DISCHARGING A TORPEDO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15700, 29 August 1914, Page 9

DISCHARGING A TORPEDO.

THE SUBMERGED FLATS.

HOT CORNER OF BATTLESHIP.

Tho submerged torpedo Hat is oiio of tlif most interesting places on board a warship. As a rule thcro are two of these Hats —one well forward, the other aft.

In times of peace, these compartments are interesting to visit. They are situated well below tho waterlino, and necessitate tho negotiation of a series of step ladders, the fact that the wholo of the ship's torpedoes are stored there, ranged in tiers of racks, accounts for tho compartments being lofty. Tho bulkheads, ship's sides, and tho torpedo tubes are invariably painted white. The torpedoes themselves aro of hii>'hiy-polished steel, their section ends, when tho war heads aro disconnected, boing of a bright vermillion, making of tho compartments show spots of the ship. Adjoining tho tube Hats proper aro the air-compressing chambers, containing the- machinery for charging tho torpedoes with their propulsion power. Under activo-servico conditions, however, thrso harmless-looking show spots display their teeth in a moro demonstrative fashion oven than do the guns; they becomo \eritable demon chambers of dethoy bok every bit of it.

Tho torpedo tubes crews, all specially trained men, stripped to tho waist—for it is hot, work down there—barefooted, and trousers rolled up to the kuee6 — for when tho tube bar is run out a considerable quantity of water finds its way in tho flat—strive liko demons in clouds of steam, the splash of water, tho deafening rattle of endless chains, and tho hiss of escaping air. Tho torpedoes are cumbersome projectiles to handle, necessitating much ingenuity in manoeuvring from tho racks to the tubes in a. confined space.

The actual discharging of tho torpedo is conducted from the conning tower. Everything being ready, the torpedo officer reports. Directly tho object of attack comes into line, a firing key is pressed; a deep, rumbling sound is heard coining from the bowels of tho ship; a grating of opening valves, a perceptible shuddering of tho tube, giving the sensation as nf a submarine upheaval, and although it cannot bo seen, it is known that tho ship has vomited an nncanny, complicated infernal niachino directed towards an enemy's vitajs below water, with enough guu cotton in its snout to sink a Dreadnought at tho first impact.

'Ihe samo air charge which discharges tho torpedo rids tho tubo of tho bulk of its water, but a considerable quantity remains, and rushes into the flat, when the tub*! is again opened for a second torpedo to bo inserted. By that time matters have wanned up considerably; the flat ha-s lost its former spickness; the torpedo surfaces aro dulled by the Btcam, and the half-naked, perspiring crews splash about ankle deep in water.

Theirs is all groping in tho dark as it were: they must charge their tubes unmindful of what the destination of their projectile. There is something uncanny about the whole business, not less so when the splash and bustle and hiss and rattle has ceased for a moment, and the men stand about the tube in calm, gTim, anxiety, making final adjustments. An inquiry as to this and that, in language intelligible only to their secret selves, satisfies the young officer in seaboots and white sweater that all is again re; dy, as ho dashes up the steep, slippery, steel hatchway to report, " Submerged tubes ready, sir!"