NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Saphir 1909 Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Émeraude	Q041	Q14	Arsenal de Cherbourg	10.1903	6.8.1906	10.1908	stricken 11.1919
Opale	Q042	Q15	Arsenal de Cherbourg	10.1903	20.11.1906	1908	stricken 11.1919
Rubis	Q043	Q16	Arsenal de Cherbourg	10.1903	26.6.1907	1909	stricken 11.1919
Saphir	Q044		Arsenal de Toulon	10.1903	6.2.1908	1909	sunk 15.1.1915
Topase	Q045		Arsenal de Toulon	10.1903	2.7.1908	1910	stricken 11.1919
Turquoise	Q046		Arsenal de Toulon	10.1903	3.8.1908	12.1910	wrecked 30.10.1915

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	392 / 425
Length, m	44.9
Breadth, m	3.90
Draught, m	3.60
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Sautter-Harlé diesels / 2 electric motors
Power, h. p.	600 / 200
Max speed, kts	11.5 / 9.2
Fuel, t	diesel oil
Endurance, nm(kts)	2000(7.3) / 100(5)
Armament	6 - 450 TT (4 bow, 2 stern)
Complement	21
Diving depth operational, m	40

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Single-hull type boats to a design by Maugas, they were all built under the 1903 programme. Although proper submarines their surface buoyancy was not good; similarly their diesels were poorly designed which meant that trials were delayed and fraught with problems.

Modernizations 8.

1915, Topase, Turquoise: + 1 x 1 - 37/40 M1902

Naval service

Saphir sank in the Dardanelles after hitting a mine in 15.1.1915. Turquoise was damaged by Turkish gunfire and consequently beached on 30 October 1915. The Turks changed her name to Mustadieh Ombashi (or Müstecip Ombasi) after refloating her but she was not commissioned. She was condemned shortly after being returned to the French in 1919.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.