Prairial was one of 18 Pluviôse-class submarines built for the French Navy (Marine Nationale) in the first decade of the 20th century.

During World War I, Priarial collided with the British steamer Tropic in the English Channel off Le Havre, France, and sank with the loss of 19 of her 26 crew.

[1] The Pluviôse class were built as part of the French Navy's 1905 building program to a double-hull design by Maxime Laubeuf.

The other launchers were a rotating pair of Drzewiecki drop collars in a single mount positioned on top of the hull at the stern.

[6] Prairial, named after the third month of spring in the French Republican Calendar, was ordered on 26 August 1905 from the Arsenal de Cherbourg.