The Améthyste (S605) is a tactical nuclear submarine of the French Navy . The name is the acronym for "AMElioration Tactique, HydrodYnamique, Silence, Transmission, Ecoute", which means "tactical, hydrodynamic, noise suppression and propulsion development". The name also stands for the gemstone amethyst and was used for the first time for a French warship. The Améthyste is the fifth submarine of the Rubis class and represents a further development of the class, which is why it and its sister ship Perle are referred to as the Améthyste class in some sources . The four sister ships built earlier were modernized in the 1990s and raised to the technical level of the Améthyste .
The Améthyste is equipped with four 53.3 cm tubes for firing torpedoes against submarines and ships, as well as Exocet - guided missiles for fighting ships.
During the Kosovo war in 1999, the Améthyste was used together with the sister ship Rubis to secure the maritime attack forces of NATO . In addition, the sea area off Kotor was closed to Yugoslav shipping and educational work was carried out.
Chris Chant: Modern submarines technology-tactics-armament , Motorbuchverlag, Stuttgart, 1st edition 2005, ISBN 3-7276-7150-5
Robert Hutchinson: KAMPF UNDER WASSER - Submarines from 1776 to today , Motorbuchverlag, Stuttgart, 1st edition 2006, ISBN 3-613-02585-X
Werner Globke (ed.): Weyers Flottentaschenbuch / Warships of the World - Fleet Handbook , Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Bonn, 66th year 2005-2007, ISBN 3-7637-4517-3