History | |
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Name | Argonaute |
Namesake | A member of the Argonauts, a band of heroes in Greek mythology |
Builder | Chantiers Schneider et Cie, Chalon-sur-Saône , France |
Laid down | 19 December 1927 |
Launched | 23 May 1929 |
Commissioned | 1 June 1932 |
Fate | Sunk 8 November 1942 |
General characteristics [1] | |
Type | Submarine |
Displacement |
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Length | 63.4 m (208 ft) |
Beam | 6.4 m (21 ft) |
Draught | 4.24 m (13.9 ft) |
Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | 80 m (260 ft) |
Complement | 41 |
Armament |
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Argonaute (NN6) was an Argonaute-class submarine commissioned into service in the French Navy in 1932. She saw service in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from September 1939 to June 1940, then in the forces of Vichy France. She was sunk in November 1942.
Argonaute was ordered as part of the 1926 program. [2] Laid down by Chantiers Schneider et Cie at Chalon-sur-Saône, France, on 19 December 1927 [2] [3] with the pennant number NN6, she was launched on 23 May 1929. [2] [3] She was commissioned on 1 June 1932 [2] [3] at Toulon, France. [2]
Argonaute served at the school of navigation from 1939 to 1940. [2] During her service there, World War II began with Nazi Germany′s invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939, and France entered the war on 3 September 1939. The Battle of France began when German ground forces advanced into France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg on 10 May 1940, and Italy declared war on France on 10 June 1940 and joined the invasion. The Battle of France ended in France's defeat and armistice with Germany and Italy, which went into effect on 25 June 1940. On that day, Argonaute was based at Toulon as part of the 19th Submarine Division with the submarines Galatée, Naïade, and Sirène. [2]
After the June 1940 armistice, Argonaute served in the naval forces of Vichy France. She was placed under guard in an unarmed and unfueled status in accordance with the terms of the armistice on 17 December 1940. [2]
Argonaute was reactivated in June 1941. [2] By December 1941 she was based at Oran in Algeria as part of the 12th Submarine Division with the submarine Diane. [2]
On 8 November 1942, Allied forces landed in French North Africa in Operation Torch. At 02:50 that morning, Argonaute and the 5th Submarine Division submarines Actéon and Fresnel received orders to sortie to resist the invasion. [2] Argonaute departed at 03:15. [2] Heading east from Oran, she sighted the British aircraft carrier HMS Furious during the afternoon of 8 November. [2] Before she could attack Furious, the British destroyer HMS Achates sighted her at 15:17. [2] Either Achates [2] or the destroyer HMS Westcott [4] or both [3] sank Argonaute at 15:31 with the loss of her entire crew of 43. [2] A large amount of debris came to the surface after the sinking. [2]
Under French Navy Order No. 146 SC/2 of 9 July 1943, the officers and crew of Argonaute received the following citation: "Fully committed to their vessel against vastly superior enemy forces during the events in North Africa in November 1942, [they] showed a total spirit of sacrifice, gloriously lost fighting." [2]
By decree of 24 July 1944 (published in the Journal officiel de la République française of 1 August 1944), Argonaute′s final commanding officer, Lieutenant de Vaisseau Henri Véron, posthumously was named a Knight of the Legion of Honour. [2] He also posthumously was awarded the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 with palm. [2]
Sibylle (Q175) was a Diane-class submarine of the French Navy commissioned in 1934. During World War II, she operated on the Allied side until 1940, when she became part of the naval forces of Vichy France. She disappeared during Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa, in November 1942.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Aurore (Q192) was a French Navy submarine, the lead ship of the Aurore-class. She served in the naval forces of Vichy France during the early years of World War II and was scuttled in November 1942.
Ariane (Q122) was a French Navy Ariane-class submarine commissioned in 1929. During World War II, she operated on the Allied side until 1940, when she became part of the naval forces of Vichy France. She was scuttled in November 1942.
Eurydice (Q123) was a French Navy Ariane-class submarine commissioned in 1929. During World War II, she operated on the Allied side until 1940, when she became part of the naval forces of Vichy France. She was scuttled in November 1942.
Danaé (Q131) was a French Navy Ariane-class submarine commissioned in 1929. During World War II, she operated on the Allied side until 1940, when she became part of the naval forces of Vichy France. She was scuttled in November 1942.
Diane was a French Navy Diane-class submarine commissioned in 1932, the lead ship of her class. During World War II, she operated on the Allied side until 1940, when she became part of the naval forces of Vichy France. She was scuttled in November 1942.
Oréade (Q164) was a French Navy Diane-class submarine commissioned in 1933. During World War II, she operated on the Allied side until 1940, when she became part of the naval forces of Vichy France. She was sunk in November 1942.
Orphée (Q163) was a French Navy Diane-class submarine commissioned in 1933. During World War II, she operated on the Allied side until 1940, when she became part of the naval forces of Vichy France. In 1942 she joined the Free French Naval Forces. She was condemned in 1946.
Naïade (Q124) was a French Navy Sirène-class submarine commissioned in 1927. 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.
Atalante (Q162) was an Argonaute-class submarine in commission in the French Navy from 1934 to 1944. She saw service in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from September 1939 to June 1940, then in the forces of Vichy France until November 1942, when she became part of the Free French Naval Forces.
Aréthuse (NN7) was an Argonaute-class submarine commissioned into service in the French Navy in 1933. She saw service in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from September 1939 to June 1940, then in the forces of Vichy France until November 1942, when she became part of the Free French Naval Forces. She was condemned in 1946.
La Vestale (Q176) was an Argonaute-class submarine commissioned into service in the French Navy in 1933. She saw service in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from September 1939 to June 1940, then in the forces of Vichy France until November 1942, when she became part of the Free French Naval Forces. She was stricken in 1946.
La Sultane (Q177) was an Argonaute-class submarine commissioned into service in the French Navy in 1935. She saw service in World War II, first on the side of the Allies from September 1939 to June 1940, then in the forces of Vichy France until November 1942, when she became part of the Free French Naval Forces. She was stricken in 1946.
Amphitrite (Q159) was a French Navy Diane-class submarine commissioned in 1933. During World War II, she operated on the Allied side until 1940, when she became part of the naval forces of Vichy France. She was sunk in November 1942.
La Psyché (Q174) was a French Navy Diane-class submarine commissioned in 1933. During World War II, she operated on the Allied side until 1940, when she became part of the naval forces of Vichy France. She was sunk in November 1942.