The Saint Paul globe., 1900-01-29

lever engages with a short lever that op-
crates valve placed on an air pipe lead
aing forward to the forward. section of
Hhe boat. When forty feet depth or more
is reached a change of air will be allow
ed by this valve to pass from the serv-
Ice air reservoir, through 1t along this
pipe, into the bow section of the YES
sci, forcing the water contents out
through the valve on the bottom. This
will Immediately expel 1850 pounds
weight of wal ter. reducing the weight OF
the vessel by SO much, and commun1cat-
ing strong upward tendency equal to
about thirty-one tons to the bow of the
vessel, on account Of its great leverage
from the center of buoyance
If necessary the engines may be stop.
ped and the part of the diving gear that
failed adjusted; but, If the trouble be
not serious, steering in vertical d1rec-
ton can be done by hand. Water must be
readmitted to the bow section by allowing
the air to escape and opening the valve
at the bottom of the chamber.
The first part of the submerged run is
made with steam, but in about one min.
ute the pressure in the boiler Is exhaust
ed. and the temperature greatly reduced
Steam is then shut off, the large dynamo
started and the friction clutches on the
engine screw shafts opened. The vessel
can then proceed on the submerged run
with the power derived from the storage
batteries. Should 1t be desired to stop
or lie still submerged, but not on the
bottom, two small auxiliary water ball
last spaces, or diving tanks. are allow
ed to fill with water by permitting the
air they contain to escape. II 1t be ad-
visable to remain below the surface OF
the water without going to the bottom
while in soundings, instead Of eXpending
power to overcome the, small remaining
reserved buoyance. the vessel may be
anchored and the apparatus controlling
the horizontal rudders adjusted to hold
the vessel at the depth required. She VIII
lie there without much change of level,
unless there Is absolutely no current or
tideway.
When it is necessary to- come near ths
surface for observation, either when
moving or lying still, the camera lucida
placed between the projections on the
turret and slightly to one side may be
raised to the height of four feet above
the top of the turret. This Is capable of
being revolved SO that the whole horizon
may be swept but IL moving rapidly.
it Is very much more satisfactory to bring
the vessel to the surface Of the water, al
lowing the top of the turret to project
for a few seconds. An all-around view
may be thus obtained, and bearings cor
rected without revealing any noticeable
bulk above the surface, and this move
ment can be made rapidly enough to pre-
vent the possibility Of its being sighted.
fired upon and hit by anything larger
than rifle bullets.
AIR UNDER PRESSURE.
Thirty cubic feet of air, at pressure
of 1000 pounds per square inch, are car
ried in the air reservoirs. This volune
of air is more than sufficient for the
supply of the crew during six hours sub
mergence-the usual maximum time OF
a submerged run-leaving an abundant
reserve for operating the hydraulic cyl"
inders and the water ballast.
But If by any chance the supply of all
should run out, for instance, there was
no opportunity of storing air while the
vessel was on the surface-the supply
can be renewed while submerged or ly-
ing on the bottom In water less than
fifty feet deep by allowing a float car
rying two-inch hose pipe on reel
placed aft Of the after companionway
in the superstructure 10 rise to the sur
face of the water carrying the hose pipe
with it and holding It's open end ABOVE
the surface The connection shown with
this reel may be carried to small all
compressor, driven by the small dynamo
aft, and sufficient quantity Of air Tor
several hours use stored In Few min
utes' time. The boat can lie indefinitely
under the same conditions, renewing the
supply Of air as may be required.
The boat may be brought to the sur
face from submerged conditions as fol-
lows: If lying still and anchored the
anchor is raised and the upward force of
the reserve buoyancy permitted to bring
the vessel to the surface. II the Vessel
happens to be running submerged 1t Is
simply steered to the surface by the
horizontal rudders. Ii it be necessary
to perform this maneuyer rapidly air
pressure a. few pounds greater than tnat
due to the depth Of immersion IS exerted
over the water in the ballast compart-
ments and they will be quickly emptied.
When the vessel reaches the awash
position the smolestack may be erected
as rapidly as it was shipped and the fire
started afresh.
During an action the dives will prob
ably be very short, as the boat Will be
obliged to go under water only When
menaced by torpedoes carried by tor
pedo boats, and when 1t is necessary to
approach the vessel attacked unobserved.
Advantage may be taken Of the prac-
tical invulnerability Of the vessel when
running awash with full steam power to
do a large part Of It's work on, the sur
face of the water. Its attack will be
more rapid and more certain, especially
If the ship can be intercepted.
From the awash condition a dive, while
running at full speed, can be made, prob
ably in twenty seconds. During this time
a twenty-knot torpedo boat can run only
225 yards. A dive made from the awash
condition at rest can be made in ten sec
onds, and a twenty-knot torpedo boat
can cover no more than l12 yards in the
same time. There is, therefore, but small
probability that the onset of the sub
marine boat can be warded off by any
other means than the superior speed of
the vessel attacked.
j. S. Van Antwerp.