Ouessant was part of a fairly homogeneous series of 31 deep-sea patrol submarines also called "1,500-tonners" because of their displacement. All entered service between 1931 and 1939.
The Redoutable-class submarines were 92.3 metres (302 ft 10 in) long and 8.1 metres (26 ft 7 in) in beam and had a draft of 4.4 metres (14 ft 5 in). They could dive to a depth of 80 metres (262 ft). They displaced 1,572 tonnes (1,547 long tons) on the surface and 2,082 tonnes (2,049 long tons) underwater. Propelled on the surface by two diesel engines producing a combined 6,000 horsepower (4,474 kW), they had a maximum speed of 18.6 knots (34.4 km/h; 21.4 mph). When submerged, their two electric motors produced a combined 2,250 horsepower (1,678 kW) and allowed them to reach 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). Also called "deep-cruising submarines", their range on the surface was 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). Underwater, they could travel 100 nautical miles (190 km; 120 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph).
At the start of World War II on 1 September 1939, Ouessant was assigned to the 8th Submarine Division of the 4th Submarine Squadron, an element of the 1st Squadron of the Forces de haute mer (High Seas Force), based at Brest, France. Her sister ships Agosta, Bévéziers, and Sidi Ferruch made up the rest of the division.[4] That day, Ouessant, Agosta, and their sister ships Achille and Casabianca got underway from Brest to investigate the waters around Vigo, Spain, and report on the presence of German ships and submarines there.[3] France declared war on 3 September 1939, and on 4 September the mission was cancelled and the submarines returned to Brest.[3]
On 14 September 1939, Ouessant, Agosta, Achille, Casabianca, and their sister ships Pasteur and Sfax received orders to establish a permanent patrol off Vigo, where German merchant ships — which the Allies suspected of serving as supply ships for German U-boats — had taken refuge upon the outbreak of war.[3][5] They continued the patrols off Vigo until the end of October 1939.[3]
On 12 January 1940, Ouessant departed Fort-de-France in company with Agosta bound for Brest.[3] After a stop at Casablanca in French Morocco, the two submarines arrived at Brest on 1 February 1940 and began a major overhaul.[3]
Ouessant was still undergoing overhaul when German ground forces advanced into France on 10 May 1940, beginning the Battle of France, and Italy declared war on France on 10 June 1940 and joined the invasion. As German ground forces approached Brest, Ouessant, unable to get underway, was scuttled at 19:00 on 18 June 1940 to prevent her capture by the Germans.[7] The Battle of France ended in France's defeat and armisticeswith Germany on 22 June 1940 and with Italy on 24 June, both of which went into effect on 25 June 1940.
The Germans refloated Ouessant in 1942 to clear her berth and towed her to Bordeaux, France, where they hulked her for use as a floating power station.[3] They scuttled her at Pauillac, France, in 1944.[3]
Post-World War II
Ouessant was refloated again in 1948.[3] She subsequently served as a wreck lifter along with Agosta.[3]
Fontenoy, Paul E. (2007). Submarines: An Illustrated History of Their Impact (Weapons and Warfare). Santa Barbara, California. ISBN978-1-85367-623-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)[verification needed]
Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-146-7.
Huan, Claude (2004). Les Sous-marins français 1918–1945 (in French). Rennes: Marines Éditions. ISBN9782915379075.
Picard, Claude (2006). Les Sous-marins de 1 500 tonnes (in French). Rennes: Marines Éditions. ISBN2-915379-55-6.