French navy submarine class of the early 20th century
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 | |
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.
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]
