Émeraude-class submarine (1937)

The Émeraude-class submarine (1937) refers to a proposed class of submarines for the French Navy that were planned as an improved version of the preceding Saphir-class. While design work was undertaken, including considerations for enhanced speed, range, and torpedo armament, the Émeraude-class submarines were ultimately never built. The program was cancelled due to a combination of factors, including budgetary constraints, shifting priorities within the French naval program toward larger submarine cruisers and other classes, and the outbreak of World War II. The name "Émeraude-class" is therefore primarily used in historical discussions and documentation related to French submarine development in the late 1930s and is not associated with any actually constructed vessels. Plans and specifications related to the class offer insight into French naval thinking regarding submarine warfare during that period.