Espadon was one of four s built for the French Navy during the first decade of the 20th century. She played a minor role in the First World War.
Design and description The Sirène-class submarines were improved versions of the . The boats displaced on the surface and submerged. They had an overall length of , a beam of , and a draft of . Their crew numbered 2 officers and 12 enlisted men.Roberts, pp. 420–421
On the surface, the Sirènes were powered by a vertical triple-expansion steam engine that used steam from a du Temple boiler to drive the single propeller shaft. A single electric motor powered the boats underwater. The submarines were designed to reach a maximum speed of on the surface and underwater. During her sea trials, sister attained from on the surface and from while submerged. The boats were provided with of fuel oil that gave them a surfaced range of at ; their batteries gave the submarines a range of at under water.Roberts, p. 421
The Sirène class was armed with two external Tissier torpedo launchers and two external 450 mm Drzewiecki drop collar. The Tissier torpedo launchers were replaced by fixed torpedo launchers in 1906.
Construction and career Espadon was ordered on 1 May 1900 and laid down later that year at the Arsenal de Cherbourg. The boat was launched on 31 August 1901 and commissioned in October.Roberts, p. 422
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External links French Submarines: 1863 - Now Sous-marins Français 1863 -