GIANT SUBMERSIBLES

Southland Times, Issue 17654, 11 February 1916, Page 3

GIANT SUBMERSIBLES

FOR AMERICAN NAVY. Seagoing submarines of 2000 lons displacement probably soon will be sought fur the American Navy as a result of lessons learned by the Navy Department experts from the European war and recent manoeuvres of the Atlantic fleet. It is possible, it was learned (stated a late American paper), that the first five submarines included in the Administration's live-year building programme will approach this size, although toe estimates submitted were based on boats of 1300 tons. In contrast to this development of a type of giant submersible:-;, naval officers inclined to believe the so-ealled coast defence boats will be standardised p.t shout 400 tons displacement. The name should be. it is asserted, harbour defence lather than roast defence craft, ns it has been demonstrated that the sphere of action of these boats is limited to a hundred miles or less offshore. Twenty-live smaller submarines are included in (lie Administration programme for tiiis year, at an estimated cost, of I,el ween OOO.OoOdot. f£ 1 20,000) and 709,OOfidol. each. Tim estimate would provide for vessels of six hundred to seven hundred ions disphoeroeiu, increasin' the size of the fleet of siiemaritm;; ami decreasing that of the smaller boats. This could he accomplished, it is no.nlo I out, will.out altering the total expenditures proposed. Virtually ail sea-going Hag officers and ihc commissioned personnel generally of the submarine iiolillc.s are raid to fat our build lug larger ciaft lor sea work, home ohicers, it is said, believe that the smaller submarines should be abandoned entirely, but others believe it lias been shown that there are two distinct Helds of activity for submarinea which mild be i ecognised. in shallow waters off the il is contenlel, ih.e big boats v onld he a!.mat use ess betaiwe if their dialt.