The Saphir was an Émeraude-class submarine constructed for the French Navy in the early 20th century, embodying the technological and strategic ambitions of France during that era. Built at the Arsenal de Toulon, she was laid down in October 1903, launched on 6 February 1909, and commissioned into service on 10 December 1910. The vessel measured approximately 44.9 meters (147 ft 4 in) in length, with a beam of 3.9 meters (12 ft 10 in) and a draft of 3.8 meters (12 ft 6 in). Her displacement was 395 metric tons (389 long tons) on the surface and 427 metric tons (420 long tons) submerged. Designed with a Maugas single-hull configuration, she had an operational diving depth of 40 meters (130 ft). Powering the Saphir were two Sautter-Harlé diesel engines, each producing 300 metric horsepower, driving her on the surface at a maximum speed of 11.26 knots, while submerged she was propelled by electric motors of the same power, with a maximum submerged speed of 8.5 knots. Her endurance was notable, capable of traveling 2,000 nautical miles at 7.3 knots on the surface and 100 nautical miles submerged at 5 knots. Armament consisted of four internal 450-millimeter torpedo tubes—two at the bow and two at the stern—carrying a total of six torpedoes. Initially assigned to the Mediterranean, Saphir served in the region and was based in Bizerte, French Tunisia, by 1913. During World War I, she operated near the Dardanelles, a strategic zone for naval operations against the Ottoman Empire. Notably, on 15 January 1915, under the command of Lieutenant Henri Fournier, Saphir attempted to force the Turkish straits without prior orders, aiming to emulate the success of the British submarine HMS B11. During this operation, she struck a mine, resulting in flooding that forced her to surface under Ottoman fire. Fournier ordered the submarine to be scuttled to prevent her capture, and the crew attempted to escape by swimming ashore. Thirteen crew members perished from the cold, while 14 survived and were captured. The sinking of Saphir was regarded as a heroic act, symbolizing French naval bravery. Her loss was commemorated in French naval history, emphasizing the valor of her officers and crew during this perilous engagement.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.