SAVING LIFE IN SUBMARINES

Evening Star, Issue 22026, 11 May 1935, Page 20

SAVING LIFE IN SUBMARINES

TRAINING OF CREWS Since the Davis ‘submerged escape apparatus was perfected and training in the use of the apparatus for escaping from sunken submarines was started in April, J. 930, nearly 5,000 officers and men have been fully trained in its use (says the naval correspondent of the London ‘ Morning Post ’). Every officer and man now serving in submarines is fully conversant with the apparatus. Another factor which greatly increases the chance of rescue for men escaping from a sunken submarine is that every now submarine is fitted with two indicator buoys, each provided with 300 fathoms of wire. The' buoys will “ watch ” and show the position of the wreck to rescuing craft. All new submarines also are being fitted with an improved type of escape chamber, so that escapes can be made more quickly and without the long wait for the whole of the hull of the submarine to be flooded to equalise the pressure and allow of the hatch being opened. The 1 training has been facilitated by the completion of a training tank at Hongkong, as well ns the one at Gosport. Both these tanks are fitted with the latest escape chambers, so that men are trained in the tanks with the actual methods of escape fitted in submarines. A third tank at Malta is under construction, and will be completed next July. The whole of the training has been carried out without an accident. PRESSURE APRONS. Many improvements have been made in the escape apparatus. One is an “ apron ’ which, by being spread out during the escape, retards the rate of ascent and minimises the effects of the sudden relaxation of pressure on the body. Another is a buoyancy bag within the main “ lung ” which is inflated by an “oxylet,” and ensures that the apparatus will bring a man to the surface and hold him there even if he is unconscious and unable to blow up the main bag into a lifebelt. All British submarines now carry a surplus of 33 per cent, of sets of the apparatus over the number of officers and men on board. This is in case a preponderance of the crew are in one compartment and separated from the usual stowage of their sets.

Another improvement is that the oxygen flasks fitted to the sets are now sealed on the principle of a “ sparklet,” and wastage is avoided. The apparatus has proved of great use as a substitute, for an ordinary diver, for shallow water work. It must be remembered that this apparatus, in common with others, cannot bo effective if the submarine is sunk in very deep water. In such a case the hull of the vessel would be crushed by the pressure and the crow, killed, inaiantly*