AP PHOTOS: Aboard France's aging nuclear submarines

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AP PHOTOS: Aboard France's aging nuclear submarines — old boats but new missions

2024-04-17 13:07 Last Updated At：13:11

TOULOUSE, France (AP) — Once again, the oceans beckon for France’s veteran nuclear-powered attack submarines.

The Associated Press got rare access aboard a French navy Rubis-class submarine as it was being readied for another mission in sprawling naval dockyards in the Mediterranean port of Toulon.

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A French Rubis-class submarine is pictured at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

TOULOUSE, France (AP) — Once again, the oceans beckon for France’s veteran nuclear-powered attack submarines.

A rope secures a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

A sailor prepares a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

A sailor disembarks a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

A sailor prepares a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

A poster is pictured on a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Equipment and food to be stored away is pictured on a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Sailors prepare a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

The wall of a French Rubis-class submarine is pictured at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Sailors prepare a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

A sailor descends into a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Sailors prepare a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Sailors prepare a French Rubis-class nuclear powered submarine to participare in NATO's upcoming Neptune Strike training exercise at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

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TOULOUSE, France (AP) — Once again, the oceans beckon for France’s veteran nuclear-powered attack submarines.

A rope secures a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

A sailor prepares a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

A sailor disembarks a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

A sailor prepares a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

A poster is pictured on a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Equipment and food to be stored away is pictured on a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Sailors prepare a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

The wall of a French Rubis-class submarine is pictured at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Sailors prepare a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

A sailor descends into a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Sailors prepare a French Rubis-class submarine at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. The nuclear powered submarine will be guarding France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during training exercises dubbed Neptune Strike in the Mediterranean with the 32-nation NATO military alliance. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Sailors prepare a French Rubis-class nuclear powered submarine to participare in NATO's upcoming Neptune Strike training exercise at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

France’s fleets of nuclear-powered submarines are shrouded in secrecy. The French military would not allow this submarine to be identified by name. A naval security officer scrutinized all the images AP journalists took aboard the vessel and asked that some be deleted or cropped to avoid showing submarine technology and security measures at the docks.

Aboard the cramped vessel, submariners crammed into the confines of a small compartment and carried out maintenance work. Others loaded supplies aboard, carrying boxes down narrow gangways. In the control room, crew members hung strips of lights amid the spaghetti of cabling and equipment.

This vessel is one of three Rubis-class attack submarines that France bases in Toulon. They carry a crew of 70. Powered by their nuclear reactor, they don’t need to refuel often and can patrol the oceans for months on end.

The Rubis can carry anti-submarine and anti-ship torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. Their jobs can include protecting France’s larger nuclear-armed submarines. France has four of those.

On its upcoming mission, this submarine will be escorting France’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier as it takes part in an operation in the Mediterranean with the NATO military alliance. The French carrier strike group will be under direct NATO command during the operation, which is a first.

Cmdr. Manuel Bienvenu, the submarine’s chief officer, said his vessel will soon be leaving port to join the strike force. But he said the submarine could also be deployed to other missions if needs be.

“The international situation can change, can evolve rapidly, including during the mission. And we are capable of responding to all demands made of us,” he said.

France’s navy is replacing its Rubis-class submarines with more modern and more heavily armed nuclear-powered submarines. The first of the new Suffren class of attack submarines has been in service since June 2022. The second, the Duguay Trouin, went into service this month. Another four Suffren-class submarines are to join the fleet by 2030.

They will replace the remaining three Rubis-class vessels, which were built in the 1980s. Three Rubis-class submarines have already been retired — the Saphir in 2019, the Rubis in 2022 and the Casabianca in 2023.

Student protests take over some campuses. At others, attention is elsewhere

2024-05-02 00:18 Last Updated At：00:20

BOSTON (AP) — Boston College students held a protest rally against the Israel-Hamas war last week.

Bullhorns were banned, lest the noise disturb studying for finals. Tents weren't allowed. Students who'd been arrested at other Boston campus protests were barred. After an allotted hour, the students went quietly back to their rooms.

A student protest movement has washed over the country since police first tried to end an encampment at Columbia University in New York nearly two weeks ago. But while there have been fiery rhetoric and tumultuous arrests on high-profile campuses from New York to Los Angeles, millions of students across the country have continued with their daily routines of working their way through school, socializing and studying for exams.

The protests are demonstrating wide differences among Americans in 2024, even for groups that have tended to unite during divisive times such as the 1960s.

Take Boston, the city most identified with American higher education and a lens onto the diversity of student bodies' reactions to the Israel-Hamas war.

Students have set up encampments on at least five campuses, including Northeastern University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. But calm has prevailed elsewhere in Boston.

“It’s just not the vibe at this school,” said Emmett Carrier, a junior studying biology at Boston College, a Jesuit institution with an enrollment of 15,000. “I don’t think they’re as committed to it here as they are at other schools."

Boston College faculty and students had addressed the Israel-Hamas war in class discussions, through a faculty vigil and at a rally last week, “all of which were civil and respectful,” Boston College spokesperson Jack Dunn wrote in an email.

“It’s an atmosphere where students are very polite,” said Brinton Lykes, a professor of community psychology. “They will discuss things, debate things intellectually, but they are shockingly rule-bound.”

Juliana Parisi, a sophomore who attended the rally, said she thinks a lot of students who want to protest are afraid of the repercussions but also believes many students don’t want to get engaged.

“I do think that there is a good amount of apathy on campus,” she said.

It's worth remembering that most campuses don’t have encampments, said Robert Cohen, a professor at New York University who has studied the history of U.S. student protests. Even at those that do, the number of students involved is often not enough to fill even a single large lecture hall, he noted.

A day before the Boston College rally last week, Lykes helped organize a faculty vigil where speakers talked about grieving those who had died in the conflict and the history of events in the Middle East. She said there were uniformed and plainclothes police at the event. She got requests to check university identification and to make people leave backpacks outside and found some of the demands ridiculous, she said.

At Boston University, a sprawling urban campus not far from Fenway Park with a student enrollment of more than 35,500, students have avoided encampments but set out chairs to represent Israeli hostages and held die-ins to bring attention to those killed in Gaza. On Wednesday, many students at the school were hunkered down over laptops in study halls and cafeterias gearing up for the end of the school year and looming finals.

“We have our finals coming up next week," said Matt Przekop, a junior studying engineering. "People, if they were passionate, they wouldn’t really let this bar them from protesting.”

Brandon Colin O’Byrne, a freshmen who is also studying engineering, said students debate the issue but aren’t sitting in tents on campus.

“We have the school involved, we have students involved, we have individual groups involved," he said. “We also have tension” between Jewish and Palestinian students, but it generates productive debates, he added.

A protest at Emerson College in downtown Boston ended when police forcibly removed protesters, arresting more than 100. Another protest at Northeastern was also broken up by police, who detained more than 100 protesters who had created a tent encampment on campus.

Other local universities have allowed protests and tent encampments, including MIT, Harvard and Tufts University, although officials at some of the schools cautioned that the protests can’t go on indefinitely. At Harvard, school officials opted to lock the gates to Harvard Yard — where protesters set up camp — to all but those with school IDs.

One thing that has remained consistent over decades of student protests, Cohen said, is that they are unpopular with the public. But the campus movement is raising public awareness of the Israel-Hamas war.

Cohen said he believes the protests will likely simmer down over the summer, as students return home. They could easily kick off again as the U.S. election season progresses, he said.

Perry reported from Meredith, New Hampshire.

AP PHOTOS: Aboard France's aging nuclear submarines — old boats but new missions

News

AP PHOTOS: Aboard France's aging nuclear submarines — old boats but new missions

TOULOUSE, France (AP) — Once again, the oceans beckon for France’s veteran nuclear-powered attack submarines.

Sailors prepare a French Rubis-class nuclear powered submarine to participare in NATO's upcoming Neptune Strike training exercise at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

TOULOUSE, France (AP) — Once again, the oceans beckon for France’s veteran nuclear-powered attack submarines.

Sailors prepare a French Rubis-class nuclear powered submarine to participare in NATO's upcoming Neptune Strike training exercise at the Toulon naval base in southern France, Monday, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

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