French submarine Saphir (S602)

The Saphir (S 602) is a first-generation nuclear attack submarine of the French Navy. She was to be named Bretagne but was renamed Saphir in 1981.

She is the second of the Rubis series. Between October 1989 and May 1991, she undertook a major refit which upgraded her to the level of the Améthyste.

In September 2001, she torpedoed and sank the ex-destroyer D'Estrée expended as a target ship off Toulon.

Notes and references

 * Sous-marin nucléaire d'attaque Saphir