L'Espoire class

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L'Espoire class
Marine national française France libre
French-submarine-class-Morillot.png
General data
Ship type : Submarine
Construction series 1500 ton type
Navies :
Builders :
Units: 6th
Boats of the type
L'Espoire , Le Centaure , Le Conquérant , Le Glorieux , Le Héros , Le Tonnant
Technical data up to 1941
Crew: 61 men
Displacement :
  • over water: 1,570 ts
  • under water: 2,084 ts
Length : 92.3 m
Width: 8.2 m
Draft : 4.7 m
Drive :
Speed :
  • surfaced: 19 kn (35 km / h )
  • submerged: 10 kn (19 km / h)
Fuel supply: 95 ts
Driving range:
  • over water:
    • 10,000 NM (18,520 km) at 10 kn
    • 4,000 NM (7,400 km) at 17 knots
  • under water: 100 NM (185 km) at 5 kn
Diving depth : 80 m
Alarm dive time: 45-50 seconds
Armament
Artillery : 1 × 100 mm L / 40 deck gun
Air defense : 2 × 13.2 mm MG (2 × 1)
Torpedoes :
  • 9 × 550 mm torpedo tubes
    • 4 fore, 3 amidships, 2 aft
  • 2 × 400 mm torpedo tubes

The L'Espoire class was a submarine - ship class of the French Navy . In the French type classification of the time, it was Class 1 boats . Between 1929 and 1937, six boats were built in five shipyards. The L'Espoire-class boats were used by both the Vichy-French and Free French navies during World War II .

Constructive features

See also: Constructive Features of the 1500 Ton Type

The L'Espoire class was the second assembly of the 1500 tonne type . The main difference between the three subassemblies of this design, designed in 1922, was the size and power of the diesel engine . The boats of the L'Espoire class had two diesel engines with a total output of 7,200 HP (5,369 KW ) and reached a surface speed of 19 knots (35 km / h ).

Mission history

See also: History of use of the 1500 ton type

After the surrender of France on June 22, 1940, the six boats were under the control of the Vichy regime and suffered no losses until spring 1942. In May 1942, the British attacked and occupied the French colony of Madagascar as part of Operation Ironclad . During the attack, Le Héros was sunk by British carrier aircraft.

In November of that year, US , British and Free French forces carried out a large-scale landing in French North Africa with Operation Torch . American flying boats sank Le Conquérant during the fighting . Two other boats, the L'Espoire and the Le Tonnant , sank themselves as a result of the German invasion of southern France to prevent access through the axis .

Only the two boats Le Centaure and Le Glorieux survived the fighting and were taken over by the Free French Navy after the Allied victory in North Africa. The boats were removed from the fleet register in 1952.

Boats of the class

literature

  • Erminio Bagnasco: Submarines in World War II. (Technology - Classes - Types. A Comprehensive Encyclopedia). 5th edition. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 1996, ISBN 3-613-01252-9 .

Web links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Erminio Bagnasco gives in submarines in World War II for the electric drive power 1000 HP. The uboat.net gives 2000 PS (1491 KW). A comparison with other submarines of this time indicates the lower value. The underwater speed, which is higher than the 600-630-ton type with greater displacement, indicates 2000 hp, but could also be due to a possibly more aerodynamic shape.
  2. ↑ The French Navy distinguished 3 classes of submarines: 1st class boats were ocean-going boats. 2nd class boats were smaller coastal boats. 3rd class boats were mine layers .