France possessed 92 submarines in active service when war was declared. In addition to these, nine large and powerful vessels were in various stages of construction. The flotillas of the French Navy are composed of two different types of vessels: Submarines Defensive and Submersibles. The former are intended, as their name implies, solely for coast and harbour defence; their radii of action is very small, and they are incapable of action independent of a naval base. The submersibles are like the large sea-going submarines of England and Germany, and have a wide radius of action, high speed, and great offensive power.

The first naval submarine (Gymnôte) was launched in 1888, giving to France the honour of being the first Naval Power to adopt the submarine torpedo-boat as a vessel of war. The pioneers of submarine construction in France were Captain Burgeoise, Engineer Brun, M. Dupuy de Lome, M. Gustave Zédé, and Admiral Aube. The second submarine ordered for the French Navy was the Gustave Zédé, launched in 1893. So successful did this vessel prove that another of the same type, and named the Morse, was launched at Cherbourg Dockyard in 1899. In the same year four vessels of a new type were laid down in the dockyard at Rochefort, and named Lutin, Farfâdet (re-named Follet), Korrigan, and Gnôme. These, with the exception of the ill-fated Lutin, are still in the active flotillas.

Lutin Class.

(Completed 1901–2.)

These are the oldest submarines in the French Navy, and are all of the defensive type. They have a displacement of about 185 tons, with electric engines for propulsion both on the surface and when submerged. Their speed is 12 knots on the surface and 8 knots when submerged. Their range of action is about 200 miles at 7 knots. The armament consists of one bow tube and two holders, with four 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes. The complement is nine officers and men.

Photos, M. Bar.]

A FRENCH SUBMARINE OF THE HARBOUR DEFENCE TYPE. (top)

A FRENCH SUBMARINE OF THE COAST DEFENCE TYPE. (bottom)