top of page
06/01/2022. U63. French Q1 Gymnote. 1888. 15" Tinplate Clockwork Diving Submarine
U63 has a 2 plate steel hull with twin 30ml dive tanks fwd and aft, le moteur is a 4 stage slip gear single spring affair with a top mounted crown. The original boat was designed by the genius Gustav Zede and his mate Arthur Krebs. The Q1 Gymnote (electric eel) was the first all electric submarine, the first fitted with a periscope, first gyro compass and the first to carry topedoes! All in 1888! So for me these guy's are up there with Verne and Voltaire as all time great Frenchmen. As for my Homage to their work, U63 is fast, a brilliant diver as well as a cracking looking boat.
bottom of page