French submarine Argo

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Argo
French submarine Argo 1944.jpg
Argo in the Atlantic Ocean off the United States East Coast on 19 November 1944.
History
Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svgNaval Ensign of Free France.svgFrance
NameArgo
Namesake Argo , the ship used by Jason and the Argonauts in Greek mythology
Operator French Navy
Builder Chantiers Dubigeon, Nantes, France
Laid down25 August 1927
Launched11 April 1929
Commissioned12 February 1933
Homeport Brest, France
FateDisarmed 26 April 1946
General characteristics
Class and type Redoutable-class submarine
Displacement
  • 1,572 tonnes (1,547 long tons) (surfaced)
  • 2,092 tonnes (2,059 long tons) (submerged)
Length92.3 m (302 ft 10 in)
Beam8.1 m (26 ft 7 in) [1]
Draft4.4 m (14 ft 5 in) (surfaced)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.5 kn (32.4 km/h; 20.1 mph) (surfaced)
  • 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) (submerged)
Range
  • 14,000 nmi (26,000 km; 16,000 mi) at 7 kn (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) (surfaced)
  • 10,000 nmi (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) (surfaced)
  • 4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph) (surfaced)
  • 90 nmi (170 km; 100 mi) at 7 kn (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) (submerged)
Test depth80 m (262 ft)
Complement
Armament
  • 11 torpedo tubes
  • 1 × 100 mm (3.9 in) gun
  • 1 × 13.2 mm (0.5 in) machine gun

Argo was a French Navy Redoutable-class submarine of the M6 series commissioned in 1933. She participated in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from 1939 to June 1940, then in the navy of Vichy France until November 1942, and finally in the Free French Naval Forces through the end of the war. Along with Archimède, Casabianca, Le Centaure, and Le Glorieux, she was one of only five out of the 31 Redoutable-class submarines to survive the war.

Contents

Characteristics

Profile of Casabianca, sister ship of Argo. Casabianca profile view.svg
Profile of Casabianca, sister ship of Argo.

Argo was part of a fairly homogeneous series of 31 deep-sea patrol submarines also called "1,500-tonners" because of their displacement. All entered service between 1931 and 1939.

The Redoutable-class submarines were 92.3 metres (302 ft 10 in) long and 8.1 metres (26 ft 7 in) in beam and had a draft of 4.4 metres (14 ft 5 in). They could dive to a depth of 80 metres (262 ft). They displaced 1,572 tonnes (1,547 long tons) on the surface and 2,082 tonnes (2,049 long tons) underwater. Propelled on the surface by two diesel engines producing a combined 6,000 horsepower (4,474 kW), they had a maximum speed of 18.6 knots (34.4 km/h; 21.4 mph). When submerged, their two electric motors produced a combined 2,250 horsepower (1,678 kW) and allowed them to reach 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). Also called "deep-cruising submarines", their range on the surface was 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). Underwater, they could travel 100 nautical miles (190 km; 120 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph).

Construction and commissioning

Laid down at Chantiers Dubigeon in Nantes, France, on 25 August 1927 [2] with the hull number Q151, Argo was launched on 11 April 1929. [2] She was commissioned on 12 February 1933. [2]

Service history

World War II

French Navy

At the start of World War II in September 1939, Argo was assigned to the 4th Submarine Division based in Brest, France. [3] Her sister ships Henri Poincaré, Le Centaure, and Pascal made up the rest of the division. [3] [4]

Part of the German merchant fleet — which the Allies suspected of serving as supply ships for German U-boats – took refuge in both the Azores and the Canary Islands at the start of the war, and on either 3 or 19 September 1939, according to different sources, Argo and Le Centaure began patrols off the Azores and the Canary Islands in search of German submarines and their supply ships. [3] [5] On 6 February 1940, the 4th Submarine Division was reassigned to Casablanca in French Morocco. [6] In April 1940, Argo became part of the 4th Submarine Flotilla, based at Bizerte in Tunisia. [3]

German ground forces advanced into France on 10 May 1940, beginning the Battle of France, and Italy declared war on France on 10 June 1940 and joined the invasion. The Battle of France ended in France's defeat and armistices with Germany on 22 June 1940 and with Italy on 24 June, both of which went into effect on 25 June 1940.

Vichy France

After the French surrender, Argo served in the naval forces of Vichy France. On 12 March 1942 she returned to Casablanca. [3] During operations off the coast of French Morocco, she called at Safi from 28 March to 2 April 1942 [3] and with Le Centaure at Mogador from 5 to 7 May 1942. [3] She ran aground in fog while entering port at Casablanca on 5 July 1942 and suffered hull damage that kept her out of service for several weeks while undergoing repairs. [3]

In August 1942, Argo transferred to French West Africa, departing Casablanca on 10 August 1942 [3] in company with Le Centaure and their sister ship Archimède and arriving on 16 August 1942 at Dakar in Senegal, [3] where the three submarines formed the 3rd Submarine Division. [3] [7] By 9 November 1942, she was part of the French West Africa Submarine Group. [3]

Free French Naval Forces

After Allied forces landed in French North Africa in Operation Torch in November 1942, Argo joined the Free French Naval Forces. Argo, Archimède, Le Centaure, and their sister ships Casabianca and Le Glorieux were the best Free French submarines, [8] and Argo was among French submarines selected to be sent to the United States for overhaul and modernization. However, she was deemed too worn-out for a complete overhaul, and these plans were cancelled. [3] Instead, she was assigned along with Le Centaure to the sound school at Freetown, Sierra Leone, where the two submarines took part in antisubmarine warfare training for British warships, serving as training targets. [3]

In September 1943 Argo was detached to the United States Navy′s sound schools, first at Bermuda, then at New London, Connecticut, and later at Key West, Florida. [3] [9] Although far from the combat zone, sound-school operations were very wearing on the French crews and their equipment, requiring the submarines to operate at sea 23 days per month [3] as training targets. [9] Argo collided with the U.S. Navy Tacoma-class frigate USS Huron (PF-19) off Key West on 28 April 1945, suffering damage to both of her periscopes. [9]

After Germany surrendered on 8 May 1945, the need for antisubmarine warfare training in the Atlantic dropped sharply, and French submarines operating at U.S. Navy sound schools were soon returned to French operational control. [9] They departed U.S. ports for bases in French North Africa in July 1945. [9] World War II ended with the surrender of Japan on 2 September 1945, and Argo was disarmed on 26 April 1946. [10]

Related Research Articles

Casabianca (Q183) was a Redoutable-class submarine of the French Navy. The class is also known as the "1500-ton class" and were termed in French de grande patrouille. She was named after Luc-Julien-Joseph Casabianca. Launched in 1935, she entered service in 1936. She escaped from Toulon during the scuttling of the fleet there on 27 November 1942, and continued in service with the Allied forces. Casabianca, commanded by Capitaine de frégate Jean L'Herminier, had a role in the liberation of Corsica, and was an important link between occupied France and the Free French government based in Algiers.

French submarine <i>Bévéziers</i> (1935) 1935 French submarine

Bévéziers (Q179) was a Redoutable-class submarine of the French Navy. The class is also known as the "1500-ton class" and were termed in French French: « de grande patrouille». She was named after the 1690 Battle of Beachy Head, known in France as the Bataille de Bévéziers.

<i>Redoutable</i>-class submarine (1928) French class of submarine

The Redoutable-class submarines were a group of 31 submarines built between 1924 and 1937 for the French Navy. Most of the class saw service during the Second World War. The class is also known in French as the Classe 1 500 tonnes, and they were designated as "First Class submarines", or "large submarine cruisers". They are known as the Redoutable class in reference to the lead boat Redoutable, in service from 1931 to 1942. The class is divided into two sub-class series, Type I, known as Le Redoutable and Type II, Pascal.

French submarine <i>Ajax</i>

Ajax was a Redoutable-class submarine of the French Navy launched in 1930 at Brest, France. It participated in the Second World War, first on the side of the Allies from 1939 to 1940 then on the side of the Axis for the rest of the war. On 23 September 1940, during the Battle of Dakar she was badly damaged by depth charges from HMS Fortune and was then scuttled.

French submarine <i>Persée</i>

The Persée was a Redoutable-class submarine in the navies of the French Third Republic and Vichy France. Belonging to the M6 series, it was launched in 1931. The vessel was damaged by an explosion while undergoing sea trials off the coast of France, killing two aboard and wounding several others. Based at Brest at the onset of the Second World War, Persée joined in the search for the German merchant fleet still at sea. The vessel joined the Vichy France Navy and transferred first to Casablanca then Dakar. Persée was attacked at Dakar where the submarine was torpedoed on the surface by a British ship. The vessel was set afire and sank, with the entirety of the crew rescued save one.

French submarine <i>Henri Poincaré</i> Submarine

Henri Poincaré was a French Navy Redoutable-class submarine of the M6 series commissioned in 1931. She participated in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from 1939 to June 1940, then in the navy of Vichy France until she was scuttled at Toulon in November 1942. The Italians seized her, refloated her, and renamed her FR 118, then scuttled her in September 1943. The Germans later scrapped her wreck.

French submarine <i>Archimède</i> (Q142)

Archimède was a French Navy Redoutable-class submarine of the M6 series commissioned in 1932. She participated in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from 1939 to June 1940, then in the navy of Vichy France until November 1942. She then returned to the Allied side, operating as part of the Free French Naval Forces. She was one of only five – along with Argo, Casabianca, Le Centaure, and Le Glorieux — out of the 31 Redoutable-class submarines to survive the war. She remained in French Navy service after World War II, and was decommissioned in 1952.

French submarine <i>Sfax</i>

Sfax was a French Navy Redoutable-class submarine of the M6 series commissioned in 1936. She participated in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from 1939 to June 1940 and then in the navy of Vichy France until a German submarine mistook her for an Allied submarine and sank her in December 1940.

French submarine <i>Achille</i> French Navy submarine

Achille was a French Navy Redoutable-class submarine of the M6 series commissioned in 1933. She participated in World War II until she was scuttled in June 1940.

French submarine <i>Le Centaure</i>

Le Centaure was a French Navy Redoutable-class submarine of the M6 series commissioned in 1935. She participated in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from 1939 to June 1940, then in the navy of Vichy France until November 1942. She then returned to the Allied side, operating as part of the Free French Naval Forces. Along with Archimède, Argo, Casabianca, and Le Glorieux, she was one of only five out of the 31 Redoutable-class submarines to survive the war. She remained in French Navy service after World War II, and was decommissioned in 1952.

French submarine <i>Pascal</i> Warship Battleship

Pascal was a French Navy Redoutable-class submarine of the M6 series commissioned in 1931. She participated in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from 1939 to June 1940, then in the navy of Vichy France until she was scuttled at Toulon in November 1942. She was never again seaworthy, but the Italians seized her and refloated her, and the Germans later took control of her. She was sunk in March 1944.

French submarine <i>Fresnel</i> (Q143)

Fresnel was a French Navy Redoutable-class submarine of the M6 series commissioned in 1932. She participated in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from 1939 to June 1940, then in the navy of Vichy France until she was scuttled at Toulon in November 1942. She was never again seaworthy, but the Italians seized her and refloated her, and the Germans later took control of her. She was sunk in March 1944.

French submarine <i>Actéon</i>

Actéon was a French Navy Redoutable-class submarine of the M6 series commissioned in 1932. She participated in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from 1939 to June 1940, then in the navy of Vichy France. She was sunk in November 1942.

French submarine <i>Achéron</i>

Achéron was a French Navy Redoutable-class submarine of the M6 series commissioned in 1932. She participated in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from 1939 to June 1940, then in the navy of Vichy France. She was scuttled in November 1942.

French submarine <i>Le Conquérant</i> (Q171) French Navy Redoutable-class submarine of the M6 series commissioned in 1936

Le Conquérant was a French Navy Redoutable-class submarine of the M6 series commissioned in 1936. She participated in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from 1939 to June 1940, then in the navy of Vichy France. She was sunk in November 1942.

French submarine <i>Le Tonnant</i> (Q172)

Le Tonnant was a French Navy Redoutable-class submarine of the M6 series commissioned in 1937. She participated in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from 1939 to June 1940, then in the navy of Vichy France. She was scuttled in November 1942.

French submarine <i>Sidi Ferruch</i> WWII French submarine

Sidi Ferruch was a French Navy Redoutable-class submarine of the M6 series commissioned in 1939. She participated in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from 1939 to June 1940, then in the navy of Vichy France. She was sunk in November 1942.

French submarine <i>Ouessant</i> (Q180) WWII French submarine

Ouessant was a French Navy Redoutable-class submarine of the M6 series commissioned in 1937. She participated in World War II on the side of the Allies until she was scuttled in 1940.

French submarine <i>Le Héros</i> World War II French submarine

Le Héros was a French Navy Redoutable-class submarine of the M6 series commissioned in 1934. She participated in World War II on the side of the Allies until June 1940, and then in the naval forces of Vichy France until she was sunk in 1942.

French submarine <i>Le Glorieux</i> World War II French submarine

Le Glorieux (Glorious) was a French Navy Redoutable-class submarine of the M6 series commissioned in 1934. She participated in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from 1939 to June 1940, then in the navy of Vichy France until November 1942. She then returned to the Allied side, operating as part of the Free French Naval Forces. Along with Archimède, Argo, Casabianca, and Le Centaure, she was one of only five out of the 31 Redoutable-class submarines to survive the war. She remained in French Navy service after World War II, and was decommissioned in 1952.

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "FR Ajax of the French Navy – French Submarine of the Redoutable class – Allied Warships of WWII". uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Allied Warships: FR Argo, uboat.net Accessed 13 July 2022
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 u-boote.fr ARGO (in French) Accessed 15 August 2022
  4. ↑ Huan, p. 49.
  5. ↑ Picard, pp. 33–35.
  6. ↑ Huan, p. 64.
  7. ↑ Huan, p. 127.
  8. ↑ Huan, p. 147.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Jones, Mark C., "SUBMARINE SHORTAGE SOLVED: FRENCH AND ITALIAN SUBMARINES AS U.S. NAVY TRAINING TARGETS IN THE WESTERN ATLANTIC, 1943–1945," Naval Submarine League, June 2015 Accessed 15 August 2022
  10. ↑ Picard, p. 88.

Bibliography

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