Launched in 1929, the French Surcouf is the world's largest submarine. Intended to circumvent the Washington Naval Treaties (which placed no tonnage limitations on submarines), this vessel is a long-range commerce raider. Originally, France intended to build three of these vessels, but the Great Depression (and perhaps naval common sense) has limited them to just the one. 280 tons of cargo, and 40 prisoners/troops, can be accomodated. A small, radio-equipped float plane is carried in a hangar (the ANF-Mureaux MB.411, purpose-built to be carried by the Surcouf class of submarines), for scouting and fire direction. Two motorboats are carried as well, a 33' speedboat and a 17' utility boat. The first captain was C. F. Martin.

The beloved armaments manufacturer Pierre Boulle has constructed a further example of this class, launched 18 October 1929 with the name Kestrel, allegedly for "oceanographic" and "weapons platform research" (complete with the 8" guns) -- the French seem to be pretty enamoured with what the Boulle munitions empire has produced for them.

Four of the 55 cm torpedo tubes point forwards, with the eight reloads available to them; the other two 55 cm tubes, and the four 40 cm tubes, are mounted on traversing firing platforms aft of the conning tower (one 55 cm and two 40 cm per platform), outside of the pressure hull. One of the platforms can fire aft or to either side; the other one, only to the sides.

Deck plans available here

Length 361', beam 29' 6", displacement 3250 tons (surfaced)

Speed: 18.5 kts from two 8-cylinder Sulzer diesel engines on the surface, 10 kts submerged operating on batteries. Surface range: cruise 10,000 nautical miles at 10 kts, 6,800 nautical miles at 13.5 kts. Submerged range: 80 nautical miles at 5 kts, or 70 nautical miles at 6.5 kts.

Diving depth: 300'

Armament: 1 twin forward turret with two 203mm guns (Modèle 1924), two 37mm anti-aircraft guns; four (2x2) 13.2 mm machineguns; six 55 cm torpedo tubes (Model 1917, with 14 total torpedoes), four 40 cm torpedo tubes (with 8 torpedoes).

Crew: 8 officers, 110 men

(note that the performance figures have been "improved" to suit the referee's needs for the campaign)