GUNS FOR SUBMARINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15821, 19 January 1915, Page 9

GUNS FOR SUBMARINES.

ALREADY USED IN WAR.

TRAP-DOOR ARTILLERY.

" Two or three years ago the Krupps introduced a new type of disappearing gun for submarines, arid it has since been fitted m some of the recent boats," states a naval correspondent of an Knghsh newspaper. "They have already been used in the war, and we are likely to hear of them again.

•' YYhon the Cunard steamer .Malachite was sunk'by a submarine off La Heve on November 23 it was by gun-fire. the skipper was surprised to see rising from the surface the hu.l of a submarine, the captain of which appealed at her conning tower and. hailed the skipper, telling turn that he intended to sink his ship. ' I giro you ten minutes ' he said. 'to take to your boats.' The crt obeyed the order, and were able to observe the thin" of the submarine, which c ct the Malachite on fare after tiring ten rounds. The steamer Prime wis also sunk, presumably bv the same means.

" One type of the gun is of small calibre, perhaps at the most a o-pounder. There its a watertight hatchway on the upper surface of the submarine's hull, which (.pens, enabling the gun, on us special mounting." to be turned upwards on its hinged attachment. The surrounding framework of the hatchway forms a base to which the gun is !-■.:..,. and when the sights- and shudder ies: hive been attached the gun is ready f.-: action. There is a larger type «>i 1.'..;. :<»r the same use. in which the gun-mounting is a permanent fixture or. the i">;l. the gun tube and fittings being rem ned when the beat submerges. The disadvantage oi this type of gun is that tiie mounting of the gun impedes the way . f the boat when submerged to somo extent, and ihus r-'il'ues her speed. The Britsh Navy is not behind the Genua.] in this and other associated matters Indeed, our later boats are powerful craft, more than equal to any German boat. It may be remarked that the submarine and destroyer are in some ways approximating to one another, or, at least, that the submarine, which is now a fin© sea-keeping craft, and whose normal position is on the surface, is assuming soma of the destroyer's functions, not only carrying guns, but in some cases being fitted with wireless telegraphy."