View source for French submarine Monge (Q144)

{{other ships|French ship Monge}}
{{about|the submarine launched in 1929|the submarine launched in 1908|French submarine Monge (1908)}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin |infobox caption=nodab}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Sous marin Ajax.jpg
|Ship caption=''Monge''{{'s}} [[sister ship]] {{ship|French submarine|Ajax|1930|2}} in 1930.
}}
{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country=France
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|France|naval}} 
|Ship name=''Monge''
|Ship namesake=[[Gaspard Monge]] (1746–1818), [[French people|French]] [[mathematician]]
|Ship owner=
|Ship operator=[[French Navy]]
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|Ship builder=[[Société Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée]], {{nowrap|[[La Seyne-sur-Mer]],}}&nbsp;[[France]]
|Ship original cost=
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|Ship laid down=15 September 1927
|Ship launched=25 June 1929
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|Ship commissioned=19 June 1932
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|Ship homeport=[[Toulon]], France
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|Ship fate=Sunk 8 May 1942
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{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Ship class=[[Redoutable-class submarine (1928)|''Redoutable''-class submarine]]
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|1,572|t|LT}} (surfaced)
*{{convert|2,092|t|LT}} (submerged)
|Ship length={{convert|92.3|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|8.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="uboat">{{cite web|last=Helgason|first=Guðmundur|title=FR Ajax of the French Navy – French Submarine of the Redoutable class – Allied Warships of WWII|url=https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/6103.html|website=uboat.net|access-date=30 March 2018}}</ref>
|Ship draft={{convert|4.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (surfaced)
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=*2 × [[diesel engine]]s, {{convert|6,000|hp|0|abbr=on}}
*2 × [[electric motor]]s, {{convert|2,250|hp|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship speed=*{{convert|17.5|kn|abbr=on}} (surfaced)
*{{Convert|10|kn|abbr=on}} (submerged)
|Ship range=*{{convert|14,000|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|7|kn|abbr=on}} (surfaced)
*{{convert|10000|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn|abbr=on}} (surfaced)
*{{convert|4000|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|17|kn|abbr=on}} (surfaced)
*{{convert|90|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|7|kn|abbr=on}} (submerged)
|Ship endurance=
|Ship test depth={{convert|80|m|0|abbr=on}}
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|Ship complement=*5 [[Commissioned officer|officers]] (6 in operations)
*66 [[Enlisted rank|men]]
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|Ship armament=*11 [[torpedo tube]]s
*1 × {{convert|100|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} gun
*1 × {{convert|13.2|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} [[machine gun]]
|Ship notes=
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|}
'''''Monge''''' was a [[French Navy]] {{sclass|Redoutable|submarine|||1928}} of the M6 series [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] in 1932. She participated in [[World War II]], first on the side of the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] from 1939 to June 1940, then in the navy of [[Vichy France]] until she was sunk in 1942.

==Characteristics==
[[File:Casabianca profile view.svg|upright=1.5|thumb|left|Profile of {{ship|French submarine|Casabianca|1935|2}}, [[sister ship]] of ''Monge''.]]
''Monge'' was part of a fairly homogeneous series of 31 deep-sea patrol [[submarine]]s also called "1,500-tonners" because of their [[Displacement (ship)|displacement]]. All entered service between 1931 and 1939.

The ''Redoutable''-class submarines were {{convert|92.3|m|ftin}} long and {{convert|8.1|m|ftin}} in [[Beam (ship)|beam]] and had a [[Draft (ship)|draft]] of {{convert|4.4|m|ftin}}. They could dive to a depth of {{convert|80|m|0}}. They displaced {{convert|1,572|t|LT}} on the surface and {{convert|2,082|t|LT}} underwater. Propelled on the surface by two [[diesel engine]]s producing a combined {{convert|6,000|hp|0}}, they had a maximum speed of {{convert|18.6|kn}}. When submerged, their two [[electric motor]]s produced a combined {{convert|2,250|hp|0}} and allowed them to reach {{convert|10|kn}}. Also called "deep-cruising submarines", their range on the surface was {{convert|10,000|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}. Underwater, they could travel {{convert|100|nmi}} at {{convert|5|kn}}.

==Construction and commissioning==

''Monge'' was authorized under the 1925 naval program.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus>[http://sous.marins.disparus.free.fr/index.php/sous-marins/74-acteon?showall=1 Sous-Marins Français Disparus & Accidents: Sous-Marin Monge II (in French) Accessed 30 August 2022]</ref> She was [[Keel-laying|laid down]] at [[Société Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée]] at [[La Seyne-sur-Mer]],&nbsp;[[France]], on 17 May 1927<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> with the [[hull number]] Q144. Work on her was halted on 15 September 1927,<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> but it later resumed and she was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 25 June 1929.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=uboatnet>[https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/6098.html Allied Warships: FR Monge, uboat.net Accessed 1 August 2022]</ref> She completed [[Fitting-out|fitting out]] for her [[sea trials]] on 1 December 1929,<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> successfully finished her trials on 26 February 1930,<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> and completed fitting out on 10 August 1931.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> Declared complete on 30 January 1932,<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> she was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 19 June 1932.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=uboatnet/>

==Service history==
===1932–1939===
<!--The article requires expansion with ''Pégase''{{'s}} service history from 1932 to 1939.-->

Among officers serving aboard ''Monge'' during the mid-1930s was [[François Drogou]] (1904–1940), later a recipient of the [[Order of Liberation]].<ref>{{cite work|lang=fr|author=Vladimir Trouplin|title=Dictionnaire des Compagnons de la Libération|publisher=Elytis|year=2010|isbn=978-2-356-39033-2}}.</ref>

''Monge'' and her [[sister ship]] {{ship|French submarine|Pégase|Q156|2}} departed [[Toulon]], France, on 16 December 1936 for a deployment to [[French Indochina]] in [[Southeast Asia]], where they remained from January to March 1937.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=ubootefrpegase>[http://www.u-boote.fr/pegase.htm u-boote.fr PÉGASE (in French) Accessed 26 August 2022]</ref> They then returned to Toulon, which they reached on 15 May 1937.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=ubootefrpegase/>

===World War II===
====French Navy====
At the start of [[World War II]] in September 1939, ''Monge'' was assigned to the 5th Submarine [[Division (naval)|Division]] in the 3rd Submarine [[Squadron (naval)|Squadron]], 1st [[Flotilla]], 2nd Squadron, based at Toulon.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=huanp49>Huan, p. 49.</ref> Her sister ships {{ship|French submarine|L'Espoir|Q167|2}} and ''Pégase'' made up the rest of the division<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=huanp49/>

German ground forces advanced into France on 10 May 1940, beginning the [[Battle of France]], and [[Fascist Italy (1922–1943)|Italy]] declared war on France on 10 June 1940 and [[Italian invasion of France|joined the invasion]].  ''Monge'' and ''Pégase'' departed Toulon on 11 June and patrolled in the [[Mediterranean Sea]] south and southeast of [[Malta]] until 20 June 1940 to search for and attack Italian [[convoy]]s making the passage between [[Italy]] and [[Tripolitania]].<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=ubootefrpegase>[http://www.u-boote.fr/pegase.htm u-boote.fr PÉGASE (in French) Accessed 26 August 2022]</ref><ref>Picard, p. 61.</ref> The Battle of France ended in France's defeat and [[armistice]]s [[Armistice of 22 June 1940|with Germany]] on 22 June 1940 and [[Franco-Italian armistice|with Italy]] on 24 June, both of which went into effect on 25 June 1940.

====Vichy France====
After France's surrender, ''Monge'' served in the naval forces of [[Vichy France]]. In September 1940, the Vichy French [[Admiralty (navy)|Admiralty]], with the concurrence of the Armistice Commission, decided to reinforce French naval forces in Southeast Asia by deploying four submarines to French Indochina.<ref name=ubootefrpegase/> Two submarine divisions were formed for the deployment, the 8th at Toulon, consisting of the ''Redoutable''-class submarines {{ship|French submarine|L'Espoir|Q167|2}} and {{ship|French submarine|Vengeur|Q137|2}}, and the 22nd at [[Bizerte]] in  [[French protectorate of Tunisia|Tunisia]], consisting of ''Monge'' and ''Pégase'' .<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=ubootefrpegase/> On 11&nbsp;October&nbsp;1940, ''Monge'' and ''Pégase'' departed Bizerte under escort by the {{sclass|Élan|sloop}} {{ship|French sloop|La Batailleuse||2}} bound for [[Oran]] in [[French Algeria|Algeria]].<ref name=ubootefrpegase/> There they rendezvoused with ''L'Espoir'', ''Vengeur'', and the [[Tanker (ship)|tanker]] {{ship|French tanker|Lot||2}}, which was to accompany the submarines on their journey, the tanker and the four submarines being designated the "''Lot'' Group" for purposes of the voyage.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> ''Monge''′s [[commanding officer]], who also served as commander of the 22nd Submarine Division, took on the additional responsibility of commanding the ''Lot'' Group as a whole.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> After a stay at Oran that lasted from 13 to 16 October,<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=ubootefrpegase/> ''Lot'' and the four submarines passed though the [[Strait of Gibraltar]] under the escort of the [[destroyer]]s {{ship|French destroyer|Casque|1938|2}} and {{ship|French destroyer|Épée|1938|2}} under conditions of high tension with the [[United Kingdom]] and arrived at [[Casablanca]] in [[French Morocco]] on 18 October 1940 for a brief stopover.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=ubootefrpegase/> They then proceeded to [[Dakar]] in [[Senegal]].<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=ubootefrpegase/>

On 23 October 1940, the submarines got underway from Dakar to patrol off the [[Canary Islands]].<ref name=ubootefrpegase/> They encountered very heavy weather, and ''Pégase'' suffered damage to one of her [[diving plane]]s.<ref name=ubootefrpegase/> The submarines returned to Dakar on 28 October 1940.<ref name=ubootefrpegase/> Subsequently, the submarines took turns conducting defensive patrols {{convert|10|to|35|nmi|0}} off Dakar.<ref name=ubootefrpegase/>

On 17 December 1940, ''Lot'' and the four submarines got underway from Dakar to continue the voyage to French Indochina, with their next stop at [[French Madagascar|Madagascar]].<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=ubootefrpegase/> Bad weather helped to conceal them from detection by the British, and they rounded the [[Cape of Good Hope]] without incident.<ref name=ubootefrpegase/> They encountered a [[tropical cyclone]] as they approached Madagascar, and anchored at [[Tamatave]], Madagascar, on 15 January 1941.<ref name=ubootefrpegase/> A second cyclone struck Tamatave on the day of their arrival, and ''Monge'' and ''Pégase'' in particular faced its more severe effects.<ref name=ubootefrpegase/> The two submarines got underway for [[Antsiranana|Diego-Suarez]] in northern Madagascar on 16 January 1941, and entered drydock for repairs after their arrival.<ref name=ubootefrpegase/> ''L'Espoir'', ''Vengeur'' and ''Lot'' departed Tamatave on 22 January 1941 to join them at Diego-Suarez.<ref name=ubootefrpegase/> A lack of docking space at Diego-Suarez delayed their arrival,<ref name=ubootefrpegase/> but the three vessels finally moored at Diego-Suarez on 2 February 1941.<ref name=sousmarineslespoirdisparuslespoir>[http://sous.marins.disparus.free.fr/index.php/sous-marins/46-espoir?showall=1 Sous-Marins Français Disparus & Accidents: Sous-Marin L'Espoir (in French) Accessed 5 August 2022]</ref> 

The ''Lot'' Group′s departure for French Indochina was delayed when the commanding officer of ''Monge'', who also served as commander of the 22nd Submarine Division and of the ''Lot'' Group as a whole, became extremely [[Alcohol intoxication|intoxicated]] and began to show the early signs of a [[nervous breakdown]].<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=ubootefrpegase/> The plans for ''L'Espoir'' and ''Vengeur'' to deploy to French Indochina were cancelled.<ref name=ubootefrpegase/> On 16 February 1941, however, ''Monge'', ''Pégase'', and ''Lot'' finally departed Diego-Suarez to begin the last leg of their voyage to French Indochina, which they completed without further incident with their arrival at [[Saigon]] on 6 March 1941,<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=uboatnet/><ref name=ubootefrpegase/> too late to participate in the [[Franco-Thai War]],<ref name=ubootefrpegase/> which had concluded on 28 January 1941. Upon arrival at Saigon, the two submarines began repairs to their [[air compressor]]s and [[Centrifugal fan|blower fan]]s.<ref name=ubootefrpegase/> On 8 March 1941, the ''Lot'' Group was dissolved.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/>

After the completion of repairs, ''Monge'' and ''Pégase'' departed Saigon on 15 March 1941 for a two-month cruise to make "representation" visits to ports along the coast of French Indochina.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=ubootefrpegase/> They stopped first at [[Cam Ranh]],<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=ubootefrpegase/> pausing to hold a memorial service in the [[South China Sea]] over the wreck of their sister ship {{ship|French submarine|Phénix|Q157|2}}, lost with all hands in a diving accident on 15 June 1939.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref>[http://www.u-boote.fr/phenix.htm u-boote.fr PHÉNIX (in French) Accessed 3 August 2022]</ref> They then visited [[Quy Nhon|Qui Nhon]] and [[Haiphong]] in French Indochina and [[Zhanjiang|Fort Bayard]] in [[Leased Territory of Guangzhouwan|Kouang-Tcheou-Wan]], [[China]], before beginning their return journey, stopping in French Indochina at [[Hạ Long Bay]], [[Cape Varella]], [[Da Nang|Tourane]], and Cam Ranh before returning to Saigon in mid-May 1941.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=ubootefrpegase/>

On 19 May 1941, ''Monge'' and ''Pégase'' were placed under the command of the [[admiral]] commanding French naval forces in French Indochina.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> During the rest of May and in June 1941, they conducted training trips off French Indochina.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> ''Monge'' then underwent a major refit at Saigon.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/>

After the completion of her refit, ''Monge'' was reassigned to Diego-Suarez.<ref name=picardp48>Picard, p. 48.</ref> She departed French Indochina on 6<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> or 7<ref name=ubootefrpegase/><ref name=picardp48/> September 1941 (according to different sources) to return to Madagascar,<ref name=ubootefrpegase/> escorting a convoy.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> She arrived at Diego-Suarez on 7 October 1941.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/>

After unloading two of her [[torpedo]]es to make room for cargo, she brought aboard {{convert|21|t|LT ST}} of food for transportation to [[Djibouti (city)|Djibouti]] in [[French Somaliland]], which was under [[blockade]] by the British.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> Departing Diego-Suarez on 17 October, she arrived at Djibouti without incident at 10:00 on 25 October 1941.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> In early November 1941, she made several [[sortie]]s into the [[Gulf of Tadjoura]] to ward off the British.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> She took up a position off [[Cape Gardafui]] on the coast of British-occupied [[Italian Somaliland]] on 14 November 1941 to rendezvous with the [[cargo ship]] ''Surcouf'', which was carrying a cargo of {{convert|1,500|t|LT ST|sigfig=3}} of food for Djibouti,<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> but ''Surcouf'' had taken refuge at [[Nosy Be]] off the northwest coast of Madagascar.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> ''Monge'' waited in vain for ''Surcouf'' until 27 November 1941, then proceeded to Diego-Suarez, arriving there on 1 December 1941.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref>Picard, p. 47.</ref> 

On 30 January 1942, ''Monge'' got underway for Tamatave to rendezvous there with the French cargo ship ''Amiral Pierre'', which she had orders to escort to [[Réunion]].<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=huanp129>Huan, p. 129.</ref> The two vessels departed Tamatave on 1 February and arrived at [[Pointe des Galets]] on Réunion on 4 February 1942.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> After ''Amiral Pierre'' unloaded her cargo, they began their return voyage to Tamatave on 14 February 1942.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> ''Monge''′s crew enjoyed a rest period at Tamatave until 20 February 1942,<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> when ''Monge'' got underway to return to Diego-Suarez, which she reached on 22 February 1942 after an absence of 22 days during which she had traveled {{convert|1,600|nmi|0}}.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/>

On 1 May 1942, ''Monge'' began another voyage to Réunion, escorting the cargo ship ''Condé''.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=huanp129/> While she was at [[Saint-Denis, Réunion|Saint-Denis]] on Réunion, the [[Battle of Madagascar]] began with British [[Amphibious warfare|amphibious landings]] near Diego-Suarez early on 5 May 1942.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> At 03:15 on 5 May, ''Monge'' received orders to take up position in a patrol area just north of Diego-Suarez and east of [[Cap d'Ambre]] — the northern tip of Madagascar — and to attack any British ships she encountered during her voyage from Réunion.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> ''Monge'' got underway from Saint-Denis immediately, proceeded to her assigned patrol area, and began a submerged patrol.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/>

====Loss====

At 07:55 on 8 May 1942, ''Monge'' fired a torpedo at the [[Royal Navy]] [[aircraft carrier]] {{HMS|Indomitable|92|6}}.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> The destroyers {{HMS|Active|H14|6}} and {{HMS|Panther|G41|6}} sighted ''Monge'' and counterattacked immediately.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> ''Active'' dropped ten [[depth charge]]s at 08:06 and ten more at 08:18.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> ''Panther'' then also attacked with depth charges.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/> The attacks sank ''Monge'' in the [[Indian Ocean]] off Diego-Suarez with the loss of her entire crew of 69.<ref name=sousmarinesacteondisparus/><ref name=uboatnet/><ref>Huan, pp. 130–131.</ref>

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===

* {{cite book | last1= Fontenoy | first1= Paul E. | title= Submarines: An Illustrated History of Their Impact (Weapons and Warfare)| location= Santa Barbara, California | date= 2007 | isbn = 978-1-85367-623-9}}{{vs|isbn does not match the title|date=April 2021}}
* {{cite book| last1= Gardiner | first1= Robert | last2= Chesneau | first2= Roger | title= Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946 | publisher= Conway Maritime Press | location= London | date= 1980 | isbn=0-85177-146-7 }}
* {{cite book|last1=Huan|first1=Claude|title=Les Sous-marins français 1918–1945|date=2004|publisher= Marines Éditions |isbn=9782915379075|location=Rennes|language=fr}}
* {{cite book|last1=Picard|first1=Claude|title=Les Sous-marins de 1 500 tonnes|date=2006|publisher= Marines Éditions |isbn=2-915379-55-6|location=Rennes|language=fr}}

{{Redoutable class submarines (1928)}}
{{WWII French ships}}
{{May 1942 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Monge (Q144)}}
[[Category:Redoutable-class submarines (1928)]]
[[Category:1929 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in France]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of France]]
[[Category:Lost submarines of France]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1942]]
[[Category:Warships lost in combat with all hands]]
[[Category:Submarines lost with all hands]]
[[Category:Submarines sunk by British warships]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Indian Ocean]]