Gustave Zédé (Q2)

• Emerged: 262 ts
• Immersed: 270 ts

• Surfaced: 9.2 kn (17 km / h)
• Immersed: 6.5 kn (12 km / h)

The Gustave Zédé (Q 2 ) was the second electric-powered submarine of the French Navy. The ship bore the name of Schiffskonstruktuers and pioneer of the French submarine construction Gustave Zédé.

Details

After the Navy had successfully tested developed by Gustave Henri Dupuy de Lome Zédé and Gymnote (Q 1), the first French operational electrically -powered submarine, the Navy Minister issued on October 4, 1890 Works for a much larger design. The original name of the project was Sirene. When Gustave Zédé died in 1891, the submarine was renamed in honor of its designer. Zedes successor as chief engineer of the construction project was his nephew Gaston Romazotti.

The 48.5 m long Einhüllenboot displaced 270 ts and was made of bronze. Expensive alloy was selected as the material to prevent corrosion by salt water.

First tests showed the same instability when diving, which have already been observed in the 1863 Plongeur. Three pair of hydroplanes were mounted to trim with which the design could be successfully stabilized. Furthermore 've added a deck covering in the course of the tests, which gave a higher seaworthiness of the submarine at surface running. This was a first step towards later-developed double-hulled boat.

It is armed with two 450 - mm - Whitehead torpedoes were used. The submarine had a torpedo tube, which could be recharged once.

Just as the Gymnote the Gustave Zédé was driven purely electrically, both above and under water. As the power source for the electric motor lead-acid batteries that could be charged only with external assistance served. Reached the submarine surfaced a top speed of 9.2 knots (17 km / h) and was submerged up to 6.5 kn (12 km / h) drive fast.

The submarine carried out a total of over 2500 dives. Among other things, it drove dipped from Toulon to Marseille 41 miles (76 km). The Navy leadership was very satisfied with the design and ordered Romazotti another submarine. The result was the Morse (Q 3).

The Gustave Zédé (Q 2) in 1909 removed from the fleet register.