A Motor Boat that requires no Crew

Progress, Volume XII, Issue 8, 1 April 1917, Page 935

A Motor Boat that requires no Crew

The genius of invention continues to startle the world with its marvellous discoveries. Scarcely has one new idea been grasped by the masses, before another springs to the .front to increase our wonder and excite our admiration. The submarine has been developed until it bids fair to become a leading factor in the transportation of merchandise, as well as a powerful auxiliary to the navies of nations. Now comes the announcement of a new invention by John Hays Hammond, Jr., son of the noted marine engineer, of a motor craft which proves his theory "that it is not necessary to have either a captain or a crew on hoard motor boats in order to navigate them successfully and send them to a designated port. His new boat, the H-4, is propelled and controlled by wireless, and he claims that he can direct it as accurately as though it were being managed by a captain and full crew.

A picture of this new type of boat is shown in the accompanying illustration. A broadside view is shown, the photograph for which was taken during a recent experimental trip to establish its ability to do the work designed for it. The House Committee of Appropriations of the Congress of the United States of America furnishes certain data in reference to this craft of interest to all owners of motor boats. According to the report of the Committee, the vessel is a radio dynamic torpedo craft, and is a practical development for army or navy use of the experimental vessels which Mr. Hammond has had for years in operation off his home in Gloucester, Mass., the courses of which were controlled by wireless from a shore station.

Mr. Hammond has also demonstrated that it is possible to control the flight of torpedoes in the same manner as he controls the movements of his boat, and he declares that the accuracy of the control is such that a bamboo rod, one inch in diameter, standing upright, can be struck ten out of fifteen times at a

distance of three and a half miles. This invention® provides for the warship of contending nations a con-| trol of torpedoes, which adds wonderfully to the des-y tractive powers of these implements of war. Under the present system of directing the course of the torpedo, much must necessarily depend on pure guess work. The movement of the ship against which the torpedo is launched very often saves it from the intended impact which would mean its destruction. With Mr. Hammond invention in use, the commander of the warship may control it absolutely in its course, and thus send it straight to the mark at which it was aimed. The importance of this, from a military point of view, cannot he overestimated. It practically places it within the power of commanders of torpedo boats to make certain of destroying any vessel owned by an enemy. It is really more effective than the submarine, which has played so prominent a part in the big European war, because it involves no danger .to the vessel speeding the torpedo, which is on the surface of the water, and thus enabled to care for itself in securing safety. The control of the motor boat discovered by Mr, Hammond promises to he a great factor in the development of that style of craft. A large nart of the expense of running these boats is due to the necessity of carrying the captain and crew. Not onlv must their wages he paid, hut they must he fed and housed, and kept in good condition for the performance of their duties. All this burden of expense is swept away by the Hammond invention. The motor boat can he left to itself to make its designed trip, without the guidance of human hands. The wireless apparatus at the home station will do the navigation, and do it even more accurately than a captain and crew could do it. Mr. Hammond claims that there is no risk involved of the wireless failing to do the work properly. This is another demonstration of the value of wireless telegraphy to the human race. The Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives has recommended to Congress that it grant an appropriation to purchase the rights of Mr. Hammond to his invention on condition that he make a satisfactory demonstration before a joint Army and Board.