French submarine Saphir

Last updated April 02, 2019

Four submarines of the French Navy have borne the name Saphir

A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term most commonly refers to a large, crewed vessel. It is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely operated vehicles and robots, as well as medium-sized or smaller vessels, such as the midget submarine and the wet sub. The noun submarine evolved as a shortened form of submarine boat; by naval tradition, submarines are usually referred to as "boats" rather than as "ships", regardless of their size.

The French Navy, informally "La Royale", is the maritime arm of the French Armed Forces. Dating back to 1624, the French Navy is one of the world's oldest naval forces. It has participated in conflicts around the globe and played a key part in establishing the French colonial empire.

French submarine Saphir (1908), an Émeraude-class submarine launched in 1908
French submarine Saphir (1928), the name ship of her class, launched in 1928
French submarine Saphir (S616), an ex-British S-class submarine, HMS Satyr, transferred to French service in 1952
French submarine Saphir (S602), a Rubis-class nuclear attack submarine launched in 1981

Saphir was one of six Émeraude-class submarines built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.

The Émeraude-class submarines was a group of six submarines built for the French Navy during the first decade of the 20th century. One boat was sunk and another captured during the First World War and the survivors were scrapped after the war.

<i>Saphir</i>-class submarine (1928) submarine class

The Saphir-class submarines were a class of six 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.

This article includes a list of ships with the same or similar names. If an internal link for a specific ship led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended ship article, if one exists.

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The French submarine Diamant was a Saphir-class submarine built for the French Navy in the mid-1930s. Laid down in July 1930, it was launched in May 1933 and commissioned in June 1934. Diamant was scuttled at Toulon on 27 November 1942 to prevent her capture by German forces, then refloated by Italian forces on 29 March 1943. On 22 June 1944, Diamant was bombed and sunk at Toulon by Allied aircraft.

French submarine <i>Nautilus</i> (1930) French Saphir-class submarine

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The French submarine Saphir was the lead ship of the Saphir-class submarines built for the French Navy in the mid-1930s. Laid down in May 1926, it was launched in December 1928 and commissioned in September 1930. Saphir was disarmed at Bizerte, Tunisia and renamed FR 112 after being captured there by Italian forces on 8 December 1942. Saphir was recaptured and scuttled by German forces at Naples, Italy on 15 September 1943.

French submarine <i>Turquoise</i> (1929)

The French submarine Turquoise was a Saphir-class submarine built for the French Navy in the mid-1930s. Laid down in October 1926, it was launched in May 1929 and commissioned in September 1930. Turquoise was disarmed at Bizerte, Tunisia and renamed FR 116 after being captured there by Italian forces on 8 December 1942. Turquoise was recaptured and scuttled by German forces at Naples, Italy on 8 May 1943.