Gymnote
Encyclopedia
The Gymnote was one of the world's first all-electric submarines.
Launched on 24 September 1888, she was developed in France
following early experiments by Dupuy de Lôme
, and, after his death, by Gustave Zédé (1825-1891) and Arthur Krebs, who completed the project. For the Gymnote, Artur Krebs developed the electric engine, the first naval periscope
and the first naval electric gyrocompass
. The name "Gymnote" is French for Gymnotidae
.
The submarine was built with a steel single hull, a detachable lead keel, and three hydroplanes on each side. She made over 2,000 dives, using 204 cell batteries. She was armed with two 355 mm torpedo
es.
Gymnote was partly inspired by the earlier development of the submarine Plongeur
, the world's first mechanically-powered submarine.
Launched on 24 September 1888, she was developed in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
following early experiments by Dupuy de Lôme
Dupuy de Lome
Dupuy de Lome may refer to:* Enrique Dupuy de Lôme, Spanish Minister to the United States in 1892* Henri Dupuy de Lôme, a French naval architect in the 19th century...
, and, after his death, by Gustave Zédé (1825-1891) and Arthur Krebs, who completed the project. For the Gymnote, Artur Krebs developed the electric engine, the first naval periscope
Periscope
A periscope is an instrument for observation from a concealed position. In its simplest form it consists of a tube with mirrors at each end set parallel to each other at a 45-degree angle....
and the first naval electric gyrocompass
Gyrocompass
A gyrocompass is a type of non-magnetic compass which bases on a fast-spinning disc and rotation of our planet to automatically find geographical direction...
. The name "Gymnote" is French for Gymnotidae
Naked-back knifefish
The naked-back knifefishes are a family of knifefishes that are found only in fresh waters of Central America and South America. All have organs adapted to the exploitation of bioelectricity. The family has 33 valid species in two genera...
.
The submarine was built with a steel single hull, a detachable lead keel, and three hydroplanes on each side. She made over 2,000 dives, using 204 cell batteries. She was armed with two 355 mm torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
es.
Gymnote was partly inspired by the earlier development of the submarine Plongeur
Plongeur
Plongeur was a French submarine launched on 16 April 1863. She was the first submarine in the world to be propelled by mechanical power....
, the world's first mechanically-powered submarine.