (S612; 1973), Foudroyant (S610; 1974), Indomptable (S613; 1976), Tonnant (S614; 1980), and Inflexible (S615; 1985), and all were meanwhile withdrawn from service. They had a length of 128m and were displacing up to 8,000 tons when submerged. The powerplant included one PWR reactor, and maximum speed was ‘over 20 knots’ (37km/h). Their armament initially included 16 M1 ballistic missiles with a range of 2,500km (1,600nm) and a single 400-kiloton warhead. In 1974, Foudroyant received the improved but heavier M2 missiles with a longer range and a 500-kiloton warhead. Eventually, both the M1 and the M2 were replaced by the M20. (Artwork by David Bocquelet)