French submarine Calypso (1907)

Calypso was one of two Circé-class submarines built for the French Navy (Marine Nationale) in the first decade of the 20th century.

For other ships with the same name, see French submarine Calypso.
History
France
Name: Calypso
Namesake: Calypso
Builder: Arsenal de Toulon
Laid down: 1905
Launched: 24 October 1907
Completed: 5 August 1909
Identification: Pennant number: Q48
Fate: Sunk in a collision, 7 July 1914
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type: Circé-class submarine
Displacement:
  • 361 t (355 long tons) (surfaced)
  • 498 t (490 long tons) (submerged)
Length: 47.13 m (154 ft 8 in) (o/a)
Beam: 4.9 m (16 ft 1 in)
Draft: 3.24 m (10 ft 8 in)
Installed power:
  • 630 PS (463 kW; 621 bhp) (diesels)
  • 360 PS (265 kW; 355 bhp) (electric motors)
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 11.9 knots (22.0 km/h; 13.7 mph) (surfaced, trials)
  • 7.3–7.7 knots (13.5–14.3 km/h; 8.4–8.9 mph) (submerged, trials)
Range:
  • 2,000 nmi (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) (surfaced)
  • 76 nmi (141 km; 87 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) (submerged)
Complement: 2 officers and 20 crewmen
Armament: 6 × external 450 mm (17.7 in) torpedo launchers (4 × fixed, 2 × Drzewiecki drop collars)

Design and description

The Circé class were built as part of the French Navy's 1904 building program to a double-hull design by Maxime Laubeuf.[1] The submarines displaced 361 metric tons (355 long tons) surfaced and 498 metric tons (490 long tons) submerged. They had an overall length of 47.13 meters (154 ft 8 in), a beam of 4.9 meters (16 ft 1 in), and a draft of 3.24 meters (10 ft 8 in). Their crew numbered 2 officers and 20 enlisted men.[2]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two German MAN 315-metric-horsepower (311 bhp; 232 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 180-metric-horsepower (178 bhp; 132 kW) electric motor. During her surfaced sea trials on 19 February 1909, Calypso reached a maximum speed of 11.9 knots (22.0 km/h; 13.7 mph) from 968 metric horsepower (955 bhp; 712 kW); during her submerged trials on 27 July she reached 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) from 390 metric horsepower (380 shp; 290 kW).[3] The Circé class had a surface endurance of 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph)[1] and a submerged endurance of 76 nmi (141 km; 87 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph).[4]

Construction and career

The Circé-class submarines were ordered on 8 October 1904.[5] Calypso was laid down in 1905[6] at the Arsenal de Toulon, launched on 24 October 1907 and commissioned on 5 August 1909.[7]

Citations
  1. Gardiner & Gray, p. 208
  2. Garier 1998, pp. 35, 40
  3. Garier 1998, pp. 37–38, 42
  4. Garier 1998, p. 41
  5. Garier, p. 35
  6. Couhat, p. 133
  7. Garier 1998, p. 34

Bibliography
  • Couhat, Jean Labayle (1974). French Warships of World War I. London: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0445-5.
  • Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal (1985). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
  • Garier, Gérard (2002). A l'épreuve de la Grande Guerre. L'odyssée technique et humaine du sous-marin en France (in French). 3–2. Bourg-en-Bresse, France: Marines édition. ISBN 2-909675-81-5.
  • Garier, Gérard (1998). Des Émeraude (1905-1906) au Charles Brun (1908–1933). L'odyssée technique et humaine du sous-marin en France (in French). 2. Bourg-en-Bresse, France: Marines édition. ISBN 2-909675-34-3.


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