FRANCE’S WEAPON

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 154, 2 July 1934, Page 9

FRANCE’S WEAPON

AN UNDER-SEA ARMADA FORTY YEARS A-BUILDING POWERFUL FLEET. According to the British Admiralty’; “Return of Fleets,” France now pos sesses 94 submarines built and 1. under construction. I have had, fo a foreigner, the unique privilege o inspecting a large portion of this under water armada at the submarine bas< in Toulon, corresponding to Fort Block house at Portsmouth, writes Hecto: Bywater in the (Daily Telegraph. By permission of the Commander-in Chief. Vice-Admiral Mouget, and oi Captain Moreau, commanding the sub marine base, 1 saw boats representing the three types of submarine whicl France is now developing—the oceanic class of 1379 tons, the medium class including minelayers, of 670 tons, and the coastal defence units of 550 to 58C tons. After many years of experiment France has, apparently, evolved certain submarine types which definitely satisfy her exacting requirements. It is notorious uhat she lias a high opinion of the niifitary value of the under sea weapon, and is in no circumstances disposed to abandon this instrument in deference to what most Frenchmen consider to be oil her sentimental or interested gestures by foreign critics.

The Elite. What 1 have scon convinces inc that the submarine service is a corps d’elite of the French Navy. Its officers are young and enthusiastic, the personnel is keen and highly disciplined, and fihe material is of the first order. These sleek, black-painted hulls, beautifully streamlined to meet with, equal insouciance the mild caresses of the Mediterranean or the rude buffets of Atlantic rollers, contain within their steel walls destructive elements which bode ill to future enemies of France. Before being accepted by the French Navy every new submarine undergoes tihe most searching tests, including a cruise of many thousands of miles. The boat must be absolutely seaworthy, her manoeuvring powers above and below water beyond criticism, and her engines technically perfect before she is allowed to join the flotilla. 1 made a thorough inspection of the Ycngeur, an oceanic submarine, which has been only a year or two iu commission. I. walked her comparatively spacious decks, where a vicious-looking 3.9 quick-firer is mounted before the conning tower; descended two vertical ladders leading to the control room, and traversed the wide gangways which run fore and aft between a maze of machinery, noticing many “gadgets” .found in British submarines. The living quarters for officers and men are as good as, if not better than, any 1 have seen iu a submarine of this tonnage, and the whole boat was clean to spotlessness. For surface cruising the Vengcur has Diesel engines of 60UU h.p., which drives her at .18 knots, a speed which she exceeded on trial. When diving she admits about 600 tons of water into her tanks. A Large Group. “She handles very sweetly,” said one of her officers, referring to her movements under water. Whether on or below the surface she can discharge torpedoes from eleven tubes, and when cruising in the depths can stalk her quarry at ten knots. France has already a large group of these oceanic boats and is building others, the last of which was laid down in 1932. Simultaneously she is constructing small coastal submarines, which in dimensions and other features closely resemble the British Swordfish class. No new submarines are projected for the time being, and it is possible that France, having by now created the most formidable undersea fleet in the world, may rest on her oars for a time before proceeding to develop new types. Training is on strictly practical lines. The boats spend a lot of time at sea. and it speaks volumes both for their workmanlike design and the skill with which they are handled that mishaps are so rare. The French Navy has adopted the British Davis escape apparatus, and a tank is now being built at the submarine base here iu which officers and men will be able to become familiar with the use of this artificial lung. Every officer with whom I. spoke commended the British Admiralty's moral courage iu proclaiming, last March, the futility of attempting to raise a sunken submarine in time to save the crew, and its decision not to attempt such a hopeless task in future. Scott’s Invention. In the courtyard of t'he submarine base I saw one of the original “dotters” invented by the late Admiral Sir Percy Scott for instructing gunlayers, and another British device, the “submarine attack teacher,” was also pointed out to me by Captain Moreau. In the French, as in the British Navy, service in submarine is eagerly sought after by officers and men. It offers a freedom, an independence, and opportunities for personal initiative which are not to be found in big ships.