How did the Narval combine steam and electric power?

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USS Nautilus — submarine The former USS *Nautilus*, launched in 1954, being towed to Groton, Connecticut, to become a museum, May 1985.

The Narval, a successful French submarine designed by marine engineer Maxime Laubeuf and launched in 1899, utilized a dual-propulsion system to operate in different environments. It was propelled on the surface by a steam engine and switched to electric motors when submerged.1

This design featured a double-hulled construction, with ballast tanks located between the hulls, which allowed the vessel to achieve successful dives. While the Narval effectively combined these power sources, it represented a transitional period in submarine development before the industry shifted toward the standard configuration of surface diesel engines and underwater battery-powered electric motors.1