The French submarine Narval was a Requin-class vessel constructed for the French Navy during the mid-1920s. Laid down in March 1923, she was launched in May 1925 and commissioned in July 1926. The Narval measured 78 meters (255 feet 11 inches) in length, with a beam of 6.8 meters (22 feet 4 inches) and a draught of 5.1 meters (16 feet 9 inches). As a typical Requin-class submarine, she was capable of diving to depths of up to 80 meters (260 feet). Her displacement was 1,150 long tons (1,168 tonnes) when surfaced and increased to 1,441 long tons (1,464 tonnes) when submerged. Powering her surfaced propulsion were two 2,900 horsepower diesel engines, while her submerged operation relied on two 1,800 horsepower electric motors. These provided her with a maximum speed of 15 knots (28 km/h) on the surface and 9 knots (17 km/h) underwater. Her operational range was substantial, capable of traveling 7,700 nautical miles (14,300 km) at 9 knots on the surface, and 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) at 12 knots. When submerged, she could operate for approximately 70 nautical miles (130 km) at 5 knots. The Narval underwent a comprehensive overhaul between 1935 and 1937, modernizing her systems. At the outbreak of World War II, she served in the Mediterranean Sea, initially with the 4th Submarine Flotilla in Bizerte and later transferred to Beirut. Her commander was Captain Cloarec. During the fall of France, on 11 June 1940, she returned to Bizerte. Following France’s surrender, Narval ignored orders to cease visits to British ports and instead sailed to Malta, where she joined the Free French Naval Forces. Her service ended tragically on or around 15 December 1940, when she struck a mine off the Kerkennah Islands, in the same minefield that had previously sunk her sister ship Morse six months earlier. Her sinking marked the loss of a significant vessel in the interwar and early wartime period, illustrating the dangers faced by submarines operating in contested waters during World War II.

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