I guess I got tired of waiting for english publications on French submarines so I bought some French books. I'm slowly typing in the text and running portions through Babelfish to get a rough translation. Fortunately I have a French co-worker to help with not so obvious idioms.

The first book I'm translating is "Le Croiseur Sous-Marin Surcouf (1926-1942)" -> "The Cruiser Submarine Surcouf (1926-1942)". If you are interested in the Surcouf, this seems to be a good book to get. I got my copy from www.articlesofwar.com.

The other book I got fro them was "Sous-Marin en France - Tome 4" -> "Submarines of France - Volume 4" which seems to cover the period after WW1 to before WW2. I will start on that if I ever get finished with the Surcouf book.

Hello, mate!

Very interesting, indeed, I'll say!
Have you given any thought to maybe re-publishing these volumes in a translated english version?
I'm sure that permission, royalties, etc. would have to be done for legality, but you may be able to make a good chunk of change, while helping out many more modelers in the same boat (no pun intended! ). . .I know that I would be a customer myself! Good luck with your project!
~Gunny

The problem with making it Official (especially with money involved) is that it complicates things. People who have their own agendas suddenly show up. Before you know it, you're assigned a deadline and then getting sued for "lost potential revenue" when you miss it.

I just want to do this for myself and for others who have thought about buying the book but were put off because there was no English translation. It is a nice book with plans even!

Does the book have drawings and hull frames diagrams? Someone in my model warship combat group wants to build a Surcouf.

There are some fold out drawings in the back. They do span the spine of the book though.

The first is around 1/183 with a starboard view and a combined top/bottom view. These are overlaid with a grid and show contour lines. There is also a drawing of the sail from the front showing various cross-sections. There is a note saying a 1/75 scale version can be bought from the editors. Unfortunately there are no cross-sections for the hull.

The second is a slightly larger starboard cut-away drawing. There are several cross-sections near the stern (at rudder pivot, props, rear plane pivots) and near the bow (tip of torpedo tubes, anchor, capstan, forward plane pivot)

The third is a smaller general arrangment drawing (from starboard side).

Elsewhere in the book are drawings for the different modifications made during the life of the submarine.

Ahoy GaryKato!

I'm not sure if you're into any French battleships, but if so, here is a link that offers more than 400 FREE ship plan downloads of French Vessels, originally provided to us by our mate Jean-Bernard André (jba).

Plans de bateaux

Happy Hunting!
~Gunny

I have to admit to a yearning to build Heller's Jean Bart. My skills aren't up to it (or their Surcouf for that matter). I still have to build up my modelling skills. I've tried with campaigns here, but I either don't have time or the kits I've wanted to build were more difficult than I had bargained. So far I'm 0 for 3.

Well. well, mate, you're definitely among friends here. . .we have some great campaigns going on now, and more in the planning stages, and if you wish, I would be more than happy to recommend some great starter kits to both help you hone your skills, as well as participate in the brotherhood of the campaign spirit. . .we'll all help ya too, mate, all ya gotta do is ask!
~Gunny

Okay, for lurkers here!
i am not very keen on my own country's boats, but the Surcouf would be an exception, i think it is an AWESOME looking submarine!
To my own taste, this is the standout french ship of the whole century.