Maxime Laubeuf
Encyclopedia
Maxime Laubeuf was a French maritime engineer of the late nineteenth century. He was born on 23 November 1864 at Poissy
, Yvelines
, and died on 23 December 1939 in Cannes
, Alpes-Maritimes
.
Laubeuf was a pioneer in the design and building of submarine
s, and was responsible for a number of the innovations that led to modern submarine design. His work had a profound influence on the design of submersibles in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century.
Laubeuf studied at the Ecole Polytechnique
, and after graduating in 1883, he joined ENSTA, the French military's school of Marine Engineering.
He became an Assistant Engineer in 1887, and Engineer in 1891. During this time he worked at Brest
to the development of submersibles and designs the first modern submarines in 1904. Two years later, he left the Navy
to continue building submarines in private industry.
In 1896 the French government staged a design competition for a submarine of advance capabilities. They required a 200 ton vessel with a surface speed of 12 knots and a 100 mile range, with a submerged speed of 6 knots and a 10 mile range. Laubeuf's design, Narval, was the winner out of 29 entries.
Laubeuf determined that to run efficiently on the surface and submerged his submarine would need two separate power systems; most designers up to that point had tried to find a single system for both, with mixed success. The high surface speed demanded made a steam system necessary for surface running, while using an electric motor underwater. He also arranged to use the surface engine to re-charge the batteries for the electric motor whilst on the surface.
Laubeuf also tackled the stability problem that beset submarine designs. The rounded pressure hull necessary to withstand the pressure at depth was a poor shape for sailing, making them unhandy on the surface and unstable submerged. Laubeufs's design had a double hull; an inner, rounded, reinforced hull to resist pressure, and an outer, boat-shaped hull to make the vessel sea-worthy. These innovations were a leap forward in submarine design, and were adopted by navies around the world.
Laubeuf became a member of the French Naval Academy
and was elected member of the French Academy of Sciences
in 1920.
Poissy
Poissy is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the center.In 1561 it was the site of a fruitless Catholic-Huguenot conference, the Colloquy at Poissy...
, Yvelines
Yvelines
Yvelines is a French department in the region of Île-de-France.-History:Yvelines was created from the western part of the defunct department of Seine-et-Oise on 1 January 1968 in accordance with a law passed on 10 January 1964 and a décret d'application from 26 February 1965.It gained the...
, and died on 23 December 1939 in Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
, Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes
Alpes-Maritimes is a department in the extreme southeast corner of France.- History : was created by Octavian as a Roman military district in 14 BC, and became a full Roman province in the middle of the 1st century with its capital first at Cemenelum and subsequently at Embrun...
.
Laubeuf was a pioneer in the design and building of submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s, and was responsible for a number of the innovations that led to modern submarine design. His work had a profound influence on the design of submersibles in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century.
Laubeuf studied at the Ecole Polytechnique
École Polytechnique
The École Polytechnique is a state-run institution of higher education and research in Palaiseau, Essonne, France, near Paris. Polytechnique is renowned for its four year undergraduate/graduate Master's program...
, and after graduating in 1883, he joined ENSTA, the French military's school of Marine Engineering.
He became an Assistant Engineer in 1887, and Engineer in 1891. During this time he worked at Brest
Brest, France
Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...
to the development of submersibles and designs the first modern submarines in 1904. Two years later, he left the Navy
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
to continue building submarines in private industry.
In 1896 the French government staged a design competition for a submarine of advance capabilities. They required a 200 ton vessel with a surface speed of 12 knots and a 100 mile range, with a submerged speed of 6 knots and a 10 mile range. Laubeuf's design, Narval, was the winner out of 29 entries.
Laubeuf determined that to run efficiently on the surface and submerged his submarine would need two separate power systems; most designers up to that point had tried to find a single system for both, with mixed success. The high surface speed demanded made a steam system necessary for surface running, while using an electric motor underwater. He also arranged to use the surface engine to re-charge the batteries for the electric motor whilst on the surface.
Laubeuf also tackled the stability problem that beset submarine designs. The rounded pressure hull necessary to withstand the pressure at depth was a poor shape for sailing, making them unhandy on the surface and unstable submerged. Laubeufs's design had a double hull; an inner, rounded, reinforced hull to resist pressure, and an outer, boat-shaped hull to make the vessel sea-worthy. These innovations were a leap forward in submarine design, and were adopted by navies around the world.
Laubeuf became a member of the French Naval Academy
Académie de Marine
The Royal Naval Academy of France was founded at Brest by a ruling of 31 July 1752 by Antoine Louis de Rouillé, comte de Jouy, Secretary of State for the Navy...
and was elected member of the French Academy of Sciences
French Academy of Sciences
The French Academy of Sciences is a learned society, founded in 1666 by Louis XIV at the suggestion of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to encourage and protect the spirit of French scientific research...
in 1920.