The French submarine Turquoise was a Saphir-class vessel constructed for the French Navy during the mid-1930s. Laid down in October 1926, she was launched in May 1929 and officially commissioned in September 1930. The submarine measured 66 meters (216 feet 6 inches) in length, with a beam of 7.1 meters (23 feet 4 inches) and a draught of 4.3 meters (14 feet 1 inch). Designed for both submerged and surface operations, Turquoise had a surfaced displacement of 761 long tons (773 tons) and a submerged displacement of 925 long tons (940 tons). Powered on the surface by two 1,300-horsepower Normand-Vickers diesel engines, she could reach a maximum speed of approximately 9 knots (17 km/h) while submerged, thanks to two 1,100-horsepower electric motors. Her operational range was notably extensive, capable of traveling up to 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km) at a cruising speed of 7.5 knots when surfaced, and about 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km) at 12 knots. Underwater, she could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km) at 4 knots. The Saphir-class was designed for versatile combat roles, capable of launching torpedoes and laying mines without surfacing. These mines, containing 220 kg of TNT and operable at depths up to 200 meters (660 feet), were stored externally under a hydrodynamic cover and could be jettisoned using compressed air. The class featured an automatic depth regulator to flood ballast tanks after mine deployment, ensuring safety and operational effectiveness. During World War II, Turquoise was disarmed at Bizerte, Tunisia, and renamed FR 116 following her capture by Italian forces on December 8, 1942. She was later recaptured and ultimately scuttled by German forces in Naples, Italy, on May 8, 1943. The vessel’s service history reflects the tumultuous maritime conflicts of the era and highlights her technological capabilities as a multi-mission submarine of the interwar period.

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