Surcouf
1934
(Argonaut 414)
- Class: Surcouf - 1 corsair submarine of 1926
- Displacement: 3,304 (surface)/4,218 (submerged) tons
- Dimensions: 360'10" x 29'6" x 23'10"
- Machinery: 2-shaft Diesels, HP 7,600/3,400 = 18/8.5 knots
- Armament: 2-8in, 2-37mm AA guns; 8-21in & 4-15.7in T.T.; 1 airplane
- Complement: 118
- Builder: Arsenal de Cherbourg
- Laid down: 1 Oct 1927
- Launched: 18 Oct 1929
- Completed: 3 May 1934
- Notes: Only French cruiser submarine, the largest submarine in the world during her service, and the only one armed with the largest guns (8in) permitted by treaty. Of the twelve torpedo tubes, four 21in were in the bow, four 21in were in a traversing mount aft of the conning tower, and the four 15.7in were in a traversing mount at the stern. The small floatplane carried was a partially dismantled Besson MB 411, which was lowered over the side for operations.
The ship left Brest and sought refuge in Britain in Jun 1940, where she joined the Free French forces. After several uneventful Atlantic patrols, she was on her way to the Panama Canal and the Pacific when she was lost in the Caribbean with all hands 18 Feb 1942, probably in collision with American freighter Thompson Lykes.
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