EXPLORER’S PLANS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 109, 7 April 1934, Page 6

EXPLORER’S PLANS

SECOND SUBMARINE VOYAGE. VESSEL’S DESIGN COMPLETED. “My immediate plans depend on what I hear from Mr Lincoln Ellsworth as to whether Ire is going to continue his expedition to the Antarctic. The only indication I have received in the meantime is a cable asking me whether, if he decides to go again, I will accompany him, but I have heard nothing definite. He is in New York. The Wyatt Earp is now out of dry dock and will be ready for sea by the middle of this month. Its destination is uncertain until Mr Ellsworth decides. If he goes ahead, the vessel will remain here until August, then cross to Valparaiso, pick up the repaired ’plane, and go south.” This statement was made by Sir Hubert Wilkins ; the famous Polar explorer, in an interview with a “Standard” representative, to-day, concerning liis future projects, when he described some very interesting and novel features in the design of the contemlated new submarine Nautilus 11, in which he plans a journey into the Arctic.

“I shall probably leave on May. 5 for England, via America,” added Sir Hubert, “to make further arrangements about the building of the new submarine, returning, if necessary, to go south in August. The designs for the submarine have been completed and been submitted to two American manufacturers, who have estimated tlie cost of construction at 75,000 dollars for the hull. However, I hope that it will be possible to have the submarine built in England. I have already 150,000 dollars’ worth of scientific equipment and instruments to be installed. The experiments made with the old Nautilus have enabled great savings to be made in the construction of the new vessel. It is now known that a simple type of underice boat, rather than an under-sea boat, will serve our purpose. HAND OPERATED MACHINERY.

“Having some new features, the second Nautilus will be most remarkable for the number of items which can be omitted,” continued the explorer. “The types of control necessary for independent operation in open water will not be required. All the machinery will be hand operated instead of electrically controlled. This is to secure simplicity, minimise the possibility of breakdown and increase the safety, owing to the possibility of gases developing from electric batteries. While properly insulated electric apparatus can be protected, the main consideration in eliminating this equipment is that of economy. Batteries have a comparatively short life, and maintenance costs of an electrically controlled submarine are high. A vessel powered with air-driven machinery is comparatively costless to operate. “Ice-drilling apparatus will be used to reach the surface from underneath the icefloes. The vessel will have uni-versal-jointed propellers, which I believe have not so far been used on any big boat. This will eliminate the need for rudders. Comfort in the appointments will also be a new feature of submarine construction. “I expect that a crew of seven will be sufficient to operate the vessel. The normal crew for a United States Navy submarine, depending on its size, is 30 to 62 men. The second Nautilus will be able to remain 16 hours under water, with 8 hours above for the charging of the air batteries. It will have a maximum range of 125 miles under water, with an air capacity of from five to six days. In order to comply with my agreement with the United States Navy, which lent me the first Nautilus, the latter had to be completely destroyed. I had to give a bond of £SOOO guaranteeing its destruction. It was sunk in 1200 feet of water in the harbour at Bergen, Norway. “This projected submarine operation,” proceeded Sir Hubert, “is the last part of a plan presented to the Royal Meteorological Society in 1919, and forming the ground work for an international bureau for the study of world weather conditions. The submarine will be used as a base in the Arctic at a point where no land is available, and where meteorologists believe that most important information is to be obtained concerning the origin of the blizzards which sweep down over Canada and America. It will be desirable to go north from Spitzbergen, although the point sought is 400 miles on the opposite side of the Pole, and directly north of the Behring Sea. No other ship has been within 400 miles of it. The first Nautilus went further north than any other ship under its own power, but as the season was so late when it reached the Arctic we spent all the available time conducting our experiments and doing scientific work, which justified the expenditure of £2OOO in printing the results. POLAR OUTPOSTS. “Finally, permanent meteorological stations, equipped with aeroplanes, will be necessary, in the Arctic and Antarctic,” said Sir Hubert. “The ’planes will be used for observation from the air of the distribution of the ice. It will be necessary for men to be stationed there for a minimum of 15 or 20 years. Interest has been expressed by all the Governments already approached, including those in South America, South Africa, India, Australia, the States of Florida, and California. No representations have been made to the New Zealand Government, but I have received private offers of help in the organisation of an international weather bureau. I hope that the work will later be controlled bv scientific bodies and under the direction of the Government meteorologists concerned. All lam seeking to do is to lay the foundations.” . Sir Hubert mentioned that he had spent seven years in Polar exploration in the north and five in the south. The monoplane now known as the Southern Cross was built for him, and he flew it for two years. He said it was a splendid ’plane, but too cumbersome, slow and costly to operate for his work. He said that his flight across the North Pole —more in the nature of a holiday—ivas the easiest he had made. He used aerial transport wherever possible. The transAntarctic flight was the only spectacular one left, and that Mr Ellsworth hoped to do.