Farfadet-class submarine
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.
 Farfadet under way in harbour | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Farfadet class |
| Operators |  French Navy |
| Preceded by | Sirène class |
| Succeeded by | Français class |
| Subclasses | Lutin |
| Built | 1900–1905 |
| In commission | 1902–1913 |
| Completed | 4 |
| Scrapped | 4 |
| General characteristics (Farfadet) | |
| Type | Submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 41.35 m (135 ft 8 in) (o/a) |
| Beam | 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) |
| Installed power | 183 hp (136 kW) |
| Propulsion | 1 or 2 shafts; 2 electric motors |
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Complement | 16 |
| Armament | 4 × 450 mm (18 in) torpedoes |
Design and description
The Farfadets were designed by Gabriel Maugas, an early French submarine engineer at the Rochefort Naval Dockyard. The Farfadets were single-hulled, and powered by electric motors only, limiting their range and surface performance compared to the contemporary Sirene class. However they had variable-pitch propellers, developed by Maugas, obviating the need for a reversing engine.
The submarines displaced 395 metric tons (389 long tons) surfaced and 427 metric tons (420 long tons) submerged. They had an overall length of 44.9 meters (147 ft 4 in), a beam of 3.9 meters (12 ft 10 in), and a draft of 3.8 meters (12 ft 6 in). They had an operational diving depth of 40 meters (130 ft). Their crew numbered 2 officers and 23 enlisted men.[1]
For surface running, the boats were powered by two Sautter-Harlé 300-metric-horsepower (296 bhp; 221 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 300-metric-horsepower electric motor. They could reach a maximum speed of 11.26 knots (20.85 km/h; 12.96 mph) on the surface and 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph) underwater. The Farfadet class had a surface endurance of 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) and a submerged endurance of 100 nmi (190 km; 120 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph).[2]
The boats were armed with four internal 450-millimeter (17.7 in) torpedo tubes, two in the bow and two in the stern, for which they carried six torpedoes.[3]
Service history
The Farfadets were ordered as part of the French Navy's 1899 building programme, and were constructed over the next three years at the naval dockyards at Rochefort. However they were not successful in service; Farfadet was lost in a diving accident in July 1905, and Lutin in October 1906. Farfadet was raised and recommissioned as Follet, remaining in service until 1911, but the other three vessels were disarmed and converted to other use.
Ships
| Ship | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Farfadet | Arsenal de Rochefort | 2 April 1900 | 17 May 1901 | 29 August 1902 | Lost in diving accident, 6 July 1905. Raised, re-commissioned as Follet, stricken, 22 Nov 1913, and sold for scrap. |
| Korrigan | 23 April 1900 | 25 January 1902 | Sold for scrap, 10 August 1911 | ||
| Gnôme | c. 1901 | 23 July 1902 | 2 June 1905 | Sold for scrap, 24 March 1912 | |
| Lutin | 27 February 1902 | 12 February 1903 | 1904 | Sold for scrap, 2 August 1911 |
Notes
- Garier 1998, pp. 12–13, 23
- Garier 1998, p. 18
- Garier 1998, pp. 18–19
References
- Garier, Gérard (n.d.). L'odyssée technique et humaine du sous-marin en France [The Technical and Human Odyssey of the Submarine in France: From Plongeur (1863) to Guêpe (1904)] (in French). Vol. 1: Du Plongeur (1863) aux Guêpe (1904). Bourg-en-Bresse, France: Marines édition. ISBN 2-909675-19-X.
- Roberts, Stephen S. (2021). French Warships in the Age of Steam 1859–1914: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-5267-4533-0.
- Smigielski, Adam (1985). "France". In Gray, Randal (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 190–220. ISBN 0-87021-907-3.