SEA SCOUTS VISIT SUBMARINE.

Hutt News, Volume 19, Issue 11, 15 August 1945, Page 4

SEA SCOUTS VISIT SUBMARINE.

Last Saturday afternoon the of the Tainui Sea Scouts, Lower Hutt,' were privileged to visit the British Submarine H.M.S. Vox, at present on a short visit to Wellington. Before going aboard the boys were given a short history of the submarine by the sentry who was on the submarine when it was launched in November 1943. The craft, which is 700 tons, mounts one gun on the decks. One of the ship's company explained how the breech of the gun was opened before diving so that the water would flow easily through the barrel. When the submarine surfaces the gun crew come up the conning tower first, then slide down ropes to the gun deck, where a small supply of shells is kept in water-tight containers for immediate action. By tb« ti«a» these shells are used, more sheas would be passed up from below via the conning tower.

Another feature which intrigued the Sea Scouts was the Davis escape apparatus by which men in a doom- J ed submarine have a chance of reaching the surface. The technicalities employed in the method of loading torpedoes into the submarine and the- circulation of cool air throughout the interior of the ship ! were also explained. The total crew of the "Vox" numbers 35 including four officers who all appeared very young. The average age of the crew was 2'6 years. Two or three of the crew had been Sea Scouts in England prior enlisting. The food of the crew is cooked in a galley about 6ft by 4ft, which is fitted with an electric stove, frigidaire, etc. The officers' ward-room is only slightly larger than the galley. The periscopes proved an interesting feature to all the boys. It was explained that one periscope was reserved for cruising and one for attack. The afternoon's tour of inspection was completed with an explanation of the steering gear, range finding apparatus, and a demonstration of how navigation lights were brought inboard when not in use.