Through out history, France has never been sluggish in furthering her underwater engineering expertise to a degree of advancement that has always won the admiration of many a foreign country, even though her achievements have sometimes been inspired by English, American, or German research....

In 1860, France started the construction of a vessel which came to be the forerunner of modern day submarines:
The Q000 “LE PLONGEUR” (the Diver), a sheet iron submersible weighing 420/435 tonnes (*)
Speed: 4.9/3 knots, crew: 12 men, maximum dive limit: 10 meters
The traction system, quite odd but affordable at that time, was a 117 m3, 12 bar compressed air engine.

In 1886, the construction of the “GYMNOTE” started. The Q001 was a slightly more advanced submersible, with an entirely electric traction system. Initially, it was equipped with a KREBS 51 hp motor which was later on replaced by a 91 hp SAUTTER-HARLÉ electric motor. This steel-hulled submersible, built in Toulon, had a maximum dive limit of 25 meters.
Displacement: 29.5 / 33.2 tonnes, crew: 7 men, speed: 7.31/ 4.27 knots.
It was the first submersible to carry two 3456 mm torpedoes.

The year 1890 witnessed the launching of the Q002 “SIRENE” (mermaid), which was renamed “GUSTAVE ZEDE”.
This was already a considerably heavy submersible, 261/269 tonnes. Constructed in Toulon, this 48.5-meter long vessel could accommodate a crew of ten. Speed: 9.22/8 knots, powered by a 120 hp Harlé electric motor. It was equipped with a torpedo tube and four 450 mm torpedoes.
It should be recalled that this submersible, which had a maximum dive limit of 15 meters only, was the first to have taken President LOUBET of France under water in the Cherbourg roadstead, in 1901.

In 1892, a more war-oriented vessel was launched. The Q003 “MORSE 1”, constructed in Cherbourg, was dubbed “the autonomous wide-cruising-range submarine”. It had a bronze hull, a rather new concept in submarine engineering. It had a displacement of 143/149 tonnes, a length of 36.5 m, a maximum dive limit of 18 meters and could accommodate a crew of 10. With its two 150 hp Harlé electric motors, it could attain a speed of 7.25/8.5 knots. These latter figures imply that its underwater speed was 1.25 knots greater than its surface speed. Its weaponry comprised a 450 mm torpedo tube and two torpedoes.

In 1898, came a “torpedo submersible”. This vessel, with a double steel hull, was a more sophisticated vessel in terms of traction system. The Q004 “NARVAL 1” had a length of 34 meters, a maximum dive limit of 25 meters, and speeds of 9.88/5.30 knots, which were in the neighbourhood of standard speeds. This vessel, which could launch four 450 mm torpedoes, was manned by a crew of 14. Its propulsion was a leap forward, given the introduction of a surface traction system, which comprised a 225 hp BRULE steam engine, supplied by an oil-fired burner. Under water, it was powered by two 86 hp electric motors. 

Right up to 1901, the power of the traction system of submersibles constantly kept increasing, and in that same year, “Naïade” submersibles were launched. Based on a concept that had proven its worth, they had a propulsion system already similar to those of modern vessels – one 80 hp benzene engine running 2 generators for surface navigation, and one 92 hp electric motor for underwater navigation.

Still in 1901, the Z, an experimental submarine, saw the light of day. It had a 16-man crew capacity, weaponry of four 450 mm torpedoes, speed of 9 knots and one 190 hp SAUTTER-HARLÉ diesel engine for surface navigation, and one 180 hp electric motor for underwater navigation. The Z subsequently became known as the kiosk.

The year 1903 witnessed the birth of the “RUBIS 1” submersible.  The distinctive lines of this kiosk made it a “true submarine”. It had a single steel hull, 6 torpedo tubes (4 in front, 2 behind), eight 450 mm torpedoes, speeds of 11.5/9.20 knots, a 25-man crew capacity, 40 meters maximum dive limit, two 300 hp SAUTTER-HARLÉ engines for surface navigation and two 90 hp SAUTTER-HARLÉ electric motors for underwater navigation. Those were the specifications of the submersible on which a series of more sophisticated ones were modelled. These were considered more modern in terms of weaponry, traction system, dive limit and cruising range. Yet, this was barely 43 years down the road from the time the first submersible was launched. 

During the First World War, French submarines did not lag behind as far as modernization and arming were concerned. For example, the specifications of the first series high sea submarine “LAPLACE” were almost identical to those of modern diesel-electric submarines. Constructed in Rochefort in 1913, this double-hull submersible could accommodate a crew of 45, and dive to a depth of 50 meters. Its speed of 16.50/11.00 knots, compared with its tonnage of 920/1318 tonnes, was quite exceptional at that time. With its eight 450 mm torpedo tubes, 10 torpedoes, two 75 mm cannons and Hotchkiss machinegun, it perfectly commanded the majesty its aura inspired. A list of its assets would be incomplete if it doesn’t mention its superior traction system powered by two 1300 hp Sulzer type diesel engines built by Société Anonyme des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée and two 1640 hp electric motors built by Société Alsacienne de Construction Mécanique de Belfort. It should be noted that a decade after the "RUBIS", the French underwater weapon was all set.

In 1925, the first series of 1500 tonnes wide-range patrol submarines were released from Lorient shipyards. The M-6 “HENRI POINCARE” was a wild beast of 1570/2084 tonnes, with a speed of 17.00/10.00 knots, a maximum dive limit of 80 meters, a 62-man crew capacity, and weaponry considered as the ultimate at that time: nine 550 mm tubes - two 400 mm tubes - eleven 550 mm torpedoes – two 400 mm torpedoes – one 100 mm cannon- two 13.2 mm machineguns. This 92.30 m long vessel was powered by two 3000 hp Sulzer diesel engines and two 1000 hp electric motors. Subsequent submersibles did not carry any major modifications except for a few super-submersibles like "ROLAND MORILLOT 2". Despite its 21.00/9.5 knots speed, the latter was destroyed on ramp in 1940.

In 1929, the “SURCOUF” submarine battlecruiser was launched. This absolutely atypical submersible was never rivalled. With a displacement of 3303/2418 tonnes, this monster had a speed of 18.00/8.50 knots, crew capacity of 118, length of 110 meters, and an authorized dive limit of 80 meters. Its weaponry, worthy of its status of battlecruiser, was made up of: four 550 mm fore tubes (1917 model) - two OSD three-gun turret (1925 model) comprising one 550 mm tube and two 400 mm tubes – eighteen 550 mm torpedoes – four 400 mm torpedoes - 640 shells - two 203.2 mm cannons on twin gun mounts  - two 37 mm cannons – four 8 mm Hotchkiss machineguns (1914 model) - one BESSON  M.B 411 observation hydroplane, weighing 765 kg, powered by a SALMON AC9 engine, and capable of flying for 7 hours at 130 km/h. In a calm sea, 30 minutes were necessary to get this plane out and set it flying. Commissioned in 1934, it was rammed by an Allied cargo ship and sank with it entire content on February 19, 1942.

In 1957, the “NARVAL 4” submersible was commissioned. That was the final design of a submersible; it only changed when the DCNI brought the MESMA turbine back into fashion. With its 1630/1895 tonnes displacement, it could move at a speed of 16.50/18.00 knots thanks to its elaborately re-engineered traction mechanism. Worthy of note were its three 2500 hp diesel engines built by Société d'Etude des Moteurs Thermiques Pielstick, two 35 hp sustainer motors and two 2500 hp main electric motors complemented by two other 1500 hp main electric motors. It could accommodate a crew of 67.

An Agosta submarine navigating on the surface

Twenty year after “NARVAL 4”, in 1977, came the AGOSTA submersible. Built in Cherbourg, this “standard propulsion ocean patrol submarine” had a tonnage of 1450/1725 tonnes, crew capacity of 54, a speed of 20.50/12.50 knots, a dive limit of 300 meters. This was the type of submersible which evolved into a submarine with the adoption of the MESMA system, designed by the DCNI. (cf: anaerobic submarines).

Still in 1977, the guided missile submarine called “TONNANT” was commissioned. This nuclear-powered 8080/9000-tonne monster had a dive limit of 300 meters and a speed of 20 knots (surface and underwater). Manned by a crew of 135, it could unleash nuclear fire though its sixteen M4 missiles. Presently, it has been disarmed and has ceded its offensive role to the last generation SSBN (nuclear ballistic missile submarine) of the 12700/14200 tonnes displacement TRIOMPHANT series. This "super-monster", with a speed of 12.00/25.00 knots, is a real deep sea hound. Its sixteen M45 missiles, equipped with TN75 heads, make it an atomic deterrent weapon. “Sleep in peace, we are keeping watch”.
To crown things, the nuclear strike submarine RUBIS 3, was launched in 1983. With a surface and underwater speed of 25 knots, this soundless invisible predator can dive to a depth of 300 meters and displaces 2385/2670 tonnes. A crew of 66 man this tiger whose canines comprise four 533 mm torpedo tubes, mines, and 14 torpedoes with a combination of F17 (model 2) and SM 39.
The evolution of the French underwater weapon is far from being over. There is no doubt it will continue in a way as to meet and espouse the new challenges ushered in by the third millennium....

-FNCV-

(*) the first of the two contiguous figures separated by a slash stands for “surface” while the second stands for “underwater”.

• Historique des submersibles et sous marins français
• Evolution technologique des submersibles et sous-marins
• L’arme sous marine en 1914/1918
• L’arme sous marine en 1939/1945
• L’arme sous marine nucléaire
• L’arme sous marine anaérobie

• L’évasion du « Casabianca »
• L'aventure du croiseur sous marin « Surcouf »
• La librairie de la mer