Farfadet-class submarine

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Farfade1-Bougault.jpg
Farfadet under way in harbour
Class overview
NameFarfadet class
Operators French Navy
Cost£32,000 per unit
Built1901–1903
In commission1903–1906
Completed4
General characteristics [1]
Typesubmarine
Displacement
  • 185 tons surfaced
  • 202 tons submerged
Length41.3 m (135 ft 6 in)
Beam2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Draught2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
Installed power185 hp (138 kW)
Propulsion1 shaft, 1 electric motor
Speed
  • 6.1 knots (11.3 km/h; 7.0 mph) surfaced
  • 4.3 knots (8.0 km/h; 4.9 mph) submerged
Range
  • 115 nmi (213 km; 132 mi) at 5.3 knots (9.8 km/h; 6.1 mph) surfaced
  • 28 nmi (52 km; 32 mi) at 4.32 knots (8.00 km/h; 4.97 mph) submerged
Complement16
Armament4 × 450 mm (18 in) torpedoes on Drzewiecki drop collars

The Farfadet-class submarines were a group of submarines built for the French Navy at the beginning of the 20th century. There were four vessels in this class, of the Maugas type. They had little success in service and were converted to other use after the loss of two vessels in diving accidents. All were disposed of prior to the outbreak of the First World War.

Design and construction[]

The Farfadets were designed by Gabriel Maugas, an early French submarine engineer at the Rochefort Naval Dockyard. The Farfadets were single-hulled, and powered by electric motors only, limiting their range and surface performance compared to the contemporary Sirene class.[1] However they had variable-pitch propellers, developed by Maugas, obviating the need for a reversing engine.

Service history[]

The Farfadets were ordered as part of the French Navy's 1899 building programme, and were constructed over the next three years at the naval dockyards at Rochefort. However they were not successful in service; Farfadet was lost in a diving accident in July 1905, and in October 1906. Farfadet was raised and recommissioned as Follet, remaining in service until 1911, but the other three vessels were disarmed and converted to other use.[1]

Ships in class[]

Farfadet class submarines[1]
Name Pennant number Namesake Builder Launched Fate
Farfadet Q7 Farfadet
(Sprite, Leprechaun)		 Rochefort Naval Dockyard 17 May 1901 Lost in diving accident, 6 July 1905. Raised, re-commissioned as Follet, stricken Nov 1911[2]
Q8 Korrigan (Dwarf) Rochefort Naval Dockyard 25 January 1902 Discarded 1906 and converted to other use[3]
Q9 Gnome Rochefort Naval Dockyard 24 July 1902 Discarded 1906 and converted to other use[4]
Q10 Lutin
(Elf, Goblin)		 Rochefort Naval Dockyard 12 February 1903 Lost in diving accident 16 Oct 1906 ; raised and converted to other use[5]

Notes[]

  1. ^ a b c d Conway p207
  2. ^ Farfadet (Q7) at sous-marins français (archived page); retrieved 28 February 2017
  3. ^ Korrigan (Q8) at sous-marins français (archived page); retrieved 28 February 2017
  4. ^ Gnôme (Q9) at sous-marins français (archived page); retrieved 28 February 2017
  5. ^ Lutin (Q10) at sous-marins français (archived page); retrieved 28 February 2017

References[]

  • Gardiner R, Gray R: Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1906-1921 (1985) ISBN 085177 245 5

External links[]

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