The Brumaire-class submarines were built for the French Navyprior to World War I. There were sixteen vessels in this class, of the Laubeuf type. All saw action during the First World War, with three boats lost.
Naming
The French Navy built 34 Laubeuf-type submarines between 1906 and 1911. These are usually described as two classes, of which the Brumaire class was one, the other being the Pluviôse class. . The boats had two naming schemes; the earlier vessels were named after the months of the French Revolutionary calendar, and the later ones after French scientists. However, apart from the name ship of the class, only two were named after months; the remaining thirteen boats of the Brumaire class were named for scientists.
Design
The Brumaire class were Laubeuf type submarines, following the Laubeuf standard design of double hull and dual propulsion systems. The Brumaire boats had electric motors for underwater propulsion, and are usually listed as having diesel engines for surface propulsion, though in practice this was mixed. While most had diesels several of the earlier boats had steam engines. These had been preferred by Laubeuf in the early stages, though later Laubeuf type submarines, such as the, predecessors to the Pluviôse and Brumaire classes, had used diesel engines, and some of the later Pluviôse boats had diesels.
Construction
The Brumaire class were ordered in the 1906 programme and the first vessels were laid down the same year. However construction proceeded more slowly than the Pluviôse boats, and the first of the class, was not launched until four years later, priority being given to the Pluviôse boats. The boats were built at three of the French Navy’s dockyards, at the Arsenals of Cherbourg, Rochefort and Toulon. The first of the class, Brumaire, was launched in April 1911, and the last, Franklin in March 1913.
Armament
The Brumaire-class submarines were armed with torpedoes, of which eight were carried. They had one 17.7 inchtorpedo tube mounted in the bow, with one torpedo loaded and one carried as a reload, and six carried externally. Of these four were in Drzewiecki drop collars and two in external cradles alongside the conning tower.
Service history
The Brumaire class were acknowledged to be good sea boats and saw action throughout the First WorldWar on patrol and close blockade duty. Of the sixteen built, four were lost in action. Two vessels were mined; another was sunk by aircraft, the first incidence of such a loss. The fourth, was lost attempting to penetrate the Austro-Hungarian naval base at Pola. She was later raised by the Austrians and put into service by them, but was returned after the Austrian surrender.
