*French, c1888, Submarine Le Gymnote – Original Photograph*
Original Photograph of the French submarine Gymnote. Likely a photograph of a photograph. This photograph originally formed part of the Lou Britton British Submarine Collection, which was acquired by the Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport in 2007.
Approximate Dimensions: 16.2cm x 12.1cm.
Accompanying the photograph is a piece of A4 paper with cut out excerpts about Gymnote - presumably compiled by Lou Britton.
Gymnote was the first submarine to be listed officially by any navy. Gymnote was one of the world’s first all-electric submarines, launched on 24 September 1888 in France. Developed by Gustave Zédé and Arthur Krebs, she was equipped with two 355mm torpedo tubes and powered by a 55-horsepower electric motor. The submarine had a steel hull and used lead ballast for stability. Gymnote made over 2,000 dives, and her design featured early navigational innovations like the first naval periscope and electric gyrocompass. She ran aground and suffered significant damage in 1907, was drydocked, but sank in June 1907 due to a flooding incident. She was sold for scrap in 1911.
*Condition*
Good used condition. The corners have has tape on them and there is pen discolouring part of the photograph. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
