 The wreckage ofAlose seen at the COMEX offices in 2019 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 France | |
| Name | Alose |
| Namesake | Shad |
| Ordered | 3 April 1901 |
| Builder | Arsenal de Toulon |
| Laid down | 17 November 1902 |
| Launched | 13 October 1904 |
| Commissioned | 31 July 1907 |
| Stricken | 21 May 1914 |
| Fate | Sunk as target, 28 March 1918; raised 27 May 1976 and preserved asmuseum ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Naïade-classsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 23.7 m (77 ft 9 in) |
| Beam | 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) |
| Draft | 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Complement | 9 |
| Armament | 2 × single 450 mm (17.7 in)torpedo launchers |
French submarineAlose (Q33) (“Shad”) is aNaïade-classsubmarine of theRomazotti type that was built for theFrench Navy at the beginning of the 20th century.Alose remained in service until just prior to the outbreak ofWorld War I in 1914.
TheNaïade class was designed byGaston Romazotti, an early French submarine engineer and director of theArsenal de Cherbourg to a specification for a small coastal-defense submarine. They were of a single-hull design, derived from the first French submarine,Gymnote, but with aDiesel–electric powertrain.[1] The hull was constructed of Roma-bronze, acopper alloy devised by Romazotti to resist corrosion better than steel.[2] The submarines had a surfaceddisplacement of 70long tons (71 t) and 74 long tons (75 t) submerged. They measured 23.7 metres (77 ft 9 in)long overall with abeam of 2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in) anddraught of 2.6 metres (8 ft 6 in). The crew numbered nine men.[3]
TheNaïade's were equipped with avariable-pitch propeller and two auxiliary side-thrusting propellers (French:hélices auxiliaires évolueurs). On the surface, thepropeller shaft was driven by twodynamos powered either by thePanhard et Levassor four-cyclebenzol engine designed to produce 65brake horsepower (48 kW) or the batteries used underwater. Speeds attained during the boats'sea trials reached up to 8.2 knots (15.2 km/h; 9.4 mph) from 104 bhp (78 kW). Underwater power for theNaïades was provided by a Société Éclairage Électrique electric motor rated at 70shaft horsepower (52 kW) and intended to give them a maximum speed of 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph). Speeds during their sea trials were disappointing at only 5.3 knots (9.8 km/h; 6.1 mph) from 92 shp (69 kW). They were designed to have a range of 30 nautical miles (56 km; 35 mi) at 4.1 knots (7.6 km/h; 4.7 mph) submerged and 200 nautical miles (370 km; 230 mi) at 5.5 knots (10.2 km/h; 6.3 mph) on the surface. TheNaïade class were armed with two external single 450 millimetres (17.7 in)torpedo launchers, one aimed forward and the other aft.[4]
Alose was ordered on 3 April 1901 andlaid down on 17 November 1902 at theArsenal de Toulon. The boat waslaunched on 13 October 1904 andcommissioned on 31 July 1907.[5] She was involved in several accidents, though none resulted in serious damage. In November 1906 she was struck by the steamerMouette inToulon Roads . In November 1910 she collided with sister shipBonite, damaging both.[6]Alose was stricken in May 1914[7] and was used as a target ship, being sunk offFréjus in March 1918.[5]
In 1975 the wreck was discovered by French divers off Lion rock, nearSaint-Raphaël, Var. She was raised and restored as amuseum ship in May 1976, and now stands outside the offices ofCOMEX inMarseille.[6]
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1906 | |
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| Other incidents |
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Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1910 | |
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| Other incidents |
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Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in March 1918 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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43°14′22″N5°24′09″E / 43.239529°N 5.402407°E /43.239529; 5.402407
