If the Atlantique isn't viable, what do the French use to protect their SSBNs then?
It wasn't & still isn't viable for RAF requirements because it didn't meet the criteria either of range or endurance. In my many years of cold war MPA operations our best way of protecting our deterrent was knowing constantly the whereabouts of the opposition. As I said previously I don't recollect French Atlantique operations out at 30W. I doubt that they rarely left LFD 18 or the Med. Oh yes, and the odd jolly to Kinloss & St Mawgan & their ex colonial outposts.
I'm not knocking their overall capabilities. I've fallen over many times on dets to Nimes & Lanbhioue (sp) as a result of their excellent hospitality.
