Small French submarines for Mediterranean operations

The French submarine fleet included coastal designs and minelayers alongside ocean-going patrol boats and the cruiser submarine Surcouf. A six-boat coastal class is singled out as especially promising for Mediterranean operations. The stated figures put these boats below 700 tons surfaced and 900 tons submerged, with speeds of 14.2 knots surfaced and nine knots submerged. Their armament included bow and stern 550 mm torpedo tubes, smaller external 400 mm tubes and a 75 mm deck gun. These were substantial weapons for boats of that size.