Farfadet-class submarine

The Farfadet-class submarines were a group of submarines built for the French Navy at the beginning of the 20th century. There were four vessels in this class, of the Maugas type. They had little success in service and were converted to other use after the loss of two vessels in diving accidents. All were disposed of prior to the outbreak of the First World War.

Farfadet under way in harbour
Class overview
Name: Farfadet class
Operators:  French Navy
Cost: £32,000 per unit
Built: 1901–1903
In commission: 1903–1906
Completed: 4
General characteristics [1]
Type: submarine
Displacement:
  • 185 tons surfaced
  • 202 tons submerged
Length: 41.3 m (135 ft 6 in)
Beam: 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in)
Draught: 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in)
Installed power: 185 hp (138 kW)
Propulsion: 1 shaft, 1 electric motor
Speed:
  • 6.1 knots (11.3 km/h; 7.0 mph) surfaced
  • 4.3 knots (8.0 km/h; 4.9 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 115 nmi (213 km; 132 mi) at 5.3 knots (9.8 km/h; 6.1 mph) surfaced
  • 28 nmi (52 km; 32 mi) at 4.32 knots (8.00 km/h; 4.97 mph) submerged
Complement: 16
Armament: 4 × 450 mm (18 in) torpedoes on Drzewiecki drop collars

Design and construction

The Farfadets were designed by Gabriel Maugas, an early French submarine engineer at the Rochefort Naval Dockyard. The Farfadets were single-hulled, and powered by electric motors only, limiting their range and surface performance compared to the contemporary Sirene class.[1] However they had variable-pitch propellers, developed by Maugas, obviating the need for a reversing engine.

Service history

The Farfadets were ordered as part of the French Navy's 1899 building programme, and were constructed over the next three years at the naval dockyards at Rochefort. However they were not successful in service; Farfadet was lost in a diving accident in July 1905, and Lutin in October 1906. Farfadet was raised and recommissioned as Follet, remaining in service until 1911, but the other three vessels were disarmed and converted to other use.[1]

Ships in class
Farfadet class submarines[1]
NamePennant numberNamesakeBuilderLaunchedFate
FarfadetQ7Farfadet
(Sprite, Leprechaun)		Rochefort Naval Dockyard17 May 1901Lost in diving accident, 6 July 1905. Raised, re-commissioned as Follet, stricken Nov 1911[2]
KorriganQ8Korrigan (Dwarf)Rochefort Naval Dockyard25 January 1902Discarded 1906 and converted to other use[3]
GnômeQ9GnomeRochefort Naval Dockyard24 July 1902Discarded 1906 and converted to other use[4]
LutinQ10Lutin
(Elf, Goblin)		Rochefort Naval Dockyard12 February 1903Lost in diving accident 16 Oct 1906 ; raised and converted to other use[5]

Notes
  1. Conway p207
  2. Farfadet (Q7) at sous-marins français (archived page); retrieved 28 February 2017
  3. Korrigan (Q8) at sous-marins français (archived page); retrieved 28 February 2017
  4. Gnôme (Q9) at sous-marins français (archived page); retrieved 28 February 2017
  5. Lutin (Q10) at sous-marins français (archived page); retrieved 28 February 2017

References
  • Gardiner R, Gray R: Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1906-1921 (1985) ISBN 085177 245 5
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