Nuclear Submarines Visit in Toulon
The Saphir and the USS Annapolis welcome guests
On 21 January 2012 Navy League of the United States, French Riviera-Monaco Council, had the opportunity of visiting the USS Annapolis, a U.S. Nuclear submarine, that had called at the Toulon base of submarines. 32 Navy League members hosted the USS Annapolis officers as well as 3 French Submarine officers for lunch, at the end of which, the USS Annapolis Commanding Officer presented the Navy League president Cornelis van Vliet, with a ship’s plaque to celebrate the occasion of the visit. Before visiting the U.S. submarine, the members were able to visit a French attack submarine, the Saphir (Saphire), which was in Toulon for maintenance between two missions at sea. Launched on 1 September 1981, the Nuclear Attack Submarine Saphir was called to active duty July 6, 1984. Two teams (blue and red) take turns every three months to operate the ship. She is based in Toulon as are all her sisterships. “Saphir” recently distinguished herself from January to June 2002, by performing a mission to protect the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Task Force 473 in the Indian Ocean during the Hercules Operation to fight against terrorist networks in Afghanistan. The Saphir's sponsor is the city of Epinal since November 11, 1987. As the Saphir was in dry dock maintenance on this occasion, no pictures were authorized for defense security reasons, but we show some of one of her sister-ship’s, the Emeraude (Emerald) which was docking nearby and only a few detail pictures taken aboard the Saphir, as no pictures were authorised aboard for defense security reasons.
The USS Annapolis was docked at pier side, so we can present pictures of her, but always for security reasons, only a few details pictures from the interior.
USS Annapolis is the tenth of the 23 improved Los Angeles class nuclear powered attack submarines; she is 110 meters long and takes on board 130 sailors, out of which 12 officers. She is armed with torpedoes, Tomahawk and Harpoon missiles and has ability to lay mines. Annapolis is assigned to the US Atlantic Fleet and is home ported at Groton, CT.
Navy League president Cornelis van Vliet, with his nephew Peter Van Vliet, who is an engineering officer aboard Annapolis
