French submarine Narval (1925)
The French submarine "Narval" was a "Requin"-class submarine built for the French Navy in the mid-1920s. Laid down in March 1923, it was launched in May 1925 and commissioned in July 1926. It joined the Free French naval forces at Malta at the time of the French surrender during World War II. On or around 15 December 1940, "Narval" sank after striking a mine in the same minefield off the Kerkennah Islands that sank her sister ship "Morse" six months prior. Design. Measuring long, with a beam of and a draught of , "Requin"-class submarines could dive  up to . The submarine had a surfaced displacement of and a submerged displacement of . Propulsion while surfaced was provided by two diesel motors and two electric motors. The submarines' electrical propulsion allowed it to attain speeds of while submerged and on the surface. Their surfaced range was at , and at , with a submerged range of at . Career. From 1935 to 1937, "Narval" underwent a thorough overhaul. At the outbreak of World War II, "Narval" served in the Mediterranean Sea, joining the 4th Submarine Flotilla in Bizerte, then being transferred to Beirut. "Narval"s commander was Captain Cloarec. On 11 June 1940 , "Narval" returned to Bizerte. At the time of signing the French surrender, the ship was on patrol, and its commander ignored the order on 17 June to stop visiting the British ports, and sailed to Malta. She entered the Free French Naval Forces. On 15 December 1940, "Narval" blew up on a mine in the same minefield off the Kerkennah Islands that sank her sister ship "Morse" six months earlier.