The Espadon submarine has been based in Saint-Nazaire since 1985. -

A.Rollet / Saint-Nazaire Tourisme-Ecomusée

  • The Espadon is one of the four French submarines open for tours.

    The only one afloat.

  • It was used for 25 years for French Navy missions.

  • Aged 60, he will undergo heavy work until the summer

In 1964, it was the first French submarine to dive under the sea ice.

Twenty-three years later, barely disarmed, she again distinguished herself by being the first to open her hatches to visitors.

Since then, three million curious people have entered this former military machine based under the fortified lock of Saint-Nazaire.

Yes, but there you have it, the

Espadon

submarine

has been closed to the public since the fall due to the health situation.

An unavailability which will last until July due, this time, to a "major restoration".

At 60 years old, the submarine suffers from significant corrosion "outside and inside", to such an extent that "the weakening of certain parts threatens its durability", explains the city of Saint-Nazaire, owner of the submersible.

A call for donations is launched

The work, which includes repainting and parts replacement, will begin in February for a period of around five months.

They will start with the interior parts (torpedo rooms, housing, engines, etc.) before tackling the exterior (deck, hull, periscope).

"The work will take place on site but the water level will be lowered as needed", specifies the Saint-Nazaire Tourisme structure.

The restoration will be carried out with the "help of expert restaurateurs and experienced companies, accompanied by former submariners".

Inside the Espadon submarine, in Saint-Nazaire.

- V. Bauza / Saint-Nazaire Tourism-Ecomuseum

The cost of the intervention is estimated at 450,000 euros.

To relieve the expense, a subscription has been launched with the Heritage Foundation, which considers this submarine as an "exceptional heritage".

Donations can be sent via the Internet.

Some 3,780 euros have already been donated by some fifty donors.

He never made war

78 m long,

the Swordfish

 could dive for five to six days in a row with around sixty men on board.

During his 25 years in the service of the French Navy, he carried out numerous ocean surveillance missions but never participated in any military conflict.

She was decommissioned in 1985 after having traveled 360,547 nautical miles, the equivalent of 17 times around the earth.

Considered "one of the locomotives of Nazaire tourism", like Escal'Atlantic,

the Espadon

 is one of four submarines open to the public in France.

The only one presented afloat.

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  • Submarine