Allied Warships

FR Surcouf

Submarine of the Surcouf class

NavyThe French Navy
TypeSubmarine
ClassSurcouf 
Pennant 
Built byArsenal de Cherbourg (Cherbourg, France) 
Ordered 
Laid down1 Oct 1927 
Launched18 Nov 1929 
Commissioned3 May 1934 
Lost18 Feb 1942 
Loss position10° 40'N, 79° 31'W
History

Seized on 3 July 1940 by the British while at Plymouth.
Transferred to the Free Fench Navy.
Surcouf (Capitaine De Fregate Georges Louis Nicolas Blaison) was sunk on 18 February 1942 in the Gulf of Mexico in position 10º40'N, 79º31'W after a collision with the American merchant ship Thomson Lykes. There were no survivors, 130 officers and men (including some British) went down with the ship.

 

We don't have any commands listed for FR Surcouf


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Notable events involving Surcouf include:


3 Jul 1940
While at Devonport, HMS Revenge (Capt. E.R. Archer, RN) was moored close to the French battleship Paris (Capitaine de vaisseau (Capt.) P.L. Guillerm) and the submarine Surcouf (Capitaine de corvette (Lt.Cdr.) P.M.H. Martin).

In the early hours boarding parties were sent to these two french ships to take over control of them.

On board the Surcouf they met with resistance and and the first man to enter the French submarine, Leading Seaman Albert Webb of HMS Revenge was shot dead by a French officer. In turn, the French officer, was shot dead by the British officer who was following Leading Seaman Webb.

19 Feb 1941
HMS Thunderbolt (Lt. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) departed from Holy Loch bound for Halifax, Canada. From that base she is to protect convoys from being attacked by German surface raiders.

She, and the Free French submarine FFS Surcouf (Cdr. P.A.P. Ortolí), were escorted by the British corvette HMS Sunflower (Lt.Cdr. J.T. Jones, RNR) until 2303/20. (1)

Sources

  1. ADM 199/1115

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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