Arethuse class SS
(France)
|
Name |
No. |
Launch |
Comm. |
Decom. |
Fate |
|
Arethuse |
S-635 |
1957 |
1 Feb 1959 |
3 Apr 1979 |
SINKEX target 1982 |
|
Argonaute |
S-636 |
1957 |
23 Oct 1958 |
31 July 1982 |
Museum ship |
|
Amazone |
S-639 |
1958 |
6 July 1959 |
2 June 1980 |
SINKEX target 1989 |
|
Ariane |
S-640 |
1959 |
16 Mar 1960 |
31 Mar 1981 |
SINKEX target 1985 |
Notes: These small, handy submarines were authorized under the 1953 defense budget. They were simple to build, maintain, and operate. The interiors were quite cramped (for example, the kitchen was only nine square feet!) and they were notoriously short of freshwater distilling capacity. Except for their delivery voyages from Cherbourg, they never left the Mediterranean. Despite their small size, they were very capable craft, surely as advanced as any submarine opposition they might expect in the Mediterranean. They freed up the Daphne and Agosta classes for open-ocean work. Argonaute is now displayed in Paris.
Displacement: 543t surfaced, 670t submerged Dimensions: 161’7”x19’1”x33’ Machinery: Diesel-electric: 2 SEMT-Pielstick 12C diesels, 1 1300H electric motor (with 160-cell lead-acid battery), 1 shaft with 5-bladed non-CP prop Max speed: 12.5kts surfaced, 7kts snorkeling, 16kts submerged on batteries (20kts underwater “short sprint” speed) Range: Max 21 days at sea Underwater endurance: 60min @ 16kts Diving depth: 35’ snorkeling, 657’ max operational, 1300’ crush Complement: 40 (6 officers, 34 enlisted)
WEAPONS
x4 21” tubes (variety of French torpedoes or mines); 4 reload torpedoes
SENSORS-Radar
Calypso I (I) 15NM surface search (range, bearing)
SENSORS-EW
x2 periscopes (GP, attack)
ESM mast
SENSORS-Sonar
DUUA-1 7NM active/passive (range, bearing, depth, class)