Casabianca (Q183)

The "Casabianca" (Q.183) was a submarine of the French Navy, named in honour of Luc-Julien-Joseph Casabianca. She became famous with her spectacular escape from Toulon, as the Nazis invaded the so-called "Free zone" and tried to seize the French fleet. She fought gallantly afterward on the side of the Allies.

Phony War, Vichy France and Escape from Toulon

During the Phony War, the "Casabianca" undertook uneventful cruises in the North Sea and off Norway. After the Fall of France and subsequent armistice, she was disarmed in 1941.

Her new captain, "Capitaine de Vaisseau" Jean L'Herminier, managed to illegally restore the fighting potential of the submarine, and store 85 m³ of fuel aboard.

On the 27 November 1942, the SS stormed the harbour of Toulon to seize the French fleet, triggering the scuttling of the French fleet. As other vessels were scuttled by their crews, the "Casabianca" managed to set sail and dive, under fire from the Nazis. She sailed south to Algiers, where she surfaced in front of the screen of British patrol boats before signaling her status and intentions. Two other submarines, the "Marsouin" [http://perso.orange.fr/sous-marin.france/Q119.htm] and the "Glorieux" [http://perso.orange.fr/sous-marin.france/Q168.htm] , arrived in the next few days.

Missions for the secret services

From December 1942 to 1944, the "Casabianca" landed intelligence elements, radios, ammunitions and weapons in Corsica and Provence for the Maquis. Her elusiveness earned her the nickname of "Phantom Submarine" from German troops.

In her last mission, she landed a hundred men of the elite forces (achieving a record for a submarine of such a displacement in the process). The men were landed on an isolated beach at Arone near the village of Piana in the North West of the island. A monument exists there now.

End of the war

After the liberation of Corsica, the "Casabianca" was used for regular patrols. In 1944, she was hit in a friendly fire accident by a British plane, and had to refit in Philadelphia until March 1945.

Achievements

During her career, the "Casabianca" achieved the following success :
* 1 warship sunk by torpedo
* 1 warship sunk by gun
* 1 merchantman hit by torpedo
* 7 secret missions
* Liberation of Corsica

Trivia

* The nuclear submarine "Casabianca" is named in her honour.
* Since 2004, the conning tower of the "Casabianca" has been on display in Bastia near the harbour [http://jlvlino.free.fr/agaasm/casa060606.htm] .
* A film was made in 1951 : [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0142150/]
* Lieutenant Keith Monin Stainton was liaison officer aboard [http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RNVR_officersS.html]

External links

* [http://perso.orange.fr/sous-marin.france/Q183.htm Q183]