French submarine Amazone (1916) explained

The French submarine Amazone was an Armide-class diesel-electric attack submarine built for the Greek Navy before and during World War I. It was built in the Schneider-Creusot shipyards between 1913 and 1916, but was seized during the war by the French Government before it could be sold, on 3 June 1915. Amazone operated in the Adriatic Sea during the course of World War I and was stricken from the Navy list in July 1932.

Design

The Amazone was 56.2m (184.4feet) long, with a beam of 5.2m (17.1feet) and a draught of 3m (10feet).^[1] It had a surfaced displacement of 4570NaN0 and a submerged displacement of 6700NaN0.^{[2] [1]} Propulsion while surfaced was provided by two 2200hp diesel motors built by Schneider-Carels and two 900hp electric motors.^[1] The submarine's electrical propulsion allowed it to attain speeds of while submerged and on the surface.^[3] Its surfaced range was 2600nmi at 11kn, with a submerged range of 160nmi at 5kn.^{[2] [3]}

The submarine was armed with four 4501NaN1 torpedo tubes and a 75mm L/34 M1897 deck gun.^[1] The crew consisted of 31 officers and seamen.^[3]

Construction and service

Amazone was ordered by the Greek Navy in 1913, based on a design by Maxime Laubeuf.^{[1] [3]} The ship, which was initially designated X,^[4] was confiscated by the French Government on 30 May 1917 during World War I.^[1]

Amazone was built in the Schneider shipyard in Chalon-sur-Saone.^{[1] [5]} It was laid down in 1913,^[6] launched in August 1916,^{[1] [6]} and completed in June 1917.^[6] It was named after the mythological creatures, the Amazons.^[7]

After its launching, Amazone served on the Adriatic Sea until 1918,^[6] when it was assigned to the 3rd Submarine Flotilla, based in Moudros, Greece.^[6] On 20 April 1928, she was renamed Amazone II to release the name for a new submarine, Amazone. Amazone II was struck from the Naval Register in July 1932.^{[1] [6]}

References

• Book: Couhat, Jean Labayle. French Warships of World War I. 1974. Ian Allan. London. 0-7110-0445-5.
• Book: Gardiner . Robert. Gray . Randal . Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Conway Maritime Press. London. 1985. 978-0-85177-245-5.
• Book: Fontenoy, Paul E.. Submarines: An Illustrated History of Their Impact. ABC-CLIO Publishing. 2007. 978-1-85109-563-6.
• Book: John Moore. Jane's Fighting Ships of World War I. London. 1990.
• Book: Perepeczko . Andrzej . Od Napoleona do de Gaulle'a. Flota francuska w latach 1789–1942 . 2014 . Oświęcim . 978-83-7889-372-1.
• Book: Lipiński . Jerzy . Druga wojna światowa na morzu . Warsaw. 1999 . 978-83-902554-7-7.
• Book: J. Gozdawa-Gołębiowski. T. Wywerka Prekurat. Pierwsza wojna światowa na morzu. Warszawa. 1994.

Notes and References

1. Gardiner, p. 212
2. Couhat, p. 160
3. Fontenoy, p. 86
4. Gardiner, p. 387
5. Jane, p. 98
6. Couhat, p. 162
7. Web site: French Navy, World War 1. Gordon. Smith. www.naval-history.net.