Allied Warships

FR Achille

Submarine of the Redoutable class

NavyThe French Navy
TypeSubmarine
ClassRedoutable 
Pennant 
Built byArsenal de Brest (Brest, France) 
Ordered 
Laid down1 Sep 1928 
Launched28 May 1930 
Commissioned29 Jun 1933 
Lost18 Jun 1940 
History

Scuttled at Brest on 18 June 1940 to prevent her capture by the Germans. Achille was in drydock and unable to move under own power when the germans entered the city, leaving no alternative but to scuttle.

 

We don't have any commands listed for FR Achille


You can help improve this page
Click here to Submit events/comments/updates for this vessel.
Please use this if you spot mistakes or want to improve this ships page.

Notable events involving Achille include:


10 Dec 1939

Convoy HXF 12.

This convoy departed Halifax on 10 December 1939.

The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Akaroa (British, 15130 GRT, built 1914), Bassano (British, 4843 GRT, built 1937), Cairnross (British, 5494 GRT, built 1921), Explorer (British, 6235 GRT, built 1935), Gracia (British, 5642 GRT, built 1921), Manchester Commerce (British, 5343 GRT, built 1925), Regent Lion (British (tanker), 9551 GRT, built 1937), San Cipriano (British (tanker), 7966 GRT, built 1937) and San Delfino (British (tanker), 8072 GRT, built 1938).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) H.J. Woodward, DSO and Bar, RN), destroyers HMCS Saguenay (Lt.Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN), HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tisdall, RCN) and the submarine Achille (Lieutenant de vaisseau (Lt.) P.A.G. Terlier).

Around 0750Q/11, HMCS Saguenay and HMCS Skeena parted company to return to Halifax.

Around 1100P/13, after thick fog had cleared, it was seen that the Manchester Commerce was missing from the convoy. She rejoined around 0900P/14.

Around 1045ZN/20, in position 50°13'N, 13°35'W, the destroyers HMS Walker (Cdr. W.J.C. Robertson, RN) and HMS Whirlwind (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Rodgers, RN) joined the convoy.

Around 0910Z/21, in position 49°38'N, 08°08'W, the destroyers HMS Veteran (Cdr. J.E. Broome, RN) and HMS Verity (Lt.Cdr. A.R.M. Black, RN) joined.

Around 0930Z/21, the convoy split into two sections.

The Irish Sea / West coast section was made up of the following merchant vessels; Explorer, Gracia, Manchester Commerce and Regent Lion. HMS Walker and HMS Whirlwind escorted this section. The destroyers arrived at Liverpool in the evening of 22 December 1939.

The remaining ships made up the Channel / East coast section. Around 1300Z/21, the French submarine Achille parted company to proceed to Brest escorted by the minesweeping sloop Commandant Duboc. They arrived at Brest around 0930Z/22. Around 1930Z/21, HMS Alaunia left the convoy to proceed to Southampton where she arrived in the afternoon of 22 December 1939. HMS Veteran and HMS Verity arrived at Dover in the morning of 23 December 1939. The ships of the convoy continued on to the Downs. The San Cipriano was detached to Dunkirk. (1)

18 May 1940
At 0050A/18, HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Mills, RN), sighted another submarine bearing 120° at a range of 1000 yards. Both submarines subsequently dived. It was thought the submarine sighted may have been the Achille (Lieutenant de vaisseau (Lt.) E.J. Michaud) which was indeed the case.

[Neiher patrol report of Tetrarch or Achille give a position of this encounter.] (2)

Sources

  1. ADM 53/107364 + ADM 53/110956 + ADM 53/110982 + ADM 53/111059 + ADM 53/111157 + ADM 199/52 + Patrol report of Achille
  2. ADM 199/1849 + ADM 199/1857

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


Return to the Allied Warships section