The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-11-16
NEW SEA FIGHTER
TO Be CONSTRUCTED
British and French Naval
Experts Working on Sub
marine DestrOyers

Washington, November bout of the
dearly bought lessons of naval warfare in
the North sea, a new engine of destruc-
ton is coming-the submarine destroyer
Larger, more powerful. and with "A
greater radius of operations than any
of its predecessors, this new wasp of the
sea will not only be equipped to sting its
giant adversaries. but to destroy its own
kind on the surface of the sea.
British and French navy yards, and pri-
vate ship yards as well, are working night
and Cay to have the new submarine de-
stroyers in service within the next few
months. This information coming to
United States naval officers, commands
greater interest because the United States
navy, too, is to have some of these newest
ships of war. Its experts have been at
work upon plans for them for months.
The theory in which the new sea fighters
are being built is that the.- shall be
armed for battle either on the surface or
below. They will be of much greater
tonnage than existing submarines. Ten
tative plans have been made for boats of
1000 tons. submerged, which would permit
fuel capacity to cross oceans with battle
meets anu allow dQequdtt pIONtsiOii loi
crew quarters. The close attendance of a
parent ship upon submarine fleets would
then be unnecessary.
The underwater armament will consist
of torpedo tubes as in present submarines,
but more tubes and a greater supply of
the projectiles employed with such terri
BILE effect in the European war. For sur
face fighting against hostile submarines
they will carry small guns, mounted in
watertight compartments and placed on
elevators to lift them to the upper deck
of the ship as she rides a foot or two out
of the water
quick fire six-pounder probably Will
be the largest weapon that can be en-
ployed for that purpose, because greater
weight, set high above the vessels center
of gravity, would tend to render her top
heavy.
Beneath the surface the new destroyers
would operate as ordinary 2o0-ton vessels
of their type. except that they would have
greater cruising range. On the surface
they would scout for hostile submarines
spotting an enemy's periscope, then SWING
up the six-pounder to open fire. relying
on greater speed to keep in range and
upon the fact that six-pounder proJectiies
would easily pierce the thin skin OF the
hostile craft. One such wound would
cripple an enemy even II no vital part
~ his mechanism were struck. The pune
ture would sink him If he attempted to
snbmerge, and so he would be compelled
TO lie on the surface at the mercy of the
destroyers guns.
The equipment of the new British fight
ers is understood to be similar to that
contemplated for American craft. Diesel
crude oil engines driving the propellers
for surface cruising and operating dyna-
mos which keep storage batteries con-
stantly at standard strength for under
water work when the ship is driven by
electricity. The German engine. now to
be employed against its inventors, offers
the highest fuel economy in power gem
GRAFTON yet achieved and on its small fuel
consumption depends the greatly in
creased cruising radius OF the new ships.