Gymnôte 1900
|
Names |
Q001 Gymnôte |
|
Builders |
Arsenal de Toulon: Gymnôte |
|
Commissioned |
11/1888: Gymnôte |
|
Losses |
none |
|
Transfers |
none |
|
Discarding |
5/1908: Gymnôte |
|
Displacement standard, t |
|
|
Displacement normal, t |
30 / 31 |
|
Length, m |
17.8 |
|
Breadth, m |
1.80 |
|
Draught, m |
1.68 |
|
No of shafts |
1 |
|
Machinery |
1 Krebs electric motor |
|
Power, h. p. |
33 |
|
Max speed, kts |
7.3 / 4.3 |
|
Fuel, t |
battery only |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | 65(5) / 25(4.3) |
|
Armament |
2 - 356 TC |
| Complement | 5 |
| Diving depth operational, m | 20 |
Project history: Single-hull steel submarine boat designed by Gustave Zédé (1825-91); carried a detachable lead keel. She was ordered on 22 November 1886. Electric power was supplied from battery of 204 cells (total weight 9.5t). Gymnôte proved a great success, making some 2000 successful dives during her existence. Incorporation of hydroplanes (three a side) provided the solution which was to become standard in all subsequent submarines. Gymnôte could have been inspired by the locomotive torpedo which Robert Whitehead had invented in 1866. Gymnôte was essentially an experimental boat. Torpedoes were carried in drop-collars, one on each beam.
Modernizations: 1898: displacement 33.2t, length 18.4m, Sautter-Harle engine 90hp, raised conning tower and new battery.
Naval service: She sank on 19 June 1907 at Toulon in dock and was refloated.
Gymnôte
Gymnôte after modernization
Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.
© Ivan Gogin, 2014