The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-07-20
SUBMARINE BOATS.
Three Inventors Produce Successful Models
at Almost the Same Time.

Three Inventors Produce Successful Models
at Almost the Same Time.
The idea of inventing a boat which can be
navigated under water has for many years oc-
cupied the attention of both scientific men and
naval engineers, says q Dutch paper. Tho
former have considered it from the point of
view of its value in science, the latter have
naturally thought of its advantages in times of
war.
About three years ago this problem was solved
almost simultaneously by three persons, two
Frenchmen and Spaniard. ALI the inventions
were considered highly successful at the time.
The trial of the boats built according to the
ideas of the two French inventors took place at
TOulon. One was called the GymHOte, the other
was named after the inventor, the Goubet. The
third was the Peral, built by Prof Peral. and
the trials took place in Cadiz harbor. Elec-
tricity was used as the motive power in all three
vessels.
The Gymnote was like a cigar in shape. Its
length was nearly Is yards and it's diameter
nearly six feet, so that the crew could stand up
in tho cabin. Its displacement was 80 tons,
and its highest speed between 9 and 10 knots
an hour.
1t was submerged not by opening certain
water tight compartments, but by means of a
horizontal rudder, after the style of the White
head torpedo. The electricity was used for the
pumps, and for lighting the rooms or cabins, as
well as Tor driving the machinery.
The crew of the Gymnote consisted of three
men, the Captain, the engineer, and sailor at
the helm. The vessels course was ascertained
by means of an ordinary compass and gyro-
scope which shows with mathematical accu-
racy the direction in which the vessel is going,
the number of revolutions made each minute
by the screw, and the distance covered.
As it was not intended that the vessel should
remain under water for more than few min
IL faG no n,aAn n
fresh air to the cabins.
The vessel was su bjeCted to severe tests on
all points, and came out of the ordeal very sue
cessfully. It went under water stem foremost,
sunk to depth of IL feet, and reappeared on
the surface after few minutes by simply turn
ing the helm.
The Goubet was cast in bronze, in one piece.
1t was only II feet long, and four feet eight
inches in diameter; there was just enough
space for the two men required to work it. Its
speed under the water was between five and six
knots an hour
The supply of air could DO so strengthened
by the addition of oxygen as to make it sufi-
Gent for one day, the consumption being regu-
lated by an ingenious contrivance.
The first trial of the vessels capabilities con-
sisted in submerging it to depth of 80 feet for
eight hours; the crew were in telephone COM
munication with the shore, in case assistance
was required, but they experienced no dis
comfort.
The Spanish vessel, the Peral, was cigar
shaped like the Gymnote, its dimensions were
IS feet by eight feet; it was driven by cleo
tricity, and fresh air was supplied to the cabins
by artificial means. The Peral was provided
with torpedo tubes, and, on an emergency, could
carry so men.
revolving turret with numerous squares of
thick but transparent glass enabled the COM
mander to keep lookout on all sides from the
do H. 81 t~aN a.
depth of "a feet and keep it under water for 40
minutes AT the end of that time it reappeared
on the surface at a spot 81 nautical miles dis
tant from the starting point.
In the service of science they would render
great assistance in extending our knowledge
Of the currents of the sea- the force of the waves
at various depths and similar matters.
They would also be of great utility in the
raising of sunken ships and treasures and the
construction of bridges.