The Persée was a Redoutable-class[a]submarine in the navies of the French Third Republic and Vichy France. Belonging to the M6 series, it was launched in 1931. The vessel was damaged by an explosion while undergoing sea trials off the coast of France, killing two aboard and wounding several others. Based at Brest at the onset of the Second World War, Persée joined in the search for the German merchant fleet still at sea. The vessel joined the Vichy France Navy and transferred first to Casablanca then Dakar. Persée was attacked at Dakar where the submarine was torpedoed on the surface by a British ship. The vessel was set afire and sank, with the entirety of the crew rescued save one.
Persée was part of a semi-homogenous class of thirty-one submarines designed for oceangoing patrols and entering service between 1931 and 1939. 92.3 metres (302 ft 10 in) long and with a beam of 8.10 metres (26 ft 7 in) and a draught of 4.40 metres (14 ft 5 in), their maximum diving depth was 80 metres (260 ft). Their displacement was 1,572 tonnes on the surface and 2,082 tonnes submerged. Surface propulsion was provided by two diesel motors with a total of 6,000 horsepower (4,500 kW), giving a maximum surface speed of 18.6 knots (34.4 km/h; 21.4 mph), with electric propulsion of 2,250 hp (1,680 kW) giving a submerged speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). They had a surface range of 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 10 knots and a submerged range of 100 nmi (190 km; 120 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph).[citation needed]
Historyedit
Early careeredit
Laid down on 14 April 1929 with the hull number Q154, the submarine was launched on 23 May 1931. On 26 September 1932, two months after the loss of the Prométhée, another incident killed six sailors and workers at the naval docks in Cherbourg. Commissioning under the command of lieutenant de vaisseau Bertrand, the Persée left for trials off pointe de Jardeheu, a few miles to the west of Cherbourg. The crankcases of the Schneider diesel motors leaked oil and then exploded, killing two men and wounding several others,[2] including the vessel's second in command, lieutenant de vaisseauJean L'Herminier, future commander of the Casabianca during the Second World War. The submarine was towed back to Cherbourg by the Simon-Duhamel II, a trawler operating from Fecamp, escorted by the submarine Surcouf, whose doctor treated the wounded.[3] The Persée then entered service on 10 June 1934.
Second World Waredit
At the start of the Second World War she, Ajax, Archimède and Poncelet[4] formed the 6th submarine division, based at Brest. Persée and Poncelet patrolled off the Azores, whence part of the German merchant fleet had fled and from which they were suspected to be acting as supply ships for German U-boats.[5] The pair of submarines returned to Cherbourg on 12 October.[6]
During the German advance in spring the next year she left Cherbourg for Brest, departing the latter at 18:30 on 18 June in tandem with the supply ship Jules Verne, Ajax, Poncelet, Casabianca, Sfax and nine other submarines, arriving at Casablanca on 23 June.[7] After the British attack on Mers-el-Kébir on 3 July, she and Ajax patrolled along the Moroccan coast.[8]
From 19 July onwards Poncelet and Persée were instead based at Dakar. From 26 to 29 August Persée escorted the cable-laying ship Alsace, which had been sent to repair the cable between Casablanca and Dakar, which the British had cut off Cap Juby.[9] On 23 September Dakar was attacked by British and Free French forces. HMS Inglefield torpedoed the Persée on the surface off Cap Manuel but failed to sink her. However, British destroyers continued to hunt her and - unable to dive due to shoals - she was seriously damaged and set on fire. Her whole crew except one quartermaster was then picked up by the avisoLa Surprise.[10]
Notesedit
^Also known as the 1500-tonne class or "sous-marins de grandes croisières" (large cruiser submarines)
Referencesedit
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "FR Persée of the French Navy – French Submarine of the Redoutable class – Allied Warships of WWII". uboat.net. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
^120 ans en Cotentin(PDF) (in French). Éditions La Presse de la Manche. 2009. p. 96. Retrieved 10 July 2012.[permanent dead link]
^"Les secours du chalutier Simon-Duhamel II". L'Ouest-Éclair (in French). 28 September 1932. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
Huan, Claude (2004). Les Sous-marins français 1918-1945 (in French). Rennes: Marines Éditions. p. 240. ISBN978-2-915379-07-5. OCLC 55595422.
Picard, Claude (2006). Les Sous-marins de 1 500 tonnes (in French). Rennes: Marines Editions. p. 119. ISBN2-915379-55-6. OCLC 421731181.
November 10, 2023
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For other ships with the same name see French ship Persee The Persee was a Redoutable class a submarine in the navies of the French Third Republic and Vichy France Belonging to the M6 series it was launched in 1931 The vessel was damaged by an explosion while undergoing sea trials off the coast of France killing two aboard and wounding several others Based at Brest at the onset of the Second World War Persee joined in the search for the German merchant fleet still at sea The vessel joined the Vichy France Navy and transferred first to Casablanca then Dakar Persee was attacked at Dakar where the submarine was torpedoed on the surface by a British ship The vessel was set afire and sank with the entirety of the crew rescued save one Persee The Ajax another Redoubtable class submarineHistoryFranceNamePerseeNamesakePerseus the legendary founder of Mycenae and of the Perseid dynasty in Greek mythologyBuilderChantiers Navals Francais CaenLaid down14 April 1929Launched23 May 1931Commissioned10 June 1934IdentificationQ154FateSunk 23 September 1940General characteristicsClass and typeRedoutable class submarineDisplacement1 572 tonnes surfaced 2 082 tonnes submerged Length92 30 m 302 ft 10 in Beam8 10 m 26 ft 7 in 1 Propulsion2 diesels of 6 000 hp 4 500 kW 2 electric engines of 2 250 hp 1 680 kW Speed17 5 knots 32 4 km h 20 1 mph surfaced 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph submerged Range14 000 nautical miles 26 000 km at 7 knots 13 km h 8 1 mph 10 000 nautical miles 20 000 km at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph 4 000 nautical miles 7 000 km at 17 knots 31 km h 20 mph 90 nautical miles 170 km at 7 knots submerged Test depth80 m 260 ft Complement5 officers 6 in operations 66 menArmament9 x 550 mm torpedo tubes 2 x 400 mm torpedo tubes 1 x 100 mm cannon 1 x 13 2 mm 76 double machine gun Contents 1 Description 2 History 2 1 Early career 2 2 Second World War 3 Notes 4 References 5 BibliographyDescription editPersee was part of a semi homogenous class of thirty one submarines designed for oceangoing patrols and entering service between 1931 and 1939 92 3 metres 302 ft 10 in long and with a beam of 8 10 metres 26 ft 7 in and a draught of 4 40 metres 14 ft 5 in their maximum diving depth was 80 metres 260 ft Their displacement was 1 572 tonnes on the surface and 2 082 tonnes submerged Surface propulsion was provided by two diesel motors with a total of 6 000 horsepower 4 500 kW giving a maximum surface speed of 18 6 knots 34 4 km h 21 4 mph with electric propulsion of 2 250 hp 1 680 kW giving a submerged speed of 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph They had a surface range of 10 000 nautical miles 19 000 km 12 000 mi at 10 knots and a submerged range of 100 nmi 190 km 120 mi at 5 knots 9 3 km h 5 8 mph citation needed History editEarly career edit Laid down on 14 April 1929 with the hull number Q154 the submarine was launched on 23 May 1931 On 26 September 1932 two months after the loss of the Promethee another incident killed six sailors and workers at the naval docks in Cherbourg Commissioning under the command of lieutenant de vaisseau Bertrand the Persee left for trials off pointe de Jardeheu a few miles to the west of Cherbourg The crankcases of the Schneider diesel motors leaked oil and then exploded killing two men and wounding several others 2 including the vessel s second in command lieutenant de vaisseau Jean L Herminier future commander of the Casabianca during the Second World War The submarine was towed back to Cherbourg by the Simon Duhamel II a trawler operating from Fecamp escorted by the submarine Surcouf whose doctor treated the wounded 3 The Persee then entered service on 10 June 1934 Second World War edit At the start of the Second World War she Ajax Archimede and Poncelet 4 formed the 6th submarine division based at Brest Persee and Poncelet patrolled off the Azores whence part of the German merchant fleet had fled and from which they were suspected to be acting as supply ships for German U boats 5 The pair of submarines returned to Cherbourg on 12 October 6 During the German advance in spring the next year she left Cherbourg for Brest departing the latter at 18 30 on 18 June in tandem with the supply ship Jules Verne Ajax Poncelet Casabianca Sfax and nine other submarines arriving at Casablanca on 23 June 7 After the British attack on Mers el Kebir on 3 July she and Ajax patrolled along the Moroccan coast 8 From 19 July onwards Poncelet and Persee were instead based at Dakar From 26 to 29 August Persee escorted the cable laying ship Alsace which had been sent to repair the cable between Casablanca and Dakar which the British had cut off Cap Juby 9 On 23 September Dakar was attacked by British and Free French forces HMS Inglefield torpedoed the Persee on the surface off Cap Manuel but failed to sink her However British destroyers continued to hunt her and unable to dive due to shoals she was seriously damaged and set on fire Her whole crew except one quartermaster was then picked up by the aviso La Surprise 10 Notes edit Also known as the 1500 tonne class or sous marins de grandes croisieres large cruiser submarines References edit Helgason Gudmundur FR Persee of the French Navy French Submarine of the Redoutable class Allied Warships of WWII uboat net Retrieved 30 March 2018 120 ans en Cotentin PDF in French Editions La Presse de la Manche 2009 p 96 Retrieved 10 July 2012 permanent dead link Les secours du chalutier Simon Duhamel II L Ouest Eclair in French 28 September 1932 Retrieved 20 August 2012 Huan 2004 p 49 Picard 2006 pp 33 35 Huan 2004 p 62 Picard 2006 p 39 Huan 2004 pp 88 89 Huan 2004 p 93 Huan 2004 p 94Bibliography editHuan Claude 2004 Les Sous marins francais 1918 1945 in French Rennes Marines Editions p 240 ISBN 978 2 915379 07 5 OCLC 55595422 Picard Claude 2006 Les Sous marins de 1 500 tonnes in French Rennes Marines Editions p 119 ISBN 2 915379 55 6 OCLC 421731181 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title French submarine Persee amp oldid 1178532936, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
