Jump to content

Saphir-class submarine (1928): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
correct number of diesel engines
correcting make of diesels
Line 65: Line 65:


==Design==
==Design==
{{Convert|66|m|ftin|abbr=on}} long, with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{Convert|7.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}} and a [[Draft (hull)|draught]] of {{Convert|4.3|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, ''Saphir''-class submarines could dive up to {{Convert|80|m|abbr=on}}. The submarine had a [[Displacement (ship)|surfaced displacement]] of {{Convert|670|t|LT|0|lk=on}} and a submerged displacement of {{Convert|925|t|LT|0|lk=on}}. Propulsion while surfaced was provided by two {{Convert|1300|hp|0|abbr=on}} diesel motor built by the Swiss manufacturer [[Sulzer (manufacturer)|Sulzer]] and two {{Convert|1100|hp|0|abbr=on}} electric motors. The submarines' electrical propulsion allowed it to attain speeds of
{{Convert|66|m|ftin|abbr=on}} long, with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{Convert|7.1|m|ftin|abbr=on}} and a [[Draft (hull)|draught]] of {{Convert|4.3|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, ''Saphir''-class submarines could dive up to {{Convert|80|m|abbr=on}}. The submarine had a [[Displacement (ship)|surfaced displacement]] of {{Convert|670|t|LT|0|lk=on}} and a submerged displacement of {{Convert|925|t|LT|0|lk=on}}. Propulsion while surfaced was provided by two {{Convert|1300|hp|0|abbr=on}} Normand-Vickers diesel motors and while submerged two {{Convert|1100|hp|0|abbr=on}} electric motors. The submarines electrical propulsion allowed it to attain speeds of
{{Convert|9|kn}} while submerged. Their surfaced range was {{convert|7000|nmi|km}} at {{convert|7.5|kn|km/h}}, and {{convert|4000|nmi|km}} at {{convert|12|kn|km/h}}, with a submerged range of {{convert|80|nmi|km}} at {{convert|4|kn|km/h}}.<ref name="uboat"/><ref name="navypedia.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.navypedia.org/ships/france/fr_ss_saphir.htm|title=Saphir submarines (1930–1937) – French Navy (France)|website=www.navypedia.org}}</ref>
{{Convert|9|kn}} while submerged. Their surfaced range was {{convert|7000|nmi|km}} at {{convert|7.5|kn|km/h}}, and {{convert|4000|nmi|km}} at {{convert|12|kn|km/h}}, with a submerged range of {{convert|80|nmi|km}} at {{convert|4|kn|km/h}}.<ref name="uboat"/><ref name="navypedia.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.navypedia.org/ships/france/fr_ss_saphir.htm|title=Saphir submarines (1930–1937) – French Navy (France)|website=www.navypedia.org}}</ref>


Revision as of 18:18, 10 November 2018

Not to be confused with Saphir-class submarine (1951).

Saphir-class submarine (1928)
Diamant, date unknown
Class overview
NameSaphir class
BuildersToulon arsenal
Operators
Built1926–1935
In service1930–1949
Completed6
Lost1
Retired5
General characteristics
TypeSubmarine
Displacement
Length66 m (216 ft 6 in)
Beam7.1 m (23 ft 4 in)
Draught4.3 m (14 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 × diesel engines, 1,300 hp (970 kW)
  • 2 × electric motors, 1,100 hp (820 kW)
Speed
  • 12 knots (22 km/h) (surfaced)
  • 9 knots (17 km/h) (submerged)
Range
  • 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h)
  • 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
  • 80 nautical miles (150 km) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h) (submerged)
Test depth80 m (260 ft)
Complement42 men
Armament

The Saphir-class submarines were 6 submarines built in France between 1926 and 1935 for the French Navy. Most saw action during World War II for the Vichy French Navy or the Free French Naval Forces. Three were captured by Italian forces but not used.

Design

66 m (216 ft 6 in) long, with a beam of 7.1 m (23 ft 4 in) and a draught of 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in), Saphir-class submarines could dive up to 80 m (260 ft). The submarine had a surfaced displacement of 670 tonnes (659 long tons) and a submerged displacement of 925 tonnes (910 long tons). Propulsion while surfaced was provided by two 1,300 hp (969 kW) Normand-Vickers diesel motors and while submerged two 1,100 hp (820 kW) electric motors. The submarines electrical propulsion allowed it to attain speeds of 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) while submerged. Their surfaced range was 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h), and 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h), with a submerged range of 80 nautical miles (150 km) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h).[1][2]

A scale model of Saphir exposed at the Musée national de la Marine

The Saphir-class submarines were constructed to be able to launch torpedoes and lay mines without surfacing. The moored contact mines they used contained 220 kg of TNT and operated at up to 200 meters of depth. They were attached to the submarine's exterior under a hydrodynamic protection and were jettisoned with compressed air. The Saphir-class submarines also featured an automatic depth regulator that automatically flooded ballast tanks after mines were dropped to prevent the risk of the submarine surfacing in the middle of enemy waters.[1][3]

Ships

Saphir-class submarines
Name Laid down launched commissioned fate
Saphir 25 May 1926 20 December 1928 30 September 1930 Captured by Italian forces on 8 December 1942, renamed FR 112. Seized by German forces on 15 September 1943 in Naples and scuttled.[4]
Turquoise 20 October 1926 16 May 1929 10 September 1930 Captured by Italian forces on 8 December 1942, renamed FR 116. Sunk on 6 May 1943 off Tunisia. Subsequently salved and sold for scrap on 12 August 1947.
Nautilus 8 August 1927 21 March 1930 15 July 1931 Laid down on the centenary of the birth of Jules Verne, Nautilus was not named after a gem like her sister ships but after the fictional submarine in one of Jules Verne's novels, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Captured by Italian forces on 8 December 1942, then sunk by an air attack on 31 January 1943 at Bizerte. Subsequently salved and sold for scrap on 12 August 1947.
Rubis 3 April 1929 30 September 1931 4 April 1933 Used successfully by the Free French Forces from 1940, stricken from the naval register 4 October 1949 and scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea in 1958.
Diamant 21 July 1930 18 May 1933 20 June 1934 Scuttled on 27 November 1942, at Toulon, refloated in March 1943 by Italy but sunk again in 1944.
Perle 21 July 1931 30 July 1935 1 March 1937 Used by the Allies after Operation Torch, sunk on 8 July 1944 by a British plane after being mistaken for a German U-boat at 55°27' North, 33°50' West.

[5][2][3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Saphir class Submarines – Allied Warships of WWII". uboat.net. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Saphir submarines (1930–1937) – French Navy (France)". www.navypedia.org.
  3. ^ a b "Sous Mama – Diamand – Nautilus – Perle – Rubis – Saphir – Turquoise – Les Sous-Marins de la série des "Pierres Précieuses"". www.sous-mama.org.
  4. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20131104143848/http://sous-marin.france.pagesperso-orange.fr/Q145.htm
  5. ^ "Submarines". www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saphir-class_submarine_(1928)&oldid=868206418"