French submarine Calypso (1907)

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For other ships with the same name, see French submarine Calypso.
History
France
NameCalypso
NamesakeCalypso
BuilderArsenal de Toulon
Laid down1905
Launched24 October 1907
Completed5 August 1909
IdentificationPennant number: Q48
FateSunk in a collision, 7 July 1914
General characteristics (as built)
Class and typeCircé-class submarine
Displacement
  • 361 t (355 long tons) (surfaced)
  • 498 t (490 long tons) (submerged)
Length47.13 m (154 ft 8 in) (o/a)
Beam4.9 m (16 ft 1 in)
Draft3.24 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)
Complement2 officers and 20 crewmen
Armament6 × external 450 mm (17.7 in) torpedo launchers (4 × fixed, 2 × Drzewiecki drop collars)

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

Design and description[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ a b 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[edit]

  • 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). Vol. 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). Vol. 2. Bourg-en-Bresse, France: Marines édition. ISBN 2-909675-34-3.


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