French submarine Opale

Opale was one of six Émeraude-class submarines built for the French Navy (Marine Nationale) in the first decade of the 20th century.

A French postcard of Opale on the surface
History
France
Name: Opale
Namesake: Opal
Builder: Arsenal de Cherbourg
Laid down: October 1903
Launched: 20 November 1906
Completed: 19 December 1908
Stricken: 12 November 1919
Identification: Pennant number: Q42
Fate: Sold for scrap, 10 May 1921
General characteristics
Class and type: Émeraude-class submarine
Displacement:
  • 395 t (389 long tons) (surfaced)
  • 427 t (420 long tons) (submerged)
Length: 44.9 m (147 ft 4 in) (o/a)
Beam: 3.9 m (12 ft 10 in)
Draft: 3.77 m (12 ft 4 in)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 2 × shafts; 2 × diesels; 2 × electric motors
Speed:
  • 11.26 knots (20.85 km/h; 12.96 mph) (surfaced)
  • 8.7 knots (16.1 km/h; 10.0 mph) (submerged)
Range:
  • 2,000 nmi (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) (surfaced)
  • 100 nmi (190 km; 120 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) (submerged)
Test depth: 40 m (130 ft)
Complement: 2 officers and 23 crewmen
Armament: 4 × 450 mm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes (2 × bow, 2 × stern)

Design and description

The Émeraude class were built as part of the French Navy's 1903 building program to a Maugas single-hull design.[1] The submarines displaced 395 metric tons (389 long tons) surfaced and 427 metric tons (420 long tons) submerged. They had an overall length of 44.9 meters (147 ft 4 in), a beam of 3.9 meters (12 ft 10 in), and a draft of 3.8 meters (12 ft 6 in). They had an operational diving depth of 40 meters (130 ft). Their crew numbered 2 officers and 23 enlisted men.[2]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two Sautter-Harlé 300-metric-horsepower (296 bhp; 221 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 300-metric-horsepower electric motor. They could reach a maximum speed of 11.26 knots (20.85 km/h; 12.96 mph) on the surface and 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph) underwater. The Émeraude 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) and a submerged endurance of 100 nmi (190 km; 120 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph).[3]

The boats were armed with four internal 450-millimeter (17.7 in) torpedo tubes, two in the bow and two in the stern, for which they carried six torpedoes.[4]

Construction and career

Opale was laid down in October 1903[5] at the Arsenal de Cherbourg, launched on 27 November 1906 and commissioned on 19 December 1908.[6]

Citations
  1. Gardiner & Gray, p. 208
  2. Garier 1998, pp. 12–13, 23
  3. Garier 1998, p. 18
  4. Garier 1998, pp. 18–19
  5. Couhat, p. 138
  6. Garier 1998, p. 12

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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