Aigrette-class submarine

The Aigrette-class submarines were a class of two submarines built for the French Navy between 1903 and 1905. They were essentially experimental submarines, and although in service during World War I, saw no action. The class was designed by Maxime Laubeuf and used Drzewiecki drop collar launchers and external cradles to launch torpedoes.

Aigrette-class submarine
Aigrette, date unknown
Class overview
Name: Aigrette class
Operators:  French Navy
Preceded by: Naïade class
Succeeded by: Émeraude class
Built: 1903 - 1905
In service: 1905 - 1919
Planned: 13
Completed: 2
Cancelled: 11
Retired: 2
General characteristics
Type: Submarine
Displacement:
Length: 35.9 m (117 ft 9 in)
Beam: 4.04 m (13 ft 3 in)
Draught: 2.63 m (8 ft 8 in)
Propulsion:
  • 1 × diesel engine, 150 hp (112 kW)
  • 1 × electric motor, 130 hp (97 kW)
Speed:
  • 9.3 knots (17.2 km/h) (surfaced)
  • 6.2 knots (11.5 km/h) (submerged)
Range:
  • 1,300 nautical miles (2,400 km) at 8 knots (15 km/h)
  • 65 nautical miles (120 km) at 3.8 knots (7.0 km/h) (submerged)
Complement: 14 men
Armament:

Design

The submarines had a surfaced displacement of 178 long tons (181 tonnes) and a submerged displacement of 253 long tons (257 t). The dimensions were 35.9 metres (117 feet 9 inches) long, with a beam of 4.04 m (13 ft 3 in) and a draught of 2.63 m (8 ft 8 in). They had a single shaft powered by one diesel engine for surface running of 150 hp (112 kW) and an electric motor which produced 130 horsepower (97 kilowatts) for submerged propulsion. The maximum speed was 9.3 knots (17.2 kilometres per hour; 10.7 miles per hour) on the surface and 6.2 knots (11.5 km/h; 7.1 mph) while submerged with a surfaced range of 1,300 nautical miles (2,400 kilometres; 1,500 miles) at 8 knots (15 km/h) and a submerged range of 65 nautical miles (120 km) at 3.8 knots (7.0 km/h). Their complement was 14 men.[1][2][3]

Their armament comprised two 450 mm (17.7 in) Drzewiecki drop collar torpedo launchers and two 450 mm (17.7 in) external cradles.[1][2]

Ships
Aigrette-class submarines
Name laid down launched commissioned fate
Aigrette 13 May 1902 23 February 1904 1905 Disarmed and sold for scrap on 14 April 1920 at Toulon[3]
Cigogne 13 May 1902 8 November 1904 18 July 1906 Disarmed and sold for scrap on 14 April 1920 at Toulon[4]

See also

References
  1. Gardiner, p. 208
  2. Fontenoy, p. 79
  3. "Q 038". 29 October 2013.
  4. "Q 039". 4 March 2016.

Citations
  • Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-85177-245-5.
  • Fontenoy, Paul E. (2007). Submarines: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. ABC-CLIO Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85109-563-6.
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