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**greenman407** · 05-27-2011, 12:35 PM

I was wondering why the Surcouf was moored alongside the HMS Parthian during Wartime. Well the story goes that this picture was taken at Plymouth. The British Govt. did not want the French ships to fall into German hands and the crew of the Surcouf were not sure what to do as part of the crew wanted to fight against the Germans and the other half wanted to be loyal to the Vichy French Govt. The Captain of the Thames and the Rorqual along with Officers, Ratings and Royal Marines boarded the Surcouf and confronted its Captain and Men about their Loyalties. A gun and bayonet exchange ensued and both British Captains and two ratings were killed, along with a equal number of the French. After that almost all the French were replaced with a British crew as the Surcouf was added to the British Fleet. So she was sent on several missions and she was very unpopular with her British crew. Finally she was sent to transit the Panama canal and be posted in and around Tahiti. She never made it as she collided with a American Transport and sank with all hands.

**greenman407** · 05-27-2011, 12:44 PM

Here is where you come in. The info on the Surcouf says that she was armed with two external rotating multi barrel torpedo launchers that were designed to handle one 21" and two 17" torpedos. I cant figure out where they are so im going to post all the pictures of it that I have that might help and maybe someone can pick it out.
You can see the Surcouf in the background.

A floatplane was launched from the rear of the Conning tower.

**greenman407** · 05-27-2011, 12:49 PM

Could that be the torpedo launcher right there sticking out from the side of the stern between the two boats?

**greenman407** · 07-11-2011, 04:05 PM

The Surcouf is in the background. Hold down the control key and zoom in and you will notice the name "Surcouf on the side of the hull on the left of the picture. Now , notice the darkened area just to the right of the name. That is a rotating panel attached to a torpedo mount that pivots and rotates out. Notice these next pictures of other French subs that use the same system.

**greenman407** · 07-11-2011, 04:08 PM

This picture actually says surcouf 1929

**greenman407** · 07-11-2011, 04:26 PM

You can see here the various torpedo banks on this French submarine. Very similar to the Surcouf.

**greenman407** · 07-12-2011, 05:17 PM

If you look at her stern from this angle you can see two rectangular darkened areas just forward of her stern and just below her rear deck. Those are the openings for the aforementioned torpedo launchers.

**Mankster** · 07-13-2011, 05:09 AM

Is that last picture an actual photo of the boat, or is it a model/ CGI? The gun casing is completle different from the the other photos. Looks a little wide and out of proportion.

**greenman407** · 07-13-2011, 08:12 AM

Mankster, As far as I am aware , it is an actual picture. However it may be somewhat distorted due to the angle that we are seeing the boat as well as possible picture compression by someones software. Keep in mind that this is an old picture that has been saved and copied and saved and copied countless times.