The Daphné class was a type of diesel-electric patrol submarines built in France between 1958 and 1970 for the French Navy and for export.
These submarines were enlarged versions of the Aréthuse class. Eleven were used by France. Boats of this design were sold to several other countries: Pakistan (3), Portugal (4), South Africa (3) and Spain (4). However, two (Eurydice 1970 and Minerve 1968) sank accidentally and brought sales to an end. The cause was eventually considered to have been a faulty snorkel design. The submarines were scrapped in the 1990s and Portugal sold one of its boats to Pakistan. PNS Hangor sank the Indian frigate INS Khukri during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war. Pakistan has now retired the submarine and is replacing it.
Besides its eight torpedo tubes forward, this submarine class has four in the stern, which point rearward. All are for torpedoes of the French 550 mm diameter; while the forward tubes hold full-length torpedoes, the stern tubes only shortened ones.
The forward diving planes are located below the midplane of the hull. Unlike those of modern German submarines, which are similarly located, they function by tilting and cannot retract; neither do they fold.
French Navy
S641 Daphné – completed 1964 – decommissioned 1989
S642 Diane – completed 1964 – decommissioned 1989
S643 Doris – completed 1964 – decommissioned 1994
S644 Eurydice – completed 1964 – lost in an accident on 4 March 1970
S645 Flore – completed 1964 – decommissioned 1989, preserved as museum ship in Lorient, France
S646 Galatée – completed 1964 – decommissioned 1991
S647 Minerve – completed 1964 – missing 27 January 1968
S648 Junon – completed 1966 – decommissioned 1996
S649 Vénus – completed 1966 – decommissioned 1990
S650 Psyché – completed 1970 – decommissioned 1996
S651 Sirène – completed 1970 – decommissioned 1996
Pakistan Navy
S131 PNS Hangor – completed 1970 – decommissioned 2006 (now placed in Pakistan Maritime Museum)
S132 PNS Shushuk – completed 1970 – decommissioned 2006
S133 PNS Mangro – completed 1970 – decommissioned 2006
S134 PNS Ghazi (ex Portuguese Cachalote) – acquired 1975 – decommissioned 2006
Portuguese Navy (Albacora-class submarine)
S163 Albacora – completed 1967 – decommissioned 2000
S164 Barracuda – completed 1968 – decommissioned 2010
S165 Cachalote – completed 1969 – sold to Pakistan 1975
S166 Delfim – completed 1969 – decommissioned 2005
South African Navy
S97 SAS Maria van Riebeeck – renamed SAS Spear – completed 1970 – decommissioned by 2003
S98 SAS Emily Hobhouse- renamed SAS Umkhonto – completed 1970 – decommissioned by 2003
S99 SAS Johanna van der Merwe – renamed SAS Assegaai – completed 1971 – decommissioned by 2003 – converted to museum ship
Spanish Navy (built by Bazan at Cartagena dockyard)
S61 Delfín – completed 1973 – decommissioned 2003, museum ship at Torrevieja
S62 Tonina – completed 1973 – decommissioned 2005
S63 Marsopa – completed 1975 – decommissioned 2006
S64 Narval – completed 1975 – decommissioned 2003
