French submarine Sibylle (1932)

Sibylle was one of nine Diane-class submarines built for the French Navy during the 1930s. She was sunk by Allied forces during Operation Torch, the invasion of French North Africa in 1942.

For other ships with the same name, see French ship Sibylle.
History
France
Name: Sibylle
Launched: 28 January 1932
Fate: Sunk, 8 November 1942
General characteristics
Class and type: Diane-class submarine
Displacement:
  • 661 tonnes (651 long tons) surfaced
  • 820 tonnes (807 long tons) submerged
Length: 64.4 m (211 ft 3 in) overall
Beam: 6.2 m (20 ft 4 in)
Draft: 4.3 m (14 ft 1 in)
Installed power:
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) surfaced
  • 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 4,000 nmi (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 82 nmi (152 km; 94 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Crew: 41
Armament:
  • 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes
  • 2 × 400 mm (15.7 in) torpedo tubes
  • 1 × 76 mm (3.0 in) deck gun

Design and description

The Diane-class submarines were improved versions of the earlier Argonaute class. They displaced 661 tonnes (651 long tons) surfaced and 820 tonnes (807 long tons) submerged. The submarines were 64.4 meters (211 ft 3 in) long, had a beam of 6.2 meters (20 ft 4 in) and a draft of 4.3 meters (14 ft 1 in).[1]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 700-brake-horsepower (522 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 500-horsepower (373 kW) electric motor. They could reach 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) on the surface and 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) underwater.[2] On the surface, the Dianes had a range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km; 4,600 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph); submerged, they had a range of 82 nmi (152 km; 94 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph).[1]

The boats were armed with six 53.3-centimeter (21.0 in) and a pair of 40-centimeter (15.7 in) torpedo tubes. Three of the former were mounted in the bow internally, two were external amidships and one was external in the stern. The 40 cm tubes were aft and were also external; all of the external mounts could traverse. They carried a total of nine torpedoes. The Diane class were also armed with a single 76-millimeter (3 in) deck gun.[1]

Construction and career

The boat was launched on 28 January 1932. Sibylle was sunk by Allied forces off Casablanca on 8 November 1942.[3]

Notes
  1. Bagnasco, p. 44
  2. Chesneau, p. 275
  3. http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/6127.html

References
  • Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-962-6.
  • Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
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