French submarine Casabianca (S603)

The Casabianca (S603) was a Rubis-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) of the French Navy (Marine Nationale). She was the third submarine of her class.

Laid down in 1981 and launched in 1984, Casabianca was commissioned into service in 1987. As a Rubis-class submarine, she was designed for anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, and surveillance. The Rubis class, while the smallest nuclear attack submarines ever built, provided France with a crucial independent nuclear strike capability.

Casabianca underwent a mid-life modernization, including improvements to her sonar and combat systems, extending her service life. She participated in numerous exercises and operations throughout her career, contributing to France's strategic interests both domestically and internationally.

She was eventually decommissioned on November 29, 2023. Her name is derived from Luc Julien Joseph Casabianca, a captain in the French navy during the Napoleonic Wars, renowned for his sacrifice aboard the Orient at the Battle of the Nile.