French submarine Regnault explained

The French submarine Regnault (Q113) was a built for the French Navy built between 1913 and 1924. It was laid down in the Arsenal de Toulon shipyards and launched on 25 June 1924. Regnault was completed in 1924 and served in the French Marine Nationale until 1937.

Design

The Lagrange-class submarines were constructed as part of the French fleet's expansion programmes from 1913 to 1914.[1] [2] The ships were designed by Julien Hutter, slightly modifying his previous project, using two Parsons steam turbines with a power of 2000hp.[3] During construction, though, the idea was abandoned and the ships were instead equipped with diesel engines.

Lagrange-class submarines were 75.2m (246.7feet) long, with a beam of 6.3m (20.7feet) and a draught of 3.6m (11.8feet), and could dive up to 50m (160feet). The submarine had a surfaced displacement of 9200NaN0 and a submerged displacement of 13180NaN0.[4] Propulsion while surfaced was provided by two 2600hp diesel motors built by the Swiss manufacturer Sulzer and two 1640hp electric motors.[5] The submarines' electrical propulsion allowed it to attain speeds of while submerged and on the surface.[6] Their surfaced range was 7700nmi at 9kn, and 4000nmi at 12kn, with a submerged range of 70nmi at 5kn.

The ships were equipped with eight 450 mm torpedo tubes (four in the bow, two stern and two external), with a total of 10 torpedoes and two on-board guns. The class was also armed with a 75 mm gun with an ammo supply of 440 shells. The crew of one ship consisted of four officers and 43 of officers and seamen.[7]

Service history

Regnault was built in the Arsenal de Toulon.[8] It was laid down in 1913, launched on 25 June 1924, and completed in 1924. It was named in honor of the distinguished French nineteenth-century chemist Henri Victor Regnault and was assigned the pennant number Q113. Regnault served in the Mediterranean Sea until 1935.

References

Notes and References

  1. Couhat, p. 159.
  2. Conway, p. 389.
  3. Fontenoy, p. 89.
  4. Couhat, pp. 158–159
  5. Conway, p. 212.
  6. Couhat, p. 158.
  7. Web site: French Navy, World War 1. Gordon. Smith. www.naval-history.net.
  8. Jane, p. 198