The Bay of plenty Beacon Published Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1941. THE SUBMARINE MENACE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 143, 18 August 1941, Page 4

The Bay of plenty Beacon Published Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1941. THE SUBMARINE MENACE

THE absence of official data makes it difficult to assess the extent of the submarine menace, but the general statement that Britain is holding its own in the Battle of the Atlantic indicates that the submarine is not such a menace as it was during 1914-18. The modern submarine is larger and speedier, and has a wider cruising radius compared with those of the last war. To-day they can be sent out from ports as far apart as Narvik and 1 Bayonne. Their gunfire and torpedo discharges are to-day more accurate than formerly, and they are also able to remain submerged for a very long time. These advantages make the submarine a much greater potential danger than was its number in the last war. The great advantage, however, is the extended/ cruising radius, for this factor determines the area of possible attack. The larger the area of possible attack the greater is the advantage to be gained by the submarine. Its tactics are to discover the probable route of a convoy, and* to lie in wait with engine stopped in order to avoid detection. The answer to the submarine was found in the depth charge. The depth charge is a powerful bomb weighted to go deep, with the time fuse set to provide a delayed explosion. It is not necessary for a depth charge actually to make contact with the submerged enemy craft: the explosive force is so great that an explosion near a submarine is sufficient to cause its destruction. The problem for the defence against submarine attacks is to> assemble sufficient craft within the vicinity of the attacking submarine and to encircle the spot with depth charges. The larger the number of vessels dropping depth charges brought into action, the greater are the prospects of destroying the submarine. Tlie vessel required for submarine chasing does not have to possess the high speed capabilities of a destroyer, and -as its function is fairly limitedi in that it is not required to take part in a general naval action, it does not need to be highly engined, nor does it need large bunker space to enable it to remain at sea for very lengthy periods. A speed of 18 knots is adequate to permit of a submerged submarine being kept in contact. They need to be equipped with rood deck guns and with anti-aircraft guns. The vessel whicih the Government has chosen to fill the role is the corvette. The corvette was the French light-ship of great manoeuvrability which caused immense concern to the British during the Napoleonic wars. The British copied it, and it was, the British counterpart, the frigate, which was so dear to the heart of Horatio Nelson. The corvette is the modern descendant of the French corvette and the English frigate, and it is being constructed in both British and Canadian shipyards. Canadian shipyards are not equipped for the building of large ships, but for, lighter, craft they are admirably suited. As the operatives have been engaged in peace time constructing the steamers that ply,->he Great Lakes and rivers of Eastern Canada, and also those which conduct the fishing operations off the Newfoundland coast, they have ample experience in the construction of these auxiliary but important fighting craft. Finally, the corvette has the advantage of being relatively cheap to construct—an important factor when larger numbers are required for active service in the Atlantic alone.