The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-26
SUBMARINES GOOD SEA BOATS
VIPER PROVED THAT SHE H4D 4
RANGE or L.OOO NILES.
Naval Hoard Neports Oo the Exhaustive
Tests Of the octopus. Wiper. diuttIefsh
and rsraDiula ~ cry Fest Met Sue.
c~essfnlly IN tire Decision of the Experts.

c~essfuiIy In tine Decision of the Experts.
W~AsBISGroN. Aug. 25,-The Nava Board
OF Inspection and Survey. o. which Capt
Sutherland il chairman, has completed its
exhaustive trials Of the four submarine
torpedo boats the Octopus, v per, Cutie
fish and Tarantula. under contract for the
Government. and forwarded its report to
the Navy Department The inspections and
trials we're held at Newport aud. including
the time spent In h competitive tests by
a special board occupied eleven weeks.
subiecting the boats to the most exhaustive
series OF experiments ever made by the
Department W tn this type Of vessel
The board devotes much attention to
the open ocean trial Of the Viper. which was
selected TO make a n~inety-six hour sea test
for the purpose OF determining the en-
durance OF these boats. The result was a
complete refutation Of the arguments that
boats Of Ibis type are suited only for in
shore duty The performance Of the Viper
demonstrated that she has a radius OF ac-
ton OF 900 miles without coming into
port or communicating with any other ves-
sci for a period Of four days.
On her open sea run the Viper was fol-
lowed by the tug Nina and the tender
Sterling. carrying members Of the board
to observe the movements of the boat,
but no assistance was rendered the sub
marine by either Of her escorts. When
the Viper left the torpedo station her bat
teries were charged only partly. and she
was put TO the test of charging them VI
10 their fullest capacity when running full
speed on the surface. This she accom-
plislied successfully.
At a signal from Capt. Sutherla Il that
the apAInV'A 2Rn1t4 Ind loan GtKhgaai fhA
Viper submerged and ran al top speed for
six hours al the end of which time she came
TO the surface. and while running n!er
her gasolene engines ~recharged her bat
teries. She was kept at full speed during
the night and tn next morning subjected
10 a severe test running in the trough of
the sea. During the remainder Of the long
test the boat cruised or Rhode Island.
In view of the fact that the Viper was
Obliged by the board TO be sci -sustaining
throughout the entire trip, a special chef
was taken DOG and meals we're prepared
upon the electric stoves with which the ves-
sci is equipped. Despite the fact thai the
crew was confined closely in what il practi-
cally a steel cage. the men stood the trip we'll
and there were no mishaps. Capt. Suther-
land remained aboard the Nina. while Lieut..
ID. & Bingham, who il to have of
The Viper as soon AZ she ia commissioned,
was aboard her during the voyage, az was
also Lieut.. T.. j. Marquart, who il To COM
mand the Cnttlefish.
All -four vessels have exceeded their
contract requirements and their accept
ance ia recommended by the board. In
the course of their series Of trials the four
boats cruised at full speed on the surface
! $50 miles. gO miles in the open sea and
including three trips TO Cape Cod In heavy
weather. Eighty-ive submerged runs
were made. amounting TO 800 miles and
80 torpedoes were fired. all Of them sue
cessfully with the exception of three.
IL has been decided that when the boats
are commissioned Lieut.. c. r.. Courtney
shall command the Octopus and Lieut..
Joseph +. Daniels the Tarantula.