“INCONSISTENCY AND UNFINISHED”

Submarine “Gustave Zede” (Q 92), France, 1919

 

Built at the shipyard of the Navy in Cherbourg. Type of construction – polutorospalnye. Displacement overwater/underwater – 850/1100 T. Dimensions: – length of 74.00 m, the diameter (width) is of 6.00 m, draft -3,72 m diving Depth up to 40 m Powerplant: two original steam engine plus two electric motors; a capacity of 3500 l/1640 HP Speed overwater/underwater – 17,5 /11 ties. Armament: eight 450-mm torpedo tubes – two in the nose, four in the middle of the body, two external (10 torpedoes), one 75 mm and one 47-mm gun. The crew of 47 people. Only in 1919 – 1920 built two units: “Gustave Zede” and “Nereids”. “Seda” rebuilt in 1921 – 1922, with the installation instead of steam engines and boilers of two diesels 2,400 HP (surface speed 15 KTS.). “Nereids” built like a diesel boat. Excluded from both lists and scrapped in 1935 – 1937.

It is clear that such significant changes (in addition to the alterations significantly changed the interior layout) led to the subsequent delays, now – in their implementation. In the end, “Fulton”, launched only in April 1919 (six years after the bookmarks!), became operational only in mid-1920, and launched in 1917, “Gassel” -were ready almost simultaneously with the launch of its “sisterships”. Moreover, if the the first first made diesel engines and tested them, and then just finally mounted the motors and batteries, the second picture looked exactly the opposite. “Jossel” went to trial with only the electric range as in the underwater and above the water. It is easy to see that such a protracted in conjunction with by far the most successful of the original design led to the appearance of another pair of units that can be called experimental. Moreover, with significant differences within the mini-series. Thus, “Jossel” with their later, and diesel exhaust could take up to 5000 miles 13-speed hub, while the “Fulton” – no more than 3500, for 30% less.

 

Accordingly, the best use for these boats was endless testing. Moreover, in the project there were some “interesting”, as it moved from a distant first-born of the underwater shipbuilding. Lead loads with a weight of 7.6 t was located in the middle part of the keel; they can be to get rid of for emergency ascent, wielding a lever on the platform above the battery pit. But for the crew of the “experiments” were quite familiar: only half of the sailors could sleep on the beds; the rest had to be content with hammocks. At relatively long range, achieved after switching to the diesels, the habitability has become a critical moment for real operations. In his big hike from Brest to Toulon the commander of the “Fulton” often had to float and rest his men, resulting in this “journey” took five weeks. In this campaign the French decided to test the capabilities of radio communications (both boats had a different kind of radio station!), also having hard-hitting result. The distance of 200 miles was irresistible, even when using high extendable mast: contact the Bank failed once.

 

In principle, the project “Cassel” and “Fulton” – diesel -liked French command. In the shipbuilding programme of 1915 provided for six units; their bookmark was assumed on may 1, but heavy overall military situation forced to abandon such ideas. Probably for the best: even if funds are available, it is unlikely a second series of “gosala” failed to complete at least the last year of the “great war”.

 

But the earlier orders still had their chances of implementation, though often with certain adventures. So, no less interesting than the “Fulton” “the story of the ferry” has occurred with a large (for the French Navy) submarines, designed by Uttara. The constructor does not philosophize slyly, chosen as a prototype which came to the court at the time, “Archimed”. At the same time taking the best of the designs and colleagues: in many ways, the development of Uttara repeated “Sada”, but with an increase of 10% reserve of buoyancy. However, along with positive borrowing, the project has slipped and doubtful, first of all, the notorious steam turbine.

 

In accordance with the drawings Uttara was based on two units, “Dupuy de Scrap” and “Sane”. They were able to “slip” in the construction of the time of freezing construction of the submarines, because in 1915 the boats were already in high alert. However, their commissioning lingered considerably; after the test it took about nine months before “the locomotive” has transferred to the fleet. And the beginning of the service was more in the Affairs of the business: a significant part of 1917 the “De Lome” changed the battery, and “Sane” – artillery (on the draft provided for only one of the old 47-mm gun Hotchkiss, which took the first 65 mm, and then, “75-graph paper”). Then submarines “exchanged positions”: “True” went on to replace the battery, and the “Dupuy de Scrap” has established 75-mm gun. Then the cycle began to repeat itself: in the autumn of 1916 at the latest once again changed the batteries… From the “eternal round trips” the boat saved the end of the war. Now both put on a complete redesign, involving the replacement of steam engines on the diesels for the same options as the “Gustave Zede” and “Nereids”. “De Scrap” replaced the motors for both surface and submerged speed. He got the motors with “German” “U-113” and “U-91”, with the first diesel and the second is electric. “Sane” was limited to installing only diesels with a “U-121”. At the same time both received a second 75-mm cannon and machine gun, and torpedo (of course, only external) have changed their location. Complete replacement of subject and detection equipment and communications. The work took almost two years, after which the two submarines received the proud title of “submarines of the 1st class.” But to be proud they had a very short time: “de Scrap” in 1930 was taken in reserve, putting in walls and a more or less decent equipment is carried off to build modern units. And after three years followed by the last “resignation” of sending for scrap. “Sane” was a somewhat more cheerful career; in the same 1930 she was even going to send to the far East, but the list needed for the works was so impressive that another restructuring refused. As if offended, the boat got into a series of numerous accidents, and at the end of 1931 followed the “sister ship” in the “special reserve”, that is, in fact, it was recognized as useless. In 1936 the boat was also dismantled for the metal.

 

Like “steam games” took place with four of the type “Lagrange”, built on the program of the year 1913-1914, was a basically development “Dupuy de Scrap”. Initially they were to use more modern turbine engine, and did not finally ceded to the history of shipbuilding steam engine. Several less successful lines already included under the turbines at the surface for a knot less, but check the calculations and failed. In the immediate aftermath of the war, the building remained in this state until the year was the battle not only on the battlefields but also in the offices of the Admiralty and Chief of staff of the Navy. French admirals theorists, like their counterparts on the other side of the channel, a desired high-speed submarines. Hence, the turbine. More practical of their colleagues has declined about diesel engines. The English Admiral Favero in 1915 he formulated this approach: “All new boats should have diesel engines. Let them be able to have only the speed that will be able to develop, but they will be diesel. The requirements of war are too great to succumb to hesitation and doubt.”

 

Did so with the “Lagrange”. Turbos went on the advice of the “UAZ”, and they have been replaced by diesel engines. In General it is a sensible decision. Only now started construction in the first months of 1914, the boats went to sailors only after a decade! (“Lagrange” and “Ramazotti” formally considered finished in 1917 -1918 years, but, like most “late”, engaged exclusively in the tests. In the end they caught up with the transfer to the Navy in 1923 – 1924 “Laplace” and “Regno”.) It is clear that the characteristics of late for many years submarines looked pale, including 50-m depth, the same type of “Daphne travel” strange torpedo armament, are very moderate speed and the postwar requirements of the time, immersion in 2.5 minutes. And so on; sad list could be continued forever. Such “subtleties” as the latrines: located aft, as noted in the reports, “it is impossible to use neither in the sea nor in the Parking lot at the pier”. (It later was converted into a warehouse.) It seems to be nothing as bad galley without ventilation ports, but much of life is served on Board. The advantages, and that locally the French, can be attributed except the cruising range of 5000 miles and a relatively decent equipment, and decent seaworthiness. Well, “gorgeous” (so reported) conditions for a small number of officers with “bad” for enlisted personnel. For completeness, we can mention the strong vibrations of diesel engines at high revolutions, exhausting people and disabling sensitive equipment.

 

 

O BYRNE, 1920

 

 

 

 

MAURICE CALLOT, 1928

 

 

 

 

PIERRE CHAILLEY, 1928

 

 

 

 

CURIE, 1924. Submarine “Curie” (after returning to the French Navy), France, 1919

 

Built at the shipyard of the Navy in Toulon, sunk by Austrians in 1914, raised and rebuilt on hovery in the Field. Type of construction – single -. Displacement overwater/underwater – 410/565 T. Dimensions: length 52.15 m, width – 3.6 m, draught – 3.2 m. the immersion Depth up to 30 m. Powerplant: two diesel engines with a power of 960 HP plus two electric motors with a capacity of 1320 HP Speed surface/underwater real – 11,5/8,5 ties. Armament: seven 450-mm torpedo tubes (one nose, two side, four lattice system Drzewiecki, two of which were almost useless and did not carry torpedoes), one 75-mm gun. The crew of 30 people. After the war, returned to France, in 1928, bred in the reserve, in 1929, was excluded from the lists of the fleet in the 1930 scrapped

 

It is not surprising that already in 1927 (3-4 years after the entry into operation) verdict on the combat utility of submarines of this type looked negative. But to scrap such a hard-won units are not resolved, noting that “their life has not yet emerged”. Had to summarize: “they can serve as an excellent school for commanders and training of crews.” Gracefully, but the point is well emerges through the script language. “Lagrange” was tormented for another seven years until 1935, the year after which they began to exclude from service; and he is the founder of the series, as “Ramazotti” received a humiliating “label”: “not applicable in time of war.”However, they can be considered quite successful, for example, on the background of three requisitioned 340-ton babies type “SC”, a typical double-bodied representatives of the ideas Labefa. These boats are laid in time of peace for Turkey and Romania, but, for obvious reasons, to finish did not. Until 1917, when someone from the “powers that be” thought that they should also be put to use, by analogy with the German small submarine. But the German speed of construction to achieve, of course, failed as a decent performance. In the end none of them kept up to the end of the war, followed by the disposal of the shipbuilders “wind down”. What we did: in the end, no longer needed boats, artillery which consisted of ancient 47-mm guns, was commissioned in 1922 – 1923. The “O Byrne” received from the French historians of the typical marking: “boats obsolete at the time of entry into service”. Well, fair enough.

 

In fact, they are only in the worst case repeat the fate of another three is slightly larger and better export submarines of the type “SD”, one of which was intended for Japan and the other for Greece. “SD-2” requisitioned in the summer of 1915, despite the fact that it belonged to ally. “Greek” promocio a couple of years, as for political reasons (the Kingdom of the Greeks, the Entente was also hoping to get the unit), mainly due to the same forced “shipbuilding holiday”. With surface displacement of only about 450 tons, this trio of designs Schneider-Lobata had a very decent characteristics: double hull speed under diesel engines up to 17 knots under motors for about 11 years, six torpedo tubes, of which, however, in the French tradition, only two were in the solid body in the nose, and two pairs on the superstructure, with the possibility of firing in the nose or on the stern (the Greek boats last pair were not at all). The test showed good seaworthiness and speed of immersion. But the service began the usual trouble. Diesels at high rpm often fail, and more than 14 knots of boat to develop could not. And immersion care services in full depth could take almost half an hour. The range of a modest 10-node speed was barely over 700 miles. The list of deficiencies crowned little periscopes suitable and less suitable radio station. It is clear that the loss of so “useful” acquisitions upon detection of a thoroughly adept by the end of the war the German ships PLO could be imminent. All three after painful debugging the changes of batteries in 1918 was sent to the Mediterranean sea, to the Isle of the Wise, for action against Turkey, where they continued to basically “deal with it”. This struggle continued after the war. In 1924 proposed the program of total modernization, but its implementation was at odds with the financial situations and the state of Affairs in the French Navy at all. Although formally requisitioned the boat lasted another seven to 10 years, realistically they are almost all time stood at the wall.

 

To sum up, the French submarine building in the First world, though, he looks very pale, especially against the backdrop of a gone far ahead of the Anglo-American allies. Loss (14 boats) surpassed the number commissioned in the war units. So the trophies was a huge help. At that time, as other countries have used the resulting divided “fraternally” (almost equally) the German and Austrian submarines more for the study and extraction of useful experience, France was the only “big allies,” preserved and included in the composition of the current fleet, all 10 units passed to it. In addition, in its ports at the time of the armistice was a few dozen “U-bots” to be in General agreement to the destruction. From them before that took a lot of valuable equipment, diesel engines, electric motors, periscopes, instruments for control and navigation, even torpedoes and devices for them. This, in particular, has allowed a year to maintain the trophy “ctreeview” in good shape. In the vast majority of “Germans” has served even longer painfully entered into the fleet’s own “protracted” and “alterations”. Not only the giant submarine “Albron” (former “Captain-Lieutenant Shviger”) and standard average “Pierre Marras”, “Jean Roulier”, “Victor Reva”, “Jean Autrique”, “Leon miño”, “Renee Audrey”, but small “UB”: “Trinita Shulman”, “Caritan”, “Jean Korra”.

 

During operation the French, in addition to the interesting technical solutions, with some surprise discovered seems to be quite obvious. The autonomy of German submarines in the food was clearly more due to the fact that they were not foreseen, both in the local wine cellars, and instead of fresh bread and flour for his baking, the Germans took the cake. Not particularly impressed with the new owners and the habitat and rest of the crew that was considered “bad”. Laid claim even to the layout of the diesels that “it was difficult to remove for repair and replacement,” transactions equally difficult for their own motors. Fault is found even “the location of the torpedo tube exclusively along the axis of the boat”, although just a few years and the French had to learn this the only right option. Or take powerful artillery weapons, “the supply of shells which are difficult.” And indeed, some pieces of lethal 105-mm guns were replaced by more easy-to-use 75-mm. And not only on the decks of some of the German boats appeared ugly “surface cooking” for cooking “human food” on the corner. In General, the sailors of the Republic, much had yet to be realized, convinced of the real advantages of the German approach and to innovate. However, some of the qualities looked absolutely unconditional, excellent means of communication, both internal and radio, simplicity and ease of operation, excellent electrical part.

 

Particularly useful were captured underwater craft. The thing is. that the French themselves in this area not too succeeded. They chose the optimal way of placing mines, considering all possible options, from “mine conveyor” – type Russian “Crab” to the German inclined shafts and simple nodelock storage on the deck, applied to”alterations”. Specialized as submarines-craft bother to order only in 1917. It is clear that in war they did not, perhaps, to his own luck, as the system of laying mines from the first to correctly guess and failed. Anyway, on one of the pair of rather large (a surface displacement of about 900 tons) of layers, according to the national tradition had a completely different design and weapons. The frontier “Maurice Callot” was designed by Lobea, which at the same time put his hand to the scheme of setting. 27 min, which was kept in a light superstructure behind the wheelhouse in three lines of nine pieces, lightweight “head” to the nose. They were discharged via chain conveyors. Even from the very brief description it is clear that the system is unreliable and dangerous for the submarine. So it turned out.

 

 

Submarine “Sane” leaves the Harbor of Toulon, mid-1920s.

 

 

“Assel” in the late 1920s – early 1930s, Marking for felling large white letters to recognition is no longer

 

 

“Ramazotti on” practical torpedo firing in 1924 With the periscope boat – “a small problem” (as noted in the report): actually it is bent almost at a right angle. In October of the same year, the periscope had to be replaced on removed from “Sane”.

 

 

“Curie” in 1924, during the entrance of the harbour of Toulon. In the stern is seen the upper vertical rudder is a characteristic feature of this submarine

 

But the “Callot” got surprisingly decent for the French boats conventional weapons. Of the six torpedo tubes, four were in rugged in the nose and could shoot without any tweaks, which is characteristic for vehicles “superstructure” swivel or fixed at an angle to the axis of the boat.

 

The second frontier, “Pierre Chailly” with torpedo tubes, the situation was considerably worse: on the nose could shoot only two, yet the same was a turning point. But he had more powerful artillery in the face of a 100-mm gun is 75 mm at the “Callot”. And, most importantly, here’s mine engineers have hit the mark. First, they were already as many as 40 pieces, second, the engineers of the company “Norman-Pheno” who built the boat, not philosophize slyly and placed them in individual mines outside the hull, a pair in each, one above the other. When setting to preserve the balancing of the boat mines were issued a kind – pairs: the first of the remaining closer to the nose on one side plus the latest from the nose of the remaining on another Board. Oddly enough at first glance, this system proved to be quite successful and reliable. She was the inspiration when drafting new post-war submarine craft.

 

But, generally, both “unpaired” units of particular interest for France and the history of shipbuilding is not present. Perhaps, it is possible to note a strange mess with the names. “Callot”, was named in memory of the commander of the “Pluviôse”, who died along with his ship, which sank in 1910 in the accident. His name was Pierre-félix-Maurice, so logically enough the boat was originally called “Pierre Callot”. But then, for unknown reasons, now anyone renamed “Maurice Callot”, in last name immortalized in metal submariner. And “Pierre Chailly” on almost the same grounds initially was called “Paul Chailly”. And as such, the boat appears in some very solid guides and books. “Almost” – because Field-Etienne-Pierre Chailly from the beginning used the last name. And the story of the “nominee” deserves separate words.

 

Let’s start here. The fact that in addition to the 10 units, officially received in the division of the German Navy, the French included in their real battle trophies. One of them was the German “UB-26” caught in flat networks anti-submarine boom and attacked the old destroyer “Clot”. Only in this way the success of the French PLO could not be sustained: instead captured by the crew of the boat tried to tow it to port, but she sank on 20-metroi depth. However, “UB-26” raised. She was named Lieutenant Roland Mario, and entered into operation more than a year before the end of hostilities.

 

And in 1918 the fleet was added to the “immigrant”: the returned home from Austria upgraded there, “Curie”, which immediately became the best submarine of the war, sailed under the tricolor flag. It was during the seizure of her Austrian 22-year-old mine officer Lieutenant Pierre (or if you like, Paul), Chailly was severely wounded and was captured. But after the war, he, like the submarine, has returned home. Moreover, in the ranks of Free France, he participated in the following world! And there the gallant officer, whose age was close to sixty, it is highly symbolically given command of the submarine… “Curie”. Of course, the new type “V” of the British buildings. And after all, this appointment did not become formal: the boat really fought and deserved the two Acknowledgments in the order. A 59-year-old Chailly, now a Lieutenant, got his “war cross with palm”.

 

Interesting career. Each country can find its heroes-sailors, even if its Navy in General, and underwater in particular, showed themselves in the First world without any Shine. And material part, as we have seen, was in considerable decline. The former in the beginning of the century one of the clear leaders, France is significantly lagging behind the leading “colleagues”. Now she had this gap to be bridged.

 

V. KOFMAN