The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-10
NEW SUBMARINE BOATS,
Coming Tests of Little Fighters Are
10 Be Very Thorough.
MANY IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN THEM
Since ths Faults Of the Holland Have
Been oiseovered-Extra Power Has
Been Provided.

Been Provided
Washington, November 5.-Cspeciai Cor.
respondence) about November 10 series
Of tests Of most comprehensive character
VIII be inuugurated OF the new submarine
boats the first constructed under contract
with the United States government and
under the supervision and Inspection Of
naval officers. During the tests the vessels
VIII run on the surface, partially submerged
and wholly submerged and be tested FOR
speed, managesblllty aud general perform
ance in all three conditions Many Of the
tests will take place about Peconic bay.
where the boats are being prepared for
the occasion at the contractors experl.
mental workshops at New SUFFOLK. 10
procure water Of sufficient depth Tor the
underwater trials. the boats will have to
be taken thirty TO forty miles from this
point However, as natural conditions will
thus be more nearly Appropriated, the
work OF the boats will be more hithly
valued by the trial board, AS the con.
tractors win wait for the most favorable
conditions Of wind and water TO mike the
trials, 1t is expected they will cover a
period of from ten days to two weeks, aud
the last or deep water run will probably
take place al Newport r. J.
Many improvements have been made In
the new boats over the Holland. the origi-
mai American submarine boat and the only
one which the navy now possesses, and the
trials are calculated to demonstrate the.
superiority OF the Adder and MocCasin be.
yOnd question. The new vessels arc 81 feet
4 inches In length, compared TO SO feet 10
Inches Tor the Holland. In diameter they
are IL feet inches, against 10 feet 3
inches, and they have a displacement of
- tons submerged against "A tons for the
Holland, The latter vessel makes about
six knots on the surface and i've and a
halt submerged. with gas engine Of fifty
horse power for surface running and a
hfty-horse power electric motor for propul-
sion when submerged. The new vessels
VIII have gas engine Of l60-horse power
and an electric motor of Seventy.horse
power while Its batteries will have ca
pacity OF 1910 amperc power, more than
double the 900 ampere power of the Hol-
lands batteries. Three Whitehead tor
pedoes are carried by the Holland and i've
by the Moccasin aud Adder
MANY IMPROVEMENTS.
In general design the new vessels follow
the Holland, but the experience gained
with her has permitted many improve
ments to be Incorporated In the new boats
ithout sacrificing hardness. the increase
In dimensions and displacement has enabled
the designers to provide much more roomy
and habltable vessels with an improved
armament ana very considerable in
crease IN speed and radii OF action. Tho
extra power provided allows the batteries
or air TASKS to be recharged while proceed
Ing at Il speed OF about six Knots on the
! surface. when the Holland was given an
official trial before being purchased by the
government she was requircdl only 90 dem.
Unstrate her ability To run awHEh at good
speed; ability to dive and rise READILY aud
with certainty; ability to run under water
AT depths from ten to thlrty-hye feet for
ten minutes at q speed Of about six knots
per hour, while maintaining n reasonably
steady course both In the vertical and
horizontal planes; ability to tlanetivcr with
qulckncss and certainty, andlt tho possess ~
u efficient apparatus for raising, lowering
| and trimming the vessel and 9handiRs End
firing torpedOes.'
The new boats Will he required to make
sixteen runs ON the surface under the gas
engine only, over a 0ne-mlle course hulf
the runs with the tide and half against.
The average speed of eight Knots an hour
must be attained on these runs Awash,
the boats will make six runs of n mile with
the tide and an equal number against H.,
the average speed 10 equal seven Knots, the
gas engine only being used.
In u completely submerged condition the
boats will carry the crew and two Ubspry
crs from the trial board and no portion Of
| the boat Is to be exposed, but a light mast
! shall be Curricd TO show above the surface
so the trial board can observe the times of
! boats VIII make four runs for each Of The
/ three different speeds, over course OF one.
/ half nautical mile ia length, two with and
4 two against the tide the average speed Ia
/ equal seven knots.
over q course Of ten lunots the vessels
viii be required to make eight knots M
/ hotr on the surface, aud seven knots an
! hour aWash.