SUBMARINE TYPES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 86, 10 January 1928, Page 9

SUBMARINE TYPES

ARTICLE BY REAR-ADMIRAL MAGRUDER I . LIFE BENEATH THE WAVES Contributed to the “Saturday Even; ’ ing Post,’ the following is an extract from one of the articles in question, the subject in this case being submarine types: The modern submarine is neither more nor less than a diving torpedo boat.. Its principal function is to carry the automobile torpedo within striking distance of an enemy. Its value lies in its invisibility, its power to deliver an unseen attack, and the destructiveness of the torpedo. ■ Its weakness is its vulnerability when on the surface and its inability to remain under the surface for long periods of time. Submarines of the present day may be divided into two types. The large cruiser type that can acocmpany the fleet is usually called a fleet submarine. This type may be employed, as are cruisers, for- scouting, operating against the enemy’s trade routes, laying mines before enemy ports and harassing an enemy fleet with mines and torpedoes. Undoubtedly vessels of this type will soon be as large as 3000 tons. There is no great technical difficulty in designing submarines that could at the same time carry mines, mount guns of six-inch calibre, and even several aircraft. The United States now has a submarine capable of carrying one small plane.; The second type of submarine, known generally as the first-line type, is smaller, averaging about 800 tons. Boats of this type are designed to operate near the coast line of their own countries or from bases, to prevent blockades, minor attacks, and for other purposes within the limitations of their size and speed. According to the latest . information obtainable. the United States has, built and building, nine fleet submarines and fifty of the smaller or first-line type; Great Britain thirteen of the fleet type and thirty-two of the first line; Japan twenty-three- of the fleet type and forty-five of the first line; France three of the. fleet type and fortytwo of the first line; Italy four of the fleet type and eighteen of the first line. In addition, all nations have numbers of small submarines of obsolescent types. Submarines of both these types-vary in gun power and in speed. In the comparison af the submarine power of nations, tonnage is not the only factor. A nation with bases along the trade routes of the world may employ, the smaller type of submarine as effectively as the larger. A nation, however, that has no bases must rely upon the larger type with a large radius of action. Let us consider first the fleet submarine—the advanced type known in the United States as the V-l. It has a tonnage of approximately 2000, and costs about 7,000,000 dollars to build. Its motive power consists of four internalcombustion engines of the Diesel type.Two of these are about 2000 horse-power two-cycle engines. The others are 1000 horse-power four-cycle engines. When the vessel is submerged, electric motors which derive curr.ent. from storage batteries take up the task of propelling it, lor no internal-combustion engine can operate under such conditions. The hulls of the vessel are made strong enough to withstand the pressure at a maximum depth of about 200 feet. Within that depth it is possible for them to lie on the bottom indefinitely. At slow speeds the V-l can remain submerged for only about forty-eight hours.. Then it is necessary to come to the surface and recharge the storage batteries. The length of the V-l is 300 feet, the beam twenty-seVen feet, and the draft fifteen feet. The vessel boasts a very large cruising radius at twelve knots, or nautical miles an hour, and carries six torpedo tubes —four in the bow and two in the stern —as well as ,

one five-inch and two machine-guns. On. , the surface its maximum speed is. about . twenty knots; submerged it is ten knots. A vessel of this size and type can accompany the battle fleet on the ■ ■ high seas under all conditions of 1 weather. The habitability of the type when , submerged is such that the crew can j remain down four days or more with- j out being sceriously affected. Within | the boat the air is purified by being' passed by blowers through saline containers, which dispose of the poisonous carbon dioxide. In addition, there are bottles of oxvgen which may be used when it is found necessary- to keep the: required amount of oxygen in the air.; At great depths the pressure is kept normal. Should there be air leaks, the pressure is reduced by compressing the air and discharging it overboard. There is, however, one effect alwavs experienced during submergence. It is a feeling of drowsiness, a slowing down of mental and physical activity. . A most uncomfortable feature is the high temperature within the boats when in tropical waters. Under such conditions the air is kept in circulation by fans, and the mental reaction to this practice ■elves fairly satisfactory results, tor the further comfort of the personnel, comfortable bunks are provided for the crew and small staterooms for. the officers. A cold storage plant is installed so that fresh provisions may be carried on long cruises. Improvements m the mechanical details have kept pace with the advance in living conditions. The Diesel engines are entirely reliable. Wireless communication has progressed to such an extent that a boat is seldom out of touch with its home base or with the fleet. During the World War orders to and reports from, the German U-boats at sea were transmitted constantly, promptly, and accurately. A submarine of the V-l type carries a captain with the rank of commander, an executive officer, two engineer offleers, and others. Its crew of ninety includes engineers, torpedo men, electricians, and men of other ratings, to handle the ship, man the guns, and similar details. Officers and men alike must be trained for submarine work. In the United States service this traming is given at a. large submarine base at' New London, Connecticut. The course includes theoretical as well as practical instruction. In former years service on submraines was decidedly uncomfortable, but now the crews nave all conveniences and escape the discomforts that at one time made it difficult to secure volunteers for that service. Enlisted men who serve in submarines receive five dollars. a month increased pav, and, in addition, one dollar for every day or part of a day the vessel is submerged. As a result of all these advantages and of freedom from military and other drills, duty on the submersibles is often sought. . A vessel of such characteristics as the V-l is designed to accompany the battle fleet at all times and may have various strategic and tactical employment. Scouting, screening the fleet, mine laying. attacking the enemy main fleet during a major engagement and following a defeated enemy or protecting the retreat of its own Ships in case of defeat these are some of the duties it may perform. Another use may be cruiser warfare against enemy merchant shipping. The cruiser submarine is capable" of exercising the right to visit and search in the manner, laid down by international law as applicable to surface vessels. It should be remembered, however, that unrestricted submarine warfare against merchant vessels was outlawed by the Washington Limitation of Naval Armament Conference..