French submarine Aurore

Last updated
L'Africaine submarine model.jpg
Model of Africaine, sister ship of Créole.
History
Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svgFrance
NameAurore
Namesake Aurora, the goddess of dawn in Roman mythology
Builder Arsenal de Toulon, Toulon,  France
Laid down1 September 1936
Launched26 July 1939
Commissioned20 June 1940
Fate
General characteristics
Class and type Aurore-class submarine
Displacement
  • 900 tonnes (886 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,170 tonnes (1,150 long tons) submerged
Length73.5 m (241 ft 2 in)
Beam6.5 m (21 ft 4 in)
Draught4.2 m (13 ft 9 in)
Propulsion
  • Diesel: 2,237  kW (3,000  shp)
  • 1,044 kW (1,400 shp) electrical
Speed
  • 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) surfaced
  • 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) submerged
Range
  • 5,600  nmi (10,400 km; 6,440 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
  • 2,250 nmi (4,170 km; 2,590 mi) at 15 knots
  • 80 nmi (148 km; 92 mi) submerged at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph)
Test depth100 m (328 ft)
Armament
  • 1 × 100 mm (3.9 in) deck gun
  • 2 × 13.2 mm machine guns
  • 9 × 550 mm (21.7 in) torpedo tubes

Aurore (Q192) was a French Navy submarine, the lead ship of the Aurore-class. [1] She served in the naval forces of Vichy France during the early years of World War II and was scuttled in November 1942.

Contents

Construction and commissioning

Laid down at the Arsenal de Toulon in Toulon, France, on 1 September 1936, [2] Aurore was launched on 26 July 1939. [2] She was still fitting out when World War II began with the German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939. She made her first static dive at the beginning of 1940, [2] then commenced sea trials, [2] with final equipment testing scheduled for 15 July 1940. [2]

Meanwhile, the Battle of France began with the German invasion of France on 10 May 1940, and Italy joined the invasion on 10 June 1940. With the Allied defense of France collapsing, Aurore and the submarines Aréthuse, Argonaute, Atalante, L'Espoir, Iris, Naïade, La Sultane, and La Vestale received orders on 18 June 1940 to get underway for French North Africa, but all of them remained at Toulon. [2] Aurore′s crew scrounged equipment — at one point her commanding officer sent four quartermasters to Paris in a search for equipment Aurore needed — and on 20 June 1940 she was ready for sea and was placed in commission. [2] On 22 June 1940, however, France concluded an armistice with Germany and Italy, and when it went into effect on 25 June 1940, Aurore still was at Toulon. [2]

Service history

After the armistice, Aurore became part of the naval forces of Vichy France. She continued equipment tests and training until 21 October 1940, when she was placed under guard in an unarmed and unfueled condition under the terms of the armistice, but permitted by the Italian Armistice Commission to maintain readiness to get underway on one week's notice. [2]

On 5 November 1940, the Italian Armistice Commission authorized Aurore and the submarine Archimède to transfer to Dakar in Senegal to relieve the submarines Ajax and Persée there. [2] Aurore and Archimède were assigned along with Aréthuse, La Sultane, and La Vestale to the 1st Relief Submarine Group, and the five submarines departed Toulon on 17 December 1940 bound for Oran in Algeria under escort by the sloop Commandant Bory. [2] They arrived at Oran on 19 December 1940. [2]

Aréthuse, La Sultane, and La Vestale remained at Oran, but Aurore and Archimède continued their voyage, departing Oran under escort by the destroyer Albatros, passing through the Strait of Gibraltar and arriving at Casablanca in French Morocco, where they spent Christmas 1940. [2] Under escort by the destroyers L'Alcyon and Simoun, Aurore and Archimède then completed the final leg of their voyage, arriving at Dakar on 31 December 1940. [2]

At beginning of 1941, Aurore and Archimède were assigned along with six other submarines to the 2nd Section of the 2nd Division of the French West Africa Submarine Group. [2] The submarine group conducted numerous training excursions and engaged in surveillance operations. [2]

On 25 January 1941, Aurore got underway from Dakar in company with the submarine Casabianca bound for Conakry in French Guinea, a territory of French West Africa, arriving there on 27 January 1941. [2] They remained at Conakry until 17 February 1941, when they began their return voyage. [2] They arrived at Dakar on 20 February 1941. [2]

On 9 May 1941, Aurore departed Dakar in company with Archimède bound for Casablanca, where they arrived on 13 May 1941. [2] Aurore departed Casablanca with the submarine Sidi Ferruch on 28 May 1941 to head for Agadir, French Morocco. [2] Aurore spent 22 to 30 July 1941 in Safi, French Morocco. [2] She underwent a refit from 8 to 20 October 1941. [2]

Aurore was assigned to the 4th Submarine Division along with Le Conquérant and Le Tonnant, and the three submarines arrived at Dakar on 18 November 1941. [2] Aurore later returned to Casablanca for repairs, which were accelerated in May 1942. [2] She rejoined her division at Dakar on 14 June 1942. [2] By 1 November 1942 she was in Toulon. [2]

Loss

Aurore was moored at Dock No. 2 of the Vauban Docks at Toulon when Germany and Italy occupied the Free Zone (French : Zone libre) of Vichy France on 27 November 1942. [2] She was among the French vessels scuttled at Toulon to prevent their seizure by Germany when German forces entered Toulon that day. [2]

Aurore′s wreck was refloated on 5 December 1942. [2] The Germans handed it over to French maritime authorities on 20 May 1944. [2] After World War II, it was scrapped in 1946.

See also

Related Research Articles

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.

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>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>Pégase</i> (Q156)

Pégase 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 decommissioned at the beginning of 1944 and subsequently abandoned.

French submarine <i>LEspoir</i>

L'Espoir 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 she was scuttled at Toulon 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>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.

French submarine <i>Eurydice</i> (Q130)

Eurydice (Q130) 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.

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.

French submarine <i>Galatée</i> (Q132) French naval vessel (1927–1942)

Galatée (Q132) 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.

Antiope (Q160) 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 returned to the Allied side late in 1942 when she joined the Free French Naval Forces.

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.

References

Footnotes

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.