French submarine Argonaute (1905)
The French submarine "Argonaute" was an experimental attack submarine built for the French Navy between 1903 and 1911. Initially named "Omega", "Argonaute" was laid down in January 1903, launched in November 1905 and commissioned in 1911. She was essentially an experimental submarine, and although in service during World War I, saw no action. "Argonaute" was decommissioned in 1919. Design. "Omega" was designed by Émile Berti and Emmanuel Petithomme. Initially, "Omega" was to be equipped with a special diesel engine to power the submarine both on the surface and submerged, but the failure of the concept on  the French submarine "Z" forced the constructors to install a steam engine and an electric motor instead. "Argonaute" had a surfaced displacement of and a submerged displacement of . Her dimensions were long, with a beam of and a draught of . She had a single shaft powered by one triple expansion steam engine of with steam from one boiler and an electric motor which produced for submerged propulsion. The maximum speed was on the surface and while submerged with a surfaced range of at and a submerged range of at . Her complement was 22 men. The submarine's armament comprised two  bow torpedo tubes, two Drzewiecki drop collar torpedo launchers and two torpedoes in external cradles. Construction and career. "Omega" was built in the Arsenal de Toulon. She was laid down in January 1903 and was launched on 28 November 1905. On 27 September 1910, the ship was renamed "Argonaute", and was commissioned in January 1911. "Argonaute" was assigned the pennant number Q40. "Argonaute" served in the Mediterranean Sea until 20 May 1919, when it was struck from the Navy list.