The Émeraude-class submarines consisted 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.
Saphir was one of six Émeraude-class submarines built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.
The French submarine Mariotte was a submarine built for the French Navy prior to World War I. Intended to accompany the fleet, she was designed for high speed on the surface. Although the navy was unsatisfied with her performance on the surface, the boat had a higher underwater speed than any French submarine before or during the following 35 years. Mariotte was plagued with engine problems during her construction and the navy spent years fixing the various issues before finally commissioning her five years after beginning construction. During the war, she participated in the Dardanelles Campaign, but had to be scuttled after she became entangled in the cables of a minefield on her first attempt to penetrate the Dardanelles.
Topaze was one of six Émeraude-class submarines built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.
Opale was one of six Émeraude-class submarines built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.
The Circé-class submarines consisted of a pair of submarines built for the French Navy during the first decade of the 20th century. One boat was sunk in a collision before the First World War and the other was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine in the last year of the war.
Calypso was one of two Circé-class submarines built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.
Circé was the lead boat of her class of two submarines built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.
Prairial was one of 18 Pluviôse-class submarines built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. During World War I, Priarial collided with the British steamer Tropic in the English Channel off Le Havre, France, and sank with the loss of 19 of her 26 crew.
Germinal was one of 18 Pluviôse-class submarines built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.
Floréal was one of 18 Pluviôse-class submarines built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.
Giffard was one of 18 Pluviôse-class submarines built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.
Thermidor was one of 18 Pluviôse-class submarines built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century.
Archimède was one of four experimental submarines ordered for the French Navy in 1906. Each boat was built to a different design and Archimède was optimized to maximize speed and range.
Amiral Bourgois was one of four experimental submarines ordered for the French Navy in 1906. Each boat was built to a different design and Amiral Bourgois was intended to test a novel powerplant. The experimental diesel engines took over six years to build and greatly delayed the boat's completion until 1913. Although engine problems plagued the submarine throughout her service, she was commissioned shortly after the start of the First World War in 1914, but never made an operational patrol. Amiral Bourgois was under repair when the war ended in 1918, but the work was cancelled shortly afterwards. The boat was struck the following year and offered for sale in 1920. There were no offers and she was used for torpedo testing in 1924–1926. The submarine was sold for scrap in 1927.
Charles Brun was one of four experimental submarines ordered for the French Navy in 1906. Each boat was built to a different design and Charles Brun was intended to test a novel powerplant. Although the shore-based prototype installation was successful, it was a failure when evaluated aboard the submarine, and the boat was never commissioned for active service. Her hull was stripped of its equipment and was used to test a floating drydock in 1914. During the First World War, the hull was ordered to be converted into a water tank in 1916, but it is not certain if this was actually done before it was sold for scrap in 1920.
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.
Aigrette was the lead boat of the Aigrette-class submarines built for the French Navy between 1902 and 1905. Laid down in May 1902, she was launched in February 1904 and commissioned in 1908. She was essentially an experimental submarine, and although in service during World War I, saw no action. The class was designed by Maxime Laubeuf and used Drzewiecki drop collar launchers and external cradles to launch torpedoes.
X was an experimental submarine built for the French Navy during the first decade of the 20th century. Designed by Gaston Romazzotti, she was shaped like the letter Y with two sterns, making her the first submarine with two propeller shafts. The boat was completed in 1905 and spent the next two years conducting her sea trials. X was renamed Dauphin (Dolphin) in 1911. Her internal-combustion engines proved unreliable and she was decommissioned in 1913 and struck from the navy list the following year. The submarine was not used during the First World War and was sold for scrap in 1922.
The French submarine Y was an experimental submarine built for the French Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. She was launched in 1905, but was only commissioned for her sea trials and remained in experimental status because her diesel engine could not be used underwater. A planned refit, which included adding an electric motor and batteries for underwater use in 1907 was cancelled as too expensive. Y was stricken from the navy list in 1909, but was retained for experimental purposes until 1911 when she was sold for scrap.
French Navy