Aigrette-class submarine

The Aigrette-class submarines were a class of two submarines built for the French Navy between 1903 and 1905. They were essentially experimental submarines, and although in service during World War I, saw no action. The class was designed by Maxime Laubeuf and used Drzewiecki drop collar launchers and external cradles to launch torpedoes.

Design
The submarines had a surfaced displacement of 178 LT and a submerged displacement of 253 LT. The dimensions were 35.9 m long, with a beam of 4.04 m and a draught of 2.63 m. They had a single shaft powered by one diesel engine for surface running of 150 hp and an electric motor which produced 130 hp for submerged propulsion. The maximum speed was 9.3 kn on the surface and 6.2 kn while submerged with a surfaced range of 1300 nmi at 8 kn and a submerged range of 65 nmi at 3.8 kn. Their complement was 14 men.

Their armament comprised two 450 mm Drzewiecki drop collar torpedo launchers and two 450 mm external cradles.