The French submarine policy changed by war experiences battleships according to the Dutch magazine Marineblad dated 1920 no. 2

An item referred to the The Naval and Military Record dated 12 November 1919 reporting that among the ships of the French navy which were to be sold being useless or aged were no less 27 submarines. The first 400-500 tons steam driven Laubeufs submarines were gradually to be stricken just like the 800 tons Archimède which served during the First World War and which was considered to be once a very successful design. After her came the famous 1.250 tons Dupuy de Lôme. According to this item changed the war experience the French submarine policy. The steam engine and the turbine with gear transmission improved in many manners by French engineers and afterwards accepted by the American and British navies were no longer used being incapable as not allowing fast diving or changing courses. The smoke was visible from a long distance, before diving was the funnel to be lowered and the fires extinguished and the engine room needed good ventilation for human desires. In contrary to diesel driven submarines was the fuel consumption three times larger. Diesel driven submarines had a much larger range, could dive much faster en could stay longer submerged. The problems with the first diesel engines were in the last four years solved. The newest submarines were even fitted out with engines supplying less nominal horsepower as designed to improve strength, seaworthy and habitability. In stead of 4.000 hp engines were the 1.050 tons submarines Romagotti, Laplace, Lagrange and Regnault fitted out with 2-1.300 hp Sulzer engines allowing a surface speed of around 18 miles. With what was called an economic speed the range of these latter submarines was 7.000 nautical miles. The armament consisted of 8 torpedo tubes and they could carry 12 torpedoed with them.