DECEIVING THE PIRATES

Evening Star, Issue 16910, 6 December 1918, Page 8

DECEIVING THE PIRATES

DEVICES ON STEAMER KENT. Constructed to defeat the designs of enemy submarines, the steamer Kent, now in port (says the Melbourne ‘ Herald ’ of November 21), forms a striking illustration of an art in shipbuilding not known in pre-war days. The camouflage, which is no different from that on. other vessels, is so arranged that it makes it difficult for anyone to determine in which direction the vessel Is moving. A new device which assists the camouflage considerably consists of four collapsable masts. When the vessel is at sea these masts, used in port for the handling of cargo, are lowered to a support on' the deck. The only mast remaining upright is the one which Is used for the look-out, and as this ia perpendicular, it docs not denote in which direction the ship is heading. The two masts on ordinary steamers have a slant to the Stern, and it is easy to perceive the movement of the vessel. All ships constructed in England ia the last 12 months have been fitted with these collapsable masts. ■ Another improvement is the cruiser stern, which provides for greater cargo space than the common one. On the poop there are two four-inch guns, and between the stem and midships there are two small guns, which are used for discharging, depth charges _at submarines, If a suTofnavins bo within, a radius oi 6Qy<ls from whore this depth charge explodes it must come, to the RurfacOj -find poop guns aj’e then brought into service. Two mine-sweepers are also embodied in tho new appliances. While on her maiden trip under escort from Jarrow-on-Tvne, w r horo she was built, to bevin loadlng\for Australia., according to the chief officer; two enemy submarines .appeared on either side of the vessel, but bv skilful seamanship the vessel was manoeuvred in such a manner that the only missile fifed missed its mark, passing very close to-the stern. Tins torpedo was fireel from some distance on the- port side, and the helm was put hard over, the torpedo passing a few feet clear of the piopellers. .Almost at the same instant, another U l>o;it came to the surface close to Oe starboard quarter, and, being too close to'fire the torpedo it submerged, and neither of the submarines was seen again. No shells were fired. At that time there was iio wu*i3jo in the holds, and the ship arrived in iLoudon undamaged. The. Kent was a member of the convoy in which the steamer Tasman sailed from England in September, and it was just 12 hours aft-ai* the Tasman left the convoy that she was torpedoed while on the way to Calcutta. The Tasman was a sister ship to (he Roval Dutch Packet steamer Houtman. which is at present occupying a berth immediately in the roar of the Kent at Victoria dock. Fortunately no submarines molested the Kent on the journey V' Australia, and this caused considerable relief to those on board, as _ the vessel, in addition to general merchandise, carried 700 tons of dvnamite. half of which was discharged at Fremantle.