The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-11-22
Bids for Submarine for u.
S. Navy Be Asked on
Basis Official Drawing.
BIDDERS FURNISH
PLANS HERETOFORE
Such Departure IS Disclosed
in Annual Report of
Bureau Official
By ASSOCIATED Press

Washington, Nov. 21.Bids for
submarines for the United States
navy will hereafter be asked ON the
basis of plans prepared BY the naval
constructor. Heretofore the navy
merely has asked for bids for sub
mersibles to perform certain service
and the bidders have furnished the
plans. The old practice Of submit
ting to bidders only the general re-
quirements of the navy viii be aban-
doned but that will not spreyent bid
ders holding patents from submitting
alternative bids and between the two
the navy may make its choice. The
fact that such progress il submarine
construction has been made by the
navy's own constructors to permit Of
such departure is disclosed in the
annual report of Rear Admiral David
w. Taylor, chief of the bureau Of con-
struction and repair ;ss u II
During the year. the report says,
there was begun a complete design
for the fleet submarines authorized bv
the last congress. Although each
builder of submarines has many pat
ents, the patents will not constitute
bar to preparation of designs by the
department. It is true that the de-
signing and building of submarines
is speciality that requires experience
but we now have in the navy adequate
experience in this connection"
The design completed by the bu-
reau was that of the Schley, the big
fleet submarine now building at the
Fore River yard, Quincy, Mass, and
which will be commissioned in the
spring of 1918. In addition, the de-
partment is preparing plans for two
other even larger underwater craft,
to displace 1000 to 800
tons, which were authorized this year.
OF the reorganization of the SUBJ
marine service Admiral Taylor says:
"The recently inaugurated change
in the administration of the subma-
rines of the fleet is working very well.
The bureau no longer receives general
of worthlessness with no
helpful suggestions, but is furnished
q definite statement as to what trou-
bles have occurred and valuable sug-
gestions for improvement. Progress
under such conditions is certain and
rapid"
SHIPS IMPROVED.
Admiral Taylor mentions the ex-
periments made during the year in
search of adequate defense for bat
tleships against submarine and aero
plane attacks and adds that "specifi-
cations for the ships next to be pur-
chased have been materially Inn
proved" Details of changes in con-
struction are regarded as confidential.
The report shows that bureau ex-
periments have resulted in the sub
stitution of cheaper nickel steel for
the usual expensive special treatment
metal on the battleship California,
Just laid down at the New York navy
yard. The change will give "the
same or greater efficiency" the re-
port adds.
Ships of the California and later
classes have been designed with the
comfort of the crew in view. They
have reading and recreation rooms
Tor the men as well as laundries and
improved culinary and washing ar
The various activities of the bureau
are well shown in the report in deal
ng with the model basin, where hull
designs are tested, the wind tunnel, |
where aeroplane experiments are
made, and other experimental equip |
nent. Twenty per cent of the work
lone last year in the model basin
vas for private shipbuilders who are
earning of the advantage this ad-
unct of the navy has been to the de- |
'igners- A device to simulate storm |
conditions and wave motions is now
icing installed in the tank.
ssThe development of the aeropIane |
Continued on Page Three.)