"Surcouf"

Les Géants de la République

        Richelieu / Jean Bart  / Surcouf

Good morning, captains. Today I bring you the final member of my French fleet saga. Allow me to present the steel corsair—the largest and most unusual submarine of its time, a vessel whose fate remains unknown.

Surcouf, le corsaire d’acier

The story of the French submarine Surcouf begins in the years following World War I, when France decided to break all conventions.

They didn’t want just another submarine. They wanted something different—something that would dominate the ocean.

Thus, the Surcouf was born: the largest submarine in the world at its time, a strange hybrid between a submersible and a cruiser. It was armed with 203 mm guns, like those of a warship, and even carried a small reconnaissance seaplane. It was, quite literally, a “steel corsair.”

But from the very beginning, it was a… problematic weapon.

Its size made it difficult to maneuver. Diving was not quick. And coordinating the use of its guns in open sea was more theory than practice.

Even so, it was imposing. And unique.

When World War II broke out, the fate of the Surcouf became uncertain.

After the fall of France in 1940, the submarine was far from home. Amid the political chaos between Vichy France and the Free French forces, the Surcouf ended up under Allied control—but not without tension, mistrust, and internal conflicts among its own crew.

It was a powerful vessel… but one without a clear place to belong.

In 1942, it was ordered to cross the Atlantic.

Its destination: the Pacific.

But it never arrived.

The Surcouf vanished into the night, near the Caribbean. No signals. No farewell. No confirmed trace.

The most accepted theory points to an accidental collision with a merchant ship. Others speak of errors, attacks, or internal failures.

But the truth…

went down with it.

Today, the Surcouf is more than just a submarine. It is a mystery.

A giant lost in the ocean, an experiment ahead of its time, and a naval legend that still whispers from the depths.

especifications

Type: Cruiser submarine Country: France Commissioned: 1934

Displacement: ~3,300 tons (surfaced) ~4,300 tons (submerged)

Length: ~110 m Beam: ~9 m Draft: ~7 m

Propulsion and performance Engines: Diesel (surface) Electric (submerged)

Speed: ~18 knots (surface) ~10 knots (submerged)

Range: ~10,000 nautical miles at low speed

Operational depth: ~80 m

Armament Main armament: 2 × 203 mm guns (twin turret)

Anti-aircraft: Machine guns and AA cannons (various, variable configuration)

Torpedoes: 10 torpedo tubes (550 mm and 400 mm)

Total torpedo capacity: ~22

Aviation 1 × reconnaissance seaplane (Besson MB.411) Stored in a watertight hangar within the superstructure

Crew Approximately 110–130 men

Controls

(It is controlled like a helicopter) Activate surface weapons: press X Main guns – FA1 550 mm torpedoes – FA2 400 mm torpedoes – FA3

Deploy the aircraft

1 – Deploy crane (B) (to raise or lower the hooks, “accelerate ALT”) 2 – Deploy the aircraft (B)

To safely secure the aircraft, I recommend placing a connector on each wing.

others things

Once again, we must thank "August Kramer" for the French flag o7

I would also like to credit MML for building the entire deck structure, including the turret. Although I chose to modify a large portion of his work, I greatly appreciate his help and contribution to this project o7

And finally, the part many have been waiting for—let’s talk about the CV-6.

As for its construction, there is obviously still a long way to go, but the overall basic structure is already finished. Sooner rather than later, I’ll have to start working on the aircraft. Regarding these, I’m hoping to have at least 6 operable planes across 3 different models.

Now, let’s talk about landing, because I’m not sure what to do. With planes on the deck, landing becomes much more complicated, so I was thinking I could make part of the deck where they are rotate 180°, leaving the planes upside down beneath the structure. This would clear the runway, but it would take away a lot of realism from the ship.

That’s my idea—if you have any suggestions, I’d be glad to hear what you have in mind :D

Well, captains, that’s all for now. We’ll meet again next month with favorable winds. Now, without further delay, I wish you luck in these haunted waters >:D