NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Requin prewar

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Requin	Q115	Q42	Arsenal de Cherbourg	1923	19.7.1924	5.1926	captured by Germany 8.12.1942, to Italy (FR113)
Souffleur	Q116	Q43	Arsenal de Cherbourg	1923	1.10.1924	8.1926	sunk 25.6.1941
Morse	Q117	Q44	Arsenal de Cherbourg	1923	11.11.1925	2.1928	sunk 16.6.1940
Narval	Q118	Q45	Arsenal de Cherbourg	1923	9.5.1925	7.1926	FNFL 6.1940, sunk 15.12.1940
Marsouin	Q119		Arsenal de Brest	1923	27.12.1924	9.1927	FNFL 11.1942, BU 2.1946
Dauphin	Q120		Arsenal de Toulon	1923	2.4.1925	11.1927	captured by Germany 8.12.1942, to Italy (FR115)
Caïman	Q127	Q46	Arsenal de Cherbourg	1924	3.3.1927	12.1927	scuttled 27.11.1942
Phoque	Q128		Arsenal de Brest	1924	16.3.1926	5.1928	captured by Germany 8.12.1942, to Italy (FR111)
Espadon	Q129		Arsenal de Toulon	1924	28.5.1926	12.1927	captured by Germany 8.12.1942, to Italy (FR114)

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	947
Displacement normal, t	1150 / 1441
Length, m	78.3
Breadth, m	6.84
Draught, m	5.10
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Sulzer or Schneider diesels / 2 electric motors
Power, h. p.	2900 / 1800
Max speed, kts	15 / 9
Fuel, t	diesel oil 116 + 51 in ballast tanks = 167
Endurance, nm(kts)	6650(10) / 105(5)
Armament	1 x 1 - 100/45 M1917, 2 x 1 - 8.80, 10 - 550 TT (4 bow, 2 stern, 2 x 2 ext, 16)
Complement	51
Diving depth operational, m	80

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Project "C4". 1922 (first six boats) and 1923 (last 3 boats) programmes. First French interwar ocean-going submarines. At their designing experience of study of requisitioned German boats was used. Bad manoeuvrability and low surface speed concerned to lacks. They intended for service in colonies, operations on communications and reconnaissance. Double-hulled. In 1935-1937 all submarines of class have passed major refit with full machinery replacing.

Modernizations

m. b. 1943 - 1944, Marsouin: - 2 x 1 - 8.80; + 1 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV.

Naval service

Morse was 16.6.1940 lost at Sfax (Tunisia) on a mine or (on Italian version) was sunk by Italian submarine Durbo. Souffleur was sunk by British submarine Parthian 25.6.1941 off Beirut during Syrian campaign. Narval after armistice 26.6.1940 passed to Malta and joined Allies. She was lost at coast of Tunisia 15-19.12.1940 on a mine or sunk by Italian destroyer Curtatone or 7.1.1941 by Italian torpedo boat Clio. Requin was captured by Germans at Bizerte 8.12.1942 and transferred to Italians. She was named FR113, but never commissioned and blown up by Italians at Genoa 9.9.1943. Dauphin was captured by Germans at Bizerte 8.12.1942 and transferred to Italians. She was named FR115, but never commissioned. She was again captured by Germans and scuttled by them at Puzzoli (Italy) 15.9.1943. Espadon was captured by Germans at Bizerte 8.12.1942 and transferred to Italians. She was named FR114, but never commissioned. She was again captured by Germans and scuttled by them at Castellamare (Italy) 13.9.1943. Phoque was captured by Germans at Bizerte 8.12.1942 and transferred to Italians. She was commissioned as FR111 and sunk in the first campaign by Allied aircraft off Syracuse (Sicily) 28.2.1943. Caïman was scuttled at Toulon 27.11.1942. Later she was salvaged by Italians and again sunk by Allied aircraft 11.3.1944.

Marsouin left from Toulon to Alger and joined Allies. Early 1944 she was laid up to reserve.



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