French Narval-class submarine

For other ships with the same name, see Narval-class submarine.
Espadon in Saint-Nazaire
Class overview
NameNarval class
Operators Marine Nationale
Preceded byAurore class
Succeeded byAréthuse class
In service1958–1992
Completed6
Retired6
Preserved1
General characteristics
TypeSubmarine
Displacement
  • 1,635 tons surfaced
  • 1,910 tons submerged
Length78.4 m (257 ft 3 in)
Beam7.8 m (25 ft 7 in)
Draft5.2 m (17 ft 1 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts, 2 × 7-cylinder diesel engines (4,400 hp (3,300 kW)),
  • 2 electric motors (5,000 hp (3,700 kW)), re-engined with new diesels in 1965–1968
Speed
  • 16 knots (30 km/h) surfaced
  • 18 knots (33 km/h) submerged
Range15,000 nautical miles (28,000 km) at 8 knots (15 km/h)
Test depth400 m (1,300 ft)
Complement63
Armament8 × 550 mm (22 in) torpedo tubes: 6 bow & 2 stern, 14 torpedoes carried

The Narval class (sous-marins d'escadre, "fleet submarines") were patrol submarines built for the French Navy in the 1950s.