The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-04
SUBMARINE WAR VESSELS.
WHAT HAS BEEN DOME IN THAT LINE
HkRE AM IN FRANCE.

The Attitude Of Our Naval Authorities Re-
garding T~hem-soms Description Of the
PiunEsr. Now In Course Of Construction.
Prom ts Baltimore Ssn.
The decision Of the Naval Board Of Bureau
Chiefs in opposing the purchase OF the submarine
boat Holland. and In recommending that no craft
OF this class be built until ths Plunger has been
tested will no doubt be regarded abroad a. a severe
blow 10 the development, OF This type OF boat here,
where. PERHAPS, more attention has been given
10 the system than by Great Britain or any foreign
power but France. The submarine boat hrst
received the attention Of the naval officials ten
years ago, but since q contract was awarded
for the building Of a type boat at Baltimore there
seems to have been no further interes, mani
Tested by the experts in the subject and, mean
while, France has gone ahead rapidly in the
experimental work with much success.
The latest reports from that country show
thu, the iiotilla Of these boats will 10 doubt pre-
sent as great a variety Of types as the battle
ships, and recen, tests with the Gustave Zede
have proved the practicability Of the subma-
rlne boat, and, in the hope Of still further improve
Ing on her, the naval authorities are now giving
attention to tbs somewhat despised Goubet boat
This vessel has shown a tendency in late tests
10 dive 10 the bottom and remain there, and the
authorities are now beginning TO predict that sull
another type, known as the Morse boat, is a SUI
perior iype OF craft Recent trials with her showed
that as regards "a nge Of action, she had scarcely
any advantage over the Zede, and II had to be
admitted by the trial board that she could not
be used for any other purpose than harbor do
fence. After all these experiments, however,
II did not seem as II much Roadway had been
made. but the French Navy Department. with
praise worthy optimism, conveyed It's favors 10
the NarvLl, simply, |, Is claimed, because moth.
ing Is known Of her type. and plenty Of scope
was allowed for The exercise Of vivid imagination.
This vessel is constructed Of steel and
has a displacement Of 100 tons. The motive power
Is supplied by an oil engine, which not only drives
the propeller when the boat is either navigating a,
the surface or with only her lockout and chimney
exposed, but also operates Il dynamo for ci arg.
ing batteries and accumulatOrs. these being used
10 propel the boat when she is entirely submerged
face at ~ knots, the Naryal promises a range
Of action Of 252 miles, and al 8 knots the range
Is 625 miles When submerged, tie
mes at 8 knots and 70 miles At 8 knots She Is
equipped with four torpsdo tubes and carries two
others ! and nine men, This boa, is believed TO be
There may be said TO be but one distinct typo
OF the submarine boat in this country rep
presented by the Holland. now at Washington,
and the Plunger, building for the Navy at falu.
more While the Holland seems to have fully
proven her capacity 10 fulfil all the requirements
Of submarine navigation for naval purposes,
the Plunger is SAID u possess, or wall have wien
finished, still further improvements that will rem.
der her II most capable craft II does not 4, How
that because Tie eX peTts have opposed the build
ing Of further submarine boats at present that this
type Of craft will not III all probability be adopted
by the naval service; Tie bureau chiefs are by
no means unfavorable to the boat, but simply be-.
lleve the Plunger should be tried b. fore the Govern
ment enters upon tie purchase Of other vessels
OF ler Glars.
The Plunger represents tho result Of an inquiry
into the subject covering the last ten years, dur
Ing which time the problem has advanced from
the theoretical to the practical stage. There we're
many things " be thought Of in connection with
the submarine boat, the most important Of which
was the maintenance OF life and management
Of the craft beneath the surface Of the sea.
While intended for offensive purposes solely, its
protection Is an interesting feature Of the suur-
,ure, This is afforded by the body IT water sur.
low the surface TO a depth Of 20 feet in 20 seconds
after the order Is given TO disappear. the boat at
the time floating ligAt and running full speed
ency, with three feet Of wafer over the ,urrets.
the pilot who guides the craft obtains a view Of
the surroundings by means Of a cam RS lucinda
In a tube which projects above the surface and
which can be hauled In at a moments hotice'
The pilot Is located In an armored turret, which
risss four feet above the hull and Is eight inches in
thickness. The upper surface Of the hull, cover.
ing the part emerged while running on the surface
Of the water, will be OF steel plate one inch thick.
The arrangements for lighting and yentilating
INV sAANNt'ti ot sAk Nt'OAh Gnu 1oulllClts w men
the boat is on the surface Of the water two large
cQmpanionways the blower and the sirshaf, pro
vide abundant ventilation. When submerged, air
Is constantly allowed 10 esca pc from The air reser.
voirs slightly above atmospheric pressure. Vii.
ated air from near the bottom is forced outward
by a small pump driven by an electric motor,
Lighting on the surface Is provided through the
companionways and by eight 4inch headlights.
II not deeply submerged. and in clear water, light
Will still be admitted through the eight headlights,
ana, whenever required, lncandesCent lights, sup
piled by the storage batteries, can be employed.
The method Of. operating the vessel is also inter-
esting' hen the vessel Is on the surface Of the
water, with the smokestsck and the airshait erect.
ed, and running ahead full speed, and IL Is desired
TO dive, the valves PLACED on the bottom in ,hs
water spaces are opened and the air contained in
vided at their upper ends. The blower is stopped,
the furnace and ashpit doors are closed alright,
Me smoksstacks are shipped, the cover Of tho
swung around and dropped into its place and
clamped tightly, By this time the vessel will be
nearly awash' While reaching the awash posi-
ton she is run in the direction in which IL is neces.
sary. 10 steer. steam power being still employed
until the steam pressure in the boiler is run of.
As soon as the horizontal position at the proper
depth Is attained an automa, ic apJ aIatus pre-.
vents further considerable movement in a vertical
direction. II by failure Of any part Of this aura
ratus the vessel should run 30 a greater depth than
is desired, say beyond forty feet deep, the tower
end Of the lever engages with a short lever that
operates a valve placed on an air pine leading
forward to the forward section Of the boat When
forty feet depth or more is reached a charge Of air
will be allowed by this valve to pass from the
service air reservoir, through II along this pipe
into the bow section Of the vessel, forcing the water
contents out through the valve oil the bottom.
This will Immediately eIuel $50 pounds Of weight
OF water, reducing the weight Of the vessel BY so
much and communicating d strong INV ard ten.
dency equal 20 about thirty-one tons 20 the bow
Of the vessel on account Of its great leverage from
the centre Of b~uoyance.
II necessary the engines may be stopped and
the part Of the driving gear that failed adjusted;
but, II the trouble he not serious, steering In a
vertical direction can he done by hand. Water
may be eadmitted 10 the bow section by allowing
the air charge 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 minute the pressure
in the boiler Is exhausted and the temperature
greatly reduced. Steam is then shut of, tho
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
II be desired to stop or lie still submerged, but not
on the bottom, two small auxiliary water ballast
spaces, or diving tanks, are allowed TO I'LL with
water by permitting the air they contain to escaTe.
II II be advisable To remain below the surface
OF the water without going 10 the bottom while
in soundings, instead OF Npending power TO over
come the small remaining reserved huoyance,
the vessel may be anchored and the apparatus
controlling the horizontal rudders adjusted to hold
the vessel al the depth required, She will lie there
without much change Of level, unless there is
absolutely no current or tideway.
When II Is necessary TO come near the surface
for observation, either when moving or lying still,
IA rnfpaVa lhtgiHa p1araI bas...., H.. a.,