The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1914-11-25

pleted and Approved and Ready to
Ask For 6ids-Surfaoe Speed Of
Twenty one Knots.
Designs have been completed and
specifications prepared in the United
States navy department for a new and
distinct type of submarine which will
outclass submarines such as the Ger
man 10 class just as the first Dread
nought excelled the old type of battle
ship. 1t will probably be the greatest
submarine a1oat
The new craft will be known as a
feet submarine. 1t will displace about
1000 tons. which means that 1t will be
twice the size of any submarine now
afioat. The aim is to build subma-
rine of high speed and great defensive
power that will be able to accompany
the American battleship fleet and new
er lag behind 1t will be about 800
feet long. this length being necessary
both to install the more powerful pro-
polling machinery and to find space for
the increased equipment of reserve tor
pedoes and extra torpedo tubes.
The new fleet submarine will have
its own wireless outfit and will have a
cruising radius Of about $500 miles at
twenty-one knots speed. 1t also will
have rapid fire guns for self defense
and will carry enough torpedoes to sink
a modern fleet of Dreadnoughts.
Bids for the new vessels will be OPEN
ed at the navy department on Dec. Is.
The confidential plans and specifica-
tons for this powerful new craft are
now in the possession of builders who
are Mt liberty to bid upon the design
submitted by the department or to
modify the design and submit bids &C.
cordingly. The cost of the new type
Of submarine will be about Sl.25O.OOO.
II is to be built unded the naval ap-
preparation act enacted by the session
Of congress just ended. containing an
appropriation Of 81 100000 for eight or
more submarines and carrying clause
that failed to attract public attention.
This clause directed the navy depart
ment to construct feet submarine of
not less than twenty knots speed.
Submarine Destroyer.
Because Of its size, which will be
that of large torpedo boat destroyer,
the new type of vessel has been term
ed submarine destroyer and also as q
diving destroyer by laymen in the de-
partment familiar with the govern
ment's plans. But naval constructors
and high ranking officers in the navy
insist that 1t Is not u destroyer. but dis
tinctly a new type Of submarine. their
word being fleet submarine" but
the whole idea is that it will be able
to go anywhere that an ocean going de-
stroyer or the battleship feet may 60.
1t was learned that both France and
England contemplate the construction
Of similar feet submarines. but were
keeping their plans secret American
naval officers say the navy's submarine
knowledge has been so far developed
that the new submarine will be supe-
rior to any one of its type now being
contemplated abroad.
In the British admiralty there is
growing belief that the feet subma-
rine will take the place of the destroy
er when the new type has been fully
developed. This idea is also held In
American naval circles. The idea of
the designers of the new craft Is that
the feet submarine will be able to do
in the daytime what the ocean going
destrOyers accompanying fleet are
expected to accomplish In an attack
on the enemy's fleet ut night.
New Craft Speedy.
The new fleet submarine, which will
be twice the size of the new MI type
authorized in 1912 and 1913 and is to
have a cruising radius of $500 to 1900
knots, will have more than sixteen
knots speed when navigating under
water. The MI Is designed for a ra-
dius of about $500 knots and eleven
knots speed on the surface and for
about 100 miles at Eve knots under the
surface. The new feet submarine will
have double the surface speed and car
ry three times the under water speed
of those previously authorized for the
American or foreign navies.
The torpedo defense guns to be
mounted ON the new feet submarine
do not involve new idea. All the
latest submarines are being provided
with rapid fire guns. These are not
intended for offensive, but for defen-
sive use. to drive Off attacks by de-
strOyers accompanying the enemy's
feet. The feet submarine will not car
~ many more men than the latest type
In iss.i.a