Three days aboard the nuclear submarine Tourville

Toulon – 14 July 2026: A television crew spent three days aboard the French nuclear-powered attack submarine Tourville. Journalist Alexandra Lay and cameraman Thomas Donzel accompanied the crew during an underwater voyage. The report offers a rare glimpse into the strictly scheduled daily life aboard a military vessel whose missions and movements are, in principle, treated confidentially.

The Tourville belongs to the Suffren class and is the third of a total of six nuclear-powered attack submarines planned under the Barracuda program. The vessel was accepted by the French Navy in November 2024 and officially entered active service on 1 July 2025. Its home port is Toulon, where French attack submarines in the Mediterranean are stationed.

Nuclear propulsion does not mean in this case that the Tourville is used for strategic nuclear deterrence. Unlike French nuclear-powered missile submarines, it does not carry nuclear ballistic missiles. The reactor primarily provides energy for propulsion and enables long submerged voyages without the need to surface regularly. However, the actual duration of missions also depends on supplies, maintenance, and the strain placed on the crew.

The tasks of a submarine of this class include reconnaissance, hunting enemy submarines and surface vessels, and protecting a naval group. According to the Ministry of Defense, the Suffren class can also deploy cruise missiles against land targets. For special missions, the Tourville is designed to support teams and forces of naval commandos.

The report focuses on conditions aboard: limited space, shift work, technical monitoring, and complete isolation from the outside world shape daily life. On a submarine, the different work areas must cooperate closely, from navigation and power supply to the evaluation of sonar data. No information was disclosed about a specific route, an area of operations, or ongoing missions.

The Tourville is part of the gradual replacement of the older Rubis class. France wants to renew its submarine fleet with six vessels of the Suffren class. The program is managed by the Direction générale de l’armement and is intended to ensure the long-term capabilities of the Marine nationale for deep-sea operations in the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and other maritime areas.

The report now broadcast primarily makes visible what normally remains hidden in military submarine operations: the work of a crew in a closed technical environment. Operational details remain confidential for security reasons. Since entering service, the Tourville has represented the new generation of French attack submarines and the ongoing transformation of the naval fleet.