The Émeraude class were built as part of the French Navy's 1903 building program to a Maugas single-hull design.[1] 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.[2]
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 Émeraude 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).[3]
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.[4]
On 13 December 1914, a British submarine, HMS B11, entered the straits and sank the Ottoman Navycentral batteryironcladMessudiyeh.[8] On 15 January 1915, to follow the example of B11 and without prior orders,[8] the commanding officer of Saphir, Lieutenant Henri Fournier, tried to force the entrance of the straits. As Saphir dived under a minefield off Çanakkale, she sprang a leak. The flooding forced Saphir to surface under fire from Ottoman guns, and Fournier gave the order to destroy Saphir′s code documents and scuttle the submarine 1,500 meters (1,640 yards) from the coast. The crew tried to gain ground by swimming. Thirteen of 27 enlisted men and the two officers did not survive the swim to shore, perishing from the cold; the 14 survivors were recovered by two Ottoman Army boats and transferred, after interrogation, to prisons, including the one in Afyonkarahisar. Some soon after were transferred to prisoner-of-war camps in Asia Minor, where they managed to escape.[9]
Citation
A French citation read:
The submarines Saphir and Curie, fallen gloriously in battle, are brought to the agenda of the Naval Army. In his affliction of having seen succumb such valiant servants of the country, the commander-in-chief reminds everyone how proud the army should be to have in its ranks officers and crews capable of heroic actions such as those that were accomplished by these valourous ships whose names will remain in maritime legends. Honour and glory to the officers and crews of the Saphir and Curie, they have truly earned it from the Fatherland.
^Garier 2002, p. 146: "Les sous marins Saphir et Curie tombés glorieusement au champ d'honneur sont portés à l'ordre du jour de l'Armée Navale. Dans son affliction d'avoir vu succomber d'aussi vaillants serviteurs du pays, le commandant en chef rappelle à tous combien l'armée doit être fière d'avoir dans ses rangs des officiers et des équipages capables d'actions aussi héroïques que celles qui ont été accomplies par ces valeureux bâtiments dont les noms resteront dans les fastes maritimes. Honneur et gloire aux officiers et équipages du Saphir et du Curie, ils ont bien mérité de la Patrie."
Bibliography
Couhat, Jean Labayle (1974). French Warships of World War I. London: Ian Allan. ISBN0-7110-0445-5.
Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-245-5.
Garier, Gérard (2002). A l'épreuve de la Grande Guerre. L'odyssée technique et humaine du sous-marin en France (in French). Vol. 3–2. Bourg-en-Bresse, France: Marines édition. ISBN2-909675-81-5.
Garier, Gérard (1998). Des Émeraude (1905-1906) au Charles Brun (1908–1933). L'odyssée technique et humaine du sous-marin en France (in French). Vol. 2. Bourg-en-Bresse, France: Marines édition. ISBN2-909675-34-3.
January 30, 2023
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For other ships with the same name see French submarine Saphir Saphir was one of six Emeraude class submarines built for the French Navy Marine Nationale in the first decade of the 20th century Saphir in port in ToulonHistoryFranceNameSaphirNamesakeSapphireBuilderArsenal de ToulonLaid downOctober 1903Launched6 February 1908Completed10 December 1910IdentificationPennant number Q44FateScuttled 15 January 1915General characteristicsClass and typeEmeraude class submarineDisplacement395 t 389 long tons surfaced 427 t 420 long tons submerged Length44 9 m 147 ft 4 in o a Beam3 9 m 12 ft 10 in Draft3 77 m 12 ft 4 in Installed power600 PS 440 kW 590 bhp diesel engines 600 PS electric motors Propulsion2 shafts 2 diesels 2 electric motorsSpeed11 26 knots 20 85 km h 12 96 mph surfaced 8 7 knots 16 1 km h 10 0 mph submerged Range2 000 nmi 3 700 km 2 300 mi at 7 3 knots 13 5 km h 8 4 mph surfaced 100 nmi 190 km 120 mi at 5 knots 9 3 km h 5 8 mph submerged Test depth40 m 130 ft Complement2 officers and 23 crewmenArmament4 450 mm 17 7 in torpedo tubes 2 bow 2 stern Contents 1 Design and description 2 Construction and career 3 Citation 4 Citations 5 BibliographyDesign and description EditThe Emeraude class were built as part of the French Navy s 1903 building program to a Maugas single hull design 1 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 2 For surface running the boats were powered by two Sautter Harle 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 Emeraude 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 3 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 4 Construction and career EditSaphir was laid down in October 1903 5 at the Arsenal de Toulon launched on 6 February 1909 and commissioned on 10 December 1910 6 Upon her completion Saphir was assigned to the Mediterranean In 1913 she joined a squadron based in Bizerte French Tunisia to defend the region 7 In late 1914 she moved to a base at Tenedos so as to be closer to the Dardanelles and to participate in monitoring and blockading of Turkish Straits 8 On 13 December 1914 a British submarine HMS B11 entered the straits and sank the Ottoman Navy central battery ironclad Messudiyeh 8 On 15 January 1915 to follow the example of B11 and without prior orders 8 the commanding officer of Saphir Lieutenant Henri Fournier tried to force the entrance of the straits As Saphir dived under a minefield off Canakkale she sprang a leak The flooding forced Saphir to surface under fire from Ottoman guns and Fournier gave the order to destroy Saphir s code documents and scuttle the submarine 1 500 meters 1 640 yards from the coast The crew tried to gain ground by swimming Thirteen of 27 enlisted men and the two officers did not survive the swim to shore perishing from the cold the 14 survivors were recovered by two Ottoman Army boats and transferred after interrogation to prisons including the one in Afyonkarahisar Some soon after were transferred to prisoner of war camps in Asia Minor where they managed to escape 9 Citation EditA French citation read The submarines Saphir and Curie fallen gloriously in battle are brought to the agenda of the Naval Army In his affliction of having seen succumb such valiant servants of the country the commander in chief reminds everyone how proud the army should be to have in its ranks officers and crews capable of heroic actions such as those that were accomplished by these valourous ships whose names will remain in maritime legends Honour and glory to the officers and crews of the Saphir and Curie they have truly earned it from the Fatherland Augustin Boue de Lapeyrere admiral of the French navy 10 Citations Edit Gardiner amp Gray p 208 Garier 1998 pp 12 13 23 Garier 1998 p 18 Garier 1998 pp 18 19 Couhat p 138 Garier 1998 p 12 Garier 2002 p 59 a b c Garier 2002 p 16 Garier 2002 pp 143 146 Garier 2002 p 146 Les sous marins Saphir et Curie tombes glorieusement au champ d honneur sont portes a l ordre du jour de l Armee Navale Dans son affliction d avoir vu succomber d aussi vaillants serviteurs du pays le commandant en chef rappelle a tous combien l armee doit etre fiere d avoir dans ses rangs des officiers et des equipages capables d actions aussi heroiques que celles qui ont ete accomplies par ces valeureux batiments dont les noms resteront dans les fastes maritimes Honneur et gloire aux officiers et equipages du Saphir et du Curie ils ont bien merite de la Patrie Bibliography EditCouhat Jean Labayle 1974 French Warships of World War I London Ian Allan ISBN 0 7110 0445 5 Gardiner Robert amp Gray Randal 1985 Conway s All The World s Fighting Ships 1906 1921 London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 245 5 Garier Gerard 2002 A l epreuve de la Grande Guerre L odyssee technique et humaine du sous marin en France in French Vol 3 2 Bourg en Bresse France Marines edition ISBN 2 909675 81 5 Garier Gerard 1998 DesEmeraude 1905 1906 auCharles Brun 1908 1933 L odyssee technique et humaine du sous marin en France in French Vol 2 Bourg en Bresse France Marines edition ISBN 2 909675 34 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title French submarine Saphir 1908 amp oldid 1094728627, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
