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.
A scale model of Saphir displayed at the Musée national de la Marine
Saphir-class submarines had a surfaced displacement of 761 long tons (773 t) and a submerged displacement of 925 long tons (940 t). Their dimensions were 66 m (216 ft 6 in) long, with a beam of 7.1 m (23 ft 4 in) and a draught of 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in). Propulsion while surfaced was provided by two Normand-Vickers diesel motors with a total of 1,300 bhp (969 kW) and while submerged by two electric motors providing a total of 1,000 hp (746 kW) through two shafts enabling a maximum speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) while surfaced and 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) while submerged. Their bunkers of 95 long tons (97 t) of oil fuel gave them a surfaced range of 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h), and 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h) and their batteries a submerged range of 80 nautical miles (150 km) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h). They carried a complement of 42 men.[1][2]Saphir-class submarines could dive up to 250 ft (76 m).[3]
Drawing of a Saphir-class submarine. The black circles in bottom view are the vertical mine launchers
The Saphir-class submarines were constructed to be able to launch torpedoes and lay mines without surfacing. The moored contact mines they used contained 220 kg of TNT and operated at up to 200 meters of depth. They were attached to the submarine's exterior under a hydrodynamic protection and were jettisoned with compressed air.
Captured by Italian forces on 8 December 1942, renamed FR 116. Sunk on 6 May 1943 off Tunisia. Subsequently, salved and sold for scrap on 12 August 1947.
Laid down on the centenary of the birth of Jules Verne.[5] Captured by Italian forces on 8 December 1942, then sunk by an air attack on 31 January 1943 at Bizerte. Subsequently, salved and sold for scrap on 12 August 1947.
Used by the Allies after Operation Torch, sunk on 8 July 1944 by a British plane after being mistaken for a German U-boat at 55°27' North, 33°50' West.
During the war, five Saphir-class ships operated in the Mediterranean Sea and only Rubis operated with the Home Fleet. Later, she joined the ranks of the Free French Naval Forces.[7] During its service on the side of the Allies, Rubis was a very effective ship.[7] From April 1940 to the end of 1944, it carried out 22 mine laying operations in the waters off Norway.[7] 15 ships sank on its mines, including minesweepers, 4 small warships, and submarines. In addition, it sank one ship with torpedoes.[7] Only one ship in the Mediterranean Sea changed sides to join the Allies, Perle, which on July 8, 1944, was mistakenly sunk in the Atlantic by an Allied plane.[8]
Of the remaining submarines, Diamant was scuttled at Toulon on 27 November 1942;[9]Nautilus, Saphir and Turquoise were demobilized in Bizerte between 1941 and 1942. After the occupation of Tunis by Axis troops, they were taken over by Italians in December 1942. Saphir was renamed "FR 112", and Turquoise, "FR 116". These ships were unusable and disarmed remained in Bizerte until the end of activities in Africa. Shortly before surrendering, the Italians sank them. Only Rubis survived the war and was withdrawn from service on October 4, 1949.[7]
^ abcde"Le sous-marin Rubis, Les unités militaires - Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération". www.ordredelaliberation.fr.
^"FR Perle of the French Navy – French submarine of the Requin class – Allied Warships of WWII". uboat.net. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
^"FR Diamant of the French Navy – French submarine of the Requin class – Allied Warships of WWII". uboat.net. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
January 05, 2023
saphir, class, submarine, 1928, confused, with, saphir, class, submarine, 1951, saphir, class, submarines, were, class, submarines, built, france, between, 1926, 1935, french, navy, most, action, during, world, vichy, french, navy, free, french, naval, forces,. Not to be confused with Saphir class submarine 1951 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 Saphir class submarine 1928 Diamant date unknownClass overviewNameSaphir classBuildersArsenal de ToulonOperators French Navy Free French Naval Forces Vichy French NavyBuilt1926 1935In service1930 1949Completed6Lost1Retired5General characteristicsTypeSubmarineDisplacement761 long tons 773 t surfaced 925 long tons 940 t submerged Length66 m 216 ft 6 in Beam7 1 m 23 ft 4 in Draught4 3 m 14 ft 1 in Propulsion2 diesel engines 1 300 hp 969 kW 2 electric motors 1 100 hp 820 kW Speed12 knots 22 km h surfaced 9 knots 17 km h submerged Range7 000 nautical miles 13 000 km at 7 5 knots 13 9 km h 4 000 nautical miles 7 400 km at 12 knots 22 km h 80 nautical miles 150 km at 4 knots 7 4 km h submerged Test depth250 ft 76 m Complement42 menArmament3 550 mm 21 7 in torpedo tubes 2 400 mm 15 7 in torpedo tubes 1 75 mm 3 0 in deck gun 2 13 2 mm 0 52 in machine guns 2 8 mm 0 31 in machine guns 32 mines Contents 1 Design 2 Ships 3 Service 4 See also 5 ReferencesDesign Edit A scale model of Saphir displayed at the Musee national de la Marine Saphir class submarines had a surfaced displacement of 761 long tons 773 t and a submerged displacement of 925 long tons 940 t Their dimensions were 66 m 216 ft 6 in long with a beam of 7 1 m 23 ft 4 in and a draught of 4 3 m 14 ft 1 in Propulsion while surfaced was provided by two Normand Vickers diesel motors with a total of 1 300 bhp 969 kW and while submerged by two electric motors providing a total of 1 000 hp 746 kW through two shafts enabling a maximum speed of 12 knots 22 km h 14 mph while surfaced and 9 knots 17 km h 10 mph while submerged Their bunkers of 95 long tons 97 t of oil fuel gave them a surfaced range of 7 000 nautical miles 13 000 km at 7 5 knots 13 9 km h and 4 000 nautical miles 7 400 km at 12 knots 22 km h and their batteries a submerged range of 80 nautical miles 150 km at 4 knots 7 4 km h They carried a complement of 42 men 1 2 Saphir class submarines could dive up to 250 ft 76 m 3 Drawing of a Saphir class submarine The black circles in bottom view are the vertical mine launchers The Saphir class submarines were constructed to be able to launch torpedoes and lay mines without surfacing The moored contact mines they used contained 220 kg of TNT and operated at up to 200 meters of depth They were attached to the submarine s exterior under a hydrodynamic protection and were jettisoned with compressed air Ships EditSaphir class submarinesName Laid down launched commissioned fateSaphir 25 May 1926 20 December 1928 30 September 1930 Captured by Italian forces on 8 December 1942 renamed FR 112 Seized by German forces on 15 September 1943 in Naples and scuttled 4 Turquoise 20 October 1926 16 May 1929 10 September 1930 Captured by Italian forces on 8 December 1942 renamed FR 116 Sunk on 6 May 1943 off Tunisia Subsequently salved and sold for scrap on 12 August 1947 Nautilus 8 August 1927 21 March 1930 15 July 1931 Laid down on the centenary of the birth of Jules Verne 5 Captured by Italian forces on 8 December 1942 then sunk by an air attack on 31 January 1943 at Bizerte Subsequently salved and sold for scrap on 12 August 1947 Rubis 3 April 1929 30 September 1931 4 April 1933 Used successfully by the Free French Forces from 1940 stricken from the naval register 4 October 1949 and scuttled in the Mediterranean Sea in 1958 Diamant 21 July 1930 18 May 1933 20 June 1934 Scuttled on 27 November 1942 at Toulon refloated in March 1943 by Italy but sunk again in 1944 Perle 21 July 1931 30 July 1935 1 March 1937 Used by the Allies after Operation Torch sunk on 8 July 1944 by a British plane after being mistaken for a German U boat at 55 27 North 33 50 West 6 Service EditDuring the war five Saphir class ships operated in the Mediterranean Sea and only Rubis operated with the Home Fleet Later she joined the ranks of the Free French Naval Forces 7 During its service on the side of the Allies Rubis was a very effective ship 7 From April 1940 to the end of 1944 it carried out 22 mine laying operations in the waters off Norway 7 15 ships sank on its mines including minesweepers 4 small warships and submarines In addition it sank one ship with torpedoes 7 Only one ship in the Mediterranean Sea changed sides to join the Allies Perle which on July 8 1944 was mistakenly sunk in the Atlantic by an Allied plane 8 Of the remaining submarines Diamant was scuttled at Toulon on 27 November 1942 9 Nautilus Saphir and Turquoise were demobilized in Bizerte between 1941 and 1942 After the occupation of Tunis by Axis troops they were taken over by Italians in December 1942 Saphir was renamed FR 112 and Turquoise FR 116 These ships were unusable and disarmed remained in Bizerte until the end of activities in Africa Shortly before surrendering the Italians sank them Only Rubis survived the war and was withdrawn from service on October 4 1949 7 See also EditList of submarines of FranceReferences Edit Gardiner Robert Chesneau Roger 1980 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1906 1921 London Conway p 274 ISBN 0851771467 Fontenoy Paul E 2007 Submarines An Illustrated History of Their Impact ABC CLIO p 188 ISBN 9781851095636 Tucker Spencer 30 November 2011 World War II at Sea An Encyclopedia Volume 1 ABC CLIO p 717 ISBN 9781598844573 Q 145 4 November 2013 Archived from the original on 4 November 2013 Q 152 4 November 2013 Archived from the original on 4 November 2013 Submarines www battleships cruisers co uk a b c d e Le sous marin Rubis Les unites militaires Musee de l Ordre de la Liberation www ordredelaliberation fr FR Perle of the French Navy French submarine of the Requin class Allied Warships of WWII uboat net Retrieved 22 October 2018 FR Diamant of the French Navy French submarine of the Requin class Allied Warships of WWII uboat net Retrieved 22 October 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Saphir class submarine 1928 amp oldid 1122421512, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
