SUBMARINE DESTROYERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 154, 1 July 1901, Page 5

SUBMARINE DESTROYERS.

LONDON, June 29

Successful experiments with subTnarine destroyers have been carried out at Portsmouth by the Admiralty.

A FRENCH SUBMARINE

A recent cable..message published in the "Star" gave the details of a later trial on the point of the French, submarine boat, Narval, which had not previously been regarded as a success. The Narval remained submerged for twelve hours, for the first six of which no inconvenience was felt by those on board. After that, however, the position became serious owingl to the vitiated air and the crew were attacked by prostration and violent nauseau. From an article on Submarine Boats, published in the last number of the "Pall Mall Magazine,"- the following particulars are

given: — "The Narval is described by its inventor, M. Zaboeuf, as a subinergable boat of 106 tons. It is capable of navigating in precisely the same way as an ordinary torpedo boat, or of sinking and acting as a submarine. It has two motors, one for submarine navigation and another for navigating on the surface. This arrangement permits of the use of steam. The Narval is fitted with a triple expansion steam engine and a tubular boiler, giving a speed for surface navigation of 15 knots an hour. The engine further serves to renew the electricity and the dynamo, which propels the Narval under water at a speed not exceeding 10 knots. The process of sinking the Narval is long and complicated, and constitutes the great defect of this type of boat The funnel has to be lowered into the interior :of the vessel, and a very considerable volume of water to be introduced into, the ballast compartments. But the lengthiest part of the operation is the waiting until, the steam that remains in the bpiler has cooled down. In spite of the.great improveSng this delay, which in actual fi edVith the torpedo firing apparj r™£, drection, but the difficulties of aSg are admitted to be consulerable."