| CORSAIR SUBMARINE Surcouf—1 ship |
| Displacement: |
3,304 tons (on surface);
4,218 tons (submerged) |
| Dimensions: |
110rn x 9rn x 9.07m |
| Machinery. |
2 Sulzer Diesels, 2 electric motors, 2 shafts, 7,600 HP(on surface), 3,400 HP (submerged) |
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| Radius in Nautical Miles: |
Speed:18 knots (on surface), 8.5 knots (submerged)
10.000/10 knots, 6,800/13.8 knots (on surface)70/4.5 knots (submerged) |
| Armament: |
<SUP>2</SUP>—203mm (2 x 1) 2—37mm AA,
4 machine-guns,
6—550mm TT and 4—400mm TIT
Carried a scout seaplane (Besson MB.411 type) |
| Complement: |
118 Officers 8 Men 110 |
Surcouf was, in her time, the largest submarine in the world. Her vast and ponderous dimensions were necessary to carry all the items considered necessary for world-wide commerce raiding. The twin 8" turret forward of the conning tower was controlled by a director and a 40 ft. rangefinder. The lesser guns were mounted on the top of the small seaplane hangar which was in the tail of the conning tower. Other unusual features were a compartment for 40 prisoners, a l6 ft. motor cutter, a magazine for 600 rounds of 8" ammunition and extra large fuel tanks. The decision to mount such large guns with a range of 15 miles seems a little extraordinary when the director’s visual horizon could not have been more than 7 miles and even then ranging must have been problematical. Presumably at greater ranges spotting by the seaplane would have been possible.
For such a large submarine her diving time of 2 minutes was good, although it took longer than this to open fire after surfacing.
By a strange fate Surcouf was lost when rammed accidentally by the merchant ship Thomson Lykes in February 1942.
MB.410, Besson / ANF-Mureaux (411)
The MB 410 was an observation aircraft, to be carried by the 2880-ton submarine cruiser 'Surcouf' armed with two 203mm guns. The MB.410 was a low-wing monoplane with a single central float and two small stabilizing floats, that could easily be disassambled for stowage. One MB.410 and two MB.411s were built; one MB.411 was carried on board. After June 1940 both the Surcouf and the MB.411 were used by the Free French.
Type: MB-411
Function: observation
Year: 1937 Crew: 1-2 Engines: 1 * 130kW Salmson 9Nd
Wing Span: 12m Length: 8.25m Height: 2.85m Wing Area: 22m2
Empty Weight: 760kg Max.Weight: 1140kg
Speed: 185km/h Ceiling: Range: 345km
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