NAVYPEDIA

Photo

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

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Pluviôse	Q051	Q17	Arsenal de Cherbourg	1906	27.5.1907	10.1908	stricken 1919
Ventôse	Q052	Q18	Arsenal de Cherbourg	1906	15.9.1907	1908	stricken 1919
Germinal	Q053	Q19	Arsenal de Cherbourg	1906	7.12.1907	1908	stricken 1919
Floréal	Q054	Q20	Arsenal de Cherbourg	1906	18.4.1908	1909	collision 2.8.1918
Prairial	Q055	Q21	Arsenal de Cherbourg	1906	26.9.1908	1909	collision 29.4.1918
Messidor	Q056	Q22	Arsenal de Cherbourg	1906	24.12.1908	1909	stricken 1919
Thermidor	Q057	Q23	Arsenal de Cherbourg	1906	3.7.1909	1910	stricken 1919
Fructidor	Q058	Q24	Arsenal de Cherbourg	1906	13.11.1909	1910	stricken 1919
Vendémiaire	Q059	Q25	Arsenal de Cherbourg	1906	7.7.1907	1908	collision 8.6.1912
Papin	Q064		Arsenal de Rochefort	1906	4.1.1908	1909	stricken 1919
Fresnel	Q065		Arsenal de Rochefort	1906	16.6.1908	1909	sunk 5.12.1915
Berthelot	Q066		Arsenal de Rochefort	1906	19.5.1909	1910	stricken 1919
Monge	Q067		Arsenal de Toulon	1906	31.12.1908	1909	sunk 29.12.1915
Ampère	Q068		Arsenal de Toulon	1906	30.10.1909	1910	stricken 1919
Gay-Lussac	Q069		Arsenal de Toulon	1906	17.3.1910	1.1911	stricken 1919
Watt	Q075		Arsenal de Rochefort	1906	18.6.1909	1910	stricken 1919
Cugnot	Q076		Arsenal de Rochefort	1906	14.10.1909	1910	stricken 1919
Giffard	Q077		Arsenal de Rochefort	1906	10.2.1910	1910	stricken 1919

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	398 / 550
Length, m	51.1
Breadth, m	4.90
Draught, m	3.00
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 VTE, 2 du Temple boilers / 2 electric motors
Power, h. p.	700 / 450
Max speed, kts	12 / 8
Fuel, t	oil
Endurance, nm(kts)	1500(9) / 50(5)
Armament	1 - 450 TT (bow), 6 - 450 TC (2 Drzewiecki drop-collars, 2 x 1 ext cradles fwd, 2 x 1 ext cradles aft, total 8)
Complement	24
Diving depth operational, m	40

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Constructed under the 1905 programme, laid down in 1906 and completed between October 1908 and January 1911. These 18 twin-hulled submarines (named after scientists and the Revolutionary months) were built to a design by Laubeuf. Their steam propulsion prevented them from submerging very quickly although in fact they were good sea boats. Despite their one main drawback the class were almost constantly employed during the war.

Modernizations

1914, Pluviôse, Prairial, Messidor, Thermidor, Fructidor, Papin, Fresnel, Berthelot, Ampère, Gay-Lussac, Watt, Cugnot, Giffard: - 1 - 450 TT (bow)

Naval service

Pluviôse was rammed and sunk near Calais by the cross-channel steamer Pas-de-Calais 26 May 1910 when surfacing with the loss all hands. She was refloated and returned to service.

Floréal was sunk 2.8.1918 in a collision with the British armed boarding steamer Hazel off Mudros. Fresnel was torpedoed 5.12.1915 off Durazzo by Austro-Hungarian destroyers and blew up. Monge was sunk 29.12.1915 in the south Adriatic by the Austro-Hungarian cruiser Helgoland. Vendémiaire collided 8.6.1912 with French battleship Saint-Louis. Prairial collided 29.4.1918 off Le Havre with the British SS Tropic.

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