AIR AND SEA FIGHTS

Evening Star, Issue 16626, 8 January 1918, Page 4

AIR AND SEA FIGHTS

NAVAL PILOT'S ATTACK ON TFN GOTHAS. /Successful encounters with Gothas and with U boats are described in the following accounts of achievements of aeroplanes and destroyers, winch are taken from tho records in the Admiralty: T lie report of a squadron-commander of tile Royal Naval Air Service after a recent hostile air raid shows tho odds which British pilots cheerfully accept in locating oil the raiders. The officer in question had been flying continuously under war conditions in Franco for upwards of 13 months. “ When at 11,000 ft,” runs his report, “ I saw 10 Gothas coining inland. I climbed up to them, and engaged one on the right of the formation about three miles cut to sea at something over 12,000 ft. Fired 100 rounds from straight behind ins tail at 100 yards range. Bullets were seen to enter Lie Gotha’s fusilage. -Machine started into a slow spin. I followed, and fired about 25 more into him to make sure. My gun then jammed, and in trying to clear I got into a. very fast spun with my engines on. Got out of this just in time to sou tile enemy crash into the sea. I then landed, had my gun jam cleared, and went up after the remaining eight I Gothas-—one had been shot down in flames —and caught up with them at 14,000 ft, and engaged them in turn from both above ; and below. Then devoted all my atten- ! tibn to one Gotha, and after firing 200 | rounds into him silenced both his guns. I think both German gunners must have been hit, as I was able to get within 60ft of him without being fired at. I finally ran out of ammunition.” The story end's wi th his ammunition. AEROPLANE VERSUS SUBMARINE. Two British seaplanes on submarine patrol above the North Sea sighted a. submarine on the surface, travelling at about 14 knots. Two men were observed on the cunning tower. Like a pair of hunting kestrels, the seaplanes swooped down to a. height of 800 ft, and the leading machine dropped a bomb, which burst on the starboard side of the submarine, halfway between the stern and conning tower. Tho submarine heeled slowly over to port and remained in that position. The bow rose into tho air as she slopped and began to sink. Tho second seaplane then dropped her bomb, which burst in front of the conning tower, and as the submarine sank another bomb was dropped by the first machine, which had wheeled round and passed over the spot 15 seconds later, jlaving disposed of their quarry, the two then circled round for a quarter of an hour, searching for possible survivors. None were seen, however, and they accordingly returned to make their report. On another occasion a seaplane on patrol overheard a, hostile wireless signal, apparently in dose proximity. Shortly afterwards a largo submarine was sighted lying on tho surface a mile ahead. Firing at 80 miles an hour, the seaplane whizzed over the enemy, and released' a bomb. Tho submarine simultaneously fired a, round with its foremost gun’, the shell bursting 50ft in front of tho seaplane. As the latter turned, the bomb wliicb he had dropped exploded, tearing a great rent in the hull of the submarine. Flashes of flame were then seen spurting from the water ahead, and through tho mist three more hostile submarines were sighted in lino abreast, reinforced by three hostile destroyers and two seaplanes. All were firing at the British seaplane, which, however. turned and again flew over the sinking submarine. A second bomb was dropped, and the submarine sank, leaving a large quantity of oil. air bubbles, and wreckage on the surface. Her bombs exhausted, the seaplane returned, having first photographed the sinking submarine and its would-be avengers. ACHIEVEMENTS OF SUBMARINES. Recent honors for the destruction of submarines rest by no moans’ with the Navy that flies. The Navy that floats has also 6 tale or two to tell. A division of destroyers on patrol in tho North Sea. flighted a largo submarine on the surface about tlrrca railos distant. Telegraphs were at once put to full speed, and course shaped for tho enemy, who promptly dived. Tho speed at which tho destroyers attacked, however, brought the leading beat over tho -submarine before tho swirl of her divo had left tho water. An explosive charge was dropped over the spot. This detonated, and blew a largo dark object to tho surface, which promptly sank again. Tho next destroyer in the lino then- dropped her charges, which covered the surface with small pieces of wreckage and oil. On another occasion a force of destroyers, acting in company with some light cruisers, sighted at dawn a small sail on tho horizon. This was watched'carefully through glasses, and as the vessel pitched in the swell her bow and stern were visible, and were recognised as those of a submarine. The destroyer which was tho first to, penetrate this disguise at onto altered course towards the supposed enemy, who was about seven miles distant. The sail promptly vanished, and the conning tower of a submarine was seen as she dived. Five minutes later the submarine raised her periscope for a look round, and submerged again in 10 seconds. It was long enough, however, to betray her whereabouts to tho destroyer, which made for the spot at full speed. The Rubmarine's bows suddenly broke surface, presumably inadvertently, half a mile away, and tho destroyer opened fire as she rushed towards her. The bow dipped and the stern arose,, showing a- glimpse of , thfe conning tower and the large vertical rudder. Midway between these two points tile destrover rammed, at. a speed in the region of 30 knots. The enemy sank vertically, bubbling like a gigantic empty bottle, in over a hundred fathoms of water.