Farfadet-class submarine

Last updated
Farfade1-Bougault.jpg
Farfadet under way in harbour
Class overview
NameFarfadet class
OperatorsCivil and Naval Ensign of France.svg  French Navy
Preceded by Sirène class
Succeeded by Français class
Subclasses Lutin
Built1900–1905
In commission1902–1913
Completed4
Scrapped4
General characteristics (Farfadet)
Type Submarine
Displacement
  • 185  t (182 long tons) (surfaced)
  • 202 t (199 long tons) (submerged)
Length41.35 m (135 ft 8 in) (o/a)
Beam2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Draught2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Installed power183  hp (136  kW)
Propulsion1 shaft; 2 electric motors
Speed
  • 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (surfaced)
  • 4.3 knots (8.0 km/h; 4.9 mph) (submerged)
Range
  • 75  nmi (139 km; 86 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) (surfaced)
  • 28 nmi (52 km; 32 mi) at 4.32 knots (8.00 km/h; 4.97 mph) (submerged)
Complement14
Armament4 × exterior 450 mm (17.7 in) torpedo launchers

The Farfadet class consisted of four submarines built for the French Navy at the beginning of the 20th century designed by Gabriel Maugas. Two boats were lost in diving accidents. All were disposed of prior to the outbreak of the First World War.

Contents

Design and description

The Farfadets were designed by Gabriel Maugas, an early French submarine engineer at the Rochefort Naval Dockyard. Derived from the Morse, [1] the Farfadets were single-hulled, and powered by electric motors only, limiting their range and surface performance compared to the contemporary Sirène class. However they had variable-pitch propellers, developed by Maugas, obviating the need for a reversing engine. [2]

The first three submarines, Farfadet, Gnome, and Korrigan, displaced 185 metric tons (182 long tons ) surfaced and 202 metric tons (199 long tons) submerged. They had an overall length of 41.35 meters (135 ft 8 in), a beam of 2.9 meters (9 ft 6 in), and a draft of 2.7 meters (8 ft 10 in). The fourth submarine, Lutin, had an overall length of 41.45 meters (136 ft). The crew of all of the submarines numbered 2 officers and 12 enlisted men. [2]

All of the boats were powered by a pair of Sautter-Harlé electric motors providing a total of 300 metric horsepower (296  bhp ; 221  kW ), both driving the single propeller shaft, except for Lutin which had two shafts. The first three boats were fitted with side-thrusting propellers (French : évoleurs) at the stern to assist in steering. They could reach a maximum speed of 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) on the surface and 4.3 knots (8.0 km/h; 4.9 mph) underwater. The Farfadet class had a surface endurance of 430 nautical miles (800 km; 490 mi) at 7.8 knots (14.4 km/h; 9.0 mph) and a submerged endurance of 28 nmi (52 km; 32 mi) at 4.3 knots (8.0 km/h; 4.9 mph). [2]

The boats were armed with four external 450-millimeter (17.7 in) Tissier torpedo launchers, two aimed forward and two aimed to the rear. [2]

Service history

The Farfadets were ordered as part of the French Navy's 1899 building programme, and were constructed over the next three years at the naval dockyards at Rochefort. However they were not successful in service; Farfadet was lost in a diving accident in July 1905, and Lutin in October 1906. Farfadet was raised and recommissioned as Follet, remaining in service until 1913, while Lutin was refloated and used for trials and as a target. The other two vessels were taken out of service in 1906 and sold for scrap in 1910–1911. [3]

Ships

Farfadet raised 1905 Sous marin Farfadet 1905.jpg
Farfadet raised 1905
Lutin raised 1906 1906 - Le sous-marin Lutin.jpg
Lutin raised 1906
Construction data
ShipBuilder Laid down Launched Commissioned Fate
Farfadet Arsenal de Rochefort 2 April 190017 May 190129 August 1902Lost in diving accident, 6 July 1905. Raised, re-commissioned as Follet, stricken, 22 Nov 1913, and sold for scrap.
Korrigan 23 April 190025 January 1902Sold for scrap, 10 August 1911
Gnome c. 190123 July 19022 June 1905Sold for scrap, 24 March 1912
Lutin 27 February 190212 February 19031904Sold for scrap, 2 August 1911

Notes

  1. Staglini & Cosentino, p. 251
  2. 1 2 3 4 Roberts, p. 422
  3. Roberts, pp. 422–423

References