Alma record., 1914-12-10
OUR NAVY PLANS
Giant SUBMARINE
Biggest and Fastest Under
water Graft In World.
WILL ACCOMPANY FLEET.

-
Powerful In Proportion-Desisn Com
pleted and Approved and Ready to
Ask For eids-Surface Speed OF
Twenty-one Knots.
Designs nave 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 U-9 class just as the first Dread
nought excelled the old type of battle
ship. 1t will probably be the greatest
submarine atiOaL
The new craft will be known as a
fleet submarine. Ii will displace about
1,200 tons. which means that 1t will be
twice the size of any submarine now
afioat. The aim is to build a 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 300
feet long, this length being necessary
both to install the more powerful pro-
pelling machinery and TO find space for
the increased equipment Of reserve tor
pedoes and extra torpedo tubes.
The new feet 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 feet of Dreadnoughts.
Bids for the new vessels will be open
ed at the navy department on Dec. 10.
The confidential plans and specihca-
tons for this powerful new craft are
now I'm the possession of builders who
are at liberty TO bid upon the design
submitted by the department or TO
modify the design and submit bids ac-
cordingly. The cost OF the new type
of submarine will be about S1.250,000.
II is TO be built unded the naval ap-
preparation act enacted by the session
of congress Just ended. containing an
appropriation of S4460.O 900 for eight OF
more submarines and carrying n clause
that failed TO attract public attention.
This clause directed the navy depart
ment to construct a feet submarine OF
not less than twenty knots speed.
Submarine Destroyer.
Because OF its size, which will bt
that of large torpedo boat destroyer
the new type Of vessel has been term
ed n submarine destroyer and also as 9
diving destroyer by laymen in the de
partment familiar with the govern
! ments plans. But naval constructors
and high ranking officers in the navy
insist that it Is not n destroyer. but dis
tinctly new type OF submarine, theil
word being a fleet submarine" bu
the whole idea is that 1t will be able
to go anywhere that an ocean going de
stroyer or the battleship fleet may go.
1t was learned that both France anC
, England contemplate the construction
of similar feet submarines. but wer,
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 beinl
contemplated abroad.
In the British admiralty there i
h growing belief that the fleet subma
\ rine will take the place OF the destroy
er when the new type has been full.
developed. This idea is also held ii
American naval circles. The idea o
the designers of the new craft is tina
the feet submarine will be able TO d
in the daytime what the ocean goin
destroyers accompanying a fleet ar
expected TO accomplish in an attac
on the enemy's fleet at night
New Craft Speedy.
The new fleet submarine, which WI
= be twice the size OF the new MI typ
authorized In 1912 and 1913 and is {
Z have q cruising radius of $500 to 400
knots, will have more than sixtee
knots speed when navigating unde
z water The MI Is designed for a ii
E dius Of about $500 knots and eleve
knots speed on the surface and fC
about 120 miles at five knots under th
surface. The new feet submarine wi
have double the surface speed and ca
~ three times the under water spec
of those previously authorized for II
American OF foreign navies.
The torpedo defense guns to
mounted on the new feet submarir
8 do not involve new idea. All Il
q latest submarines are being provide
q with rapid fire guns. These are n
q intended for offensive, but for defe
= sive use, to drive or attacks by
8 stroyers accompanying the enemy
: feet. The feet submarine will not ca