The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-11-18
ORR SUBMARINES STRONGEST.
No Others Required to Stand Water
Pressure at Depth of 800 Feet.

Whatever else may be said of the
submarine torpedo boats Of the init
ed States, naval experts familiar with
this type of craft are confident that
the underwater boats of no other ma
ton are built on stronger lines. In
fact, naval officers say that none OF
the great world powers require the
construction of submarines to resist
anything like the great pressure that
is required of American submarines.
Submarines built for the American
navy must have hull strength sufti-
cient to resist the pressure of the
ocean at depth of 800 feet. Before
these delicate craft are accepted they
must have withstood pressure at a
depth around 210 feet, which is
deemed sufficient, but must be strong
enough to go much lower. British
and German submarines are not re-
quired to stand pressure of 800 feet,
the requirement usually running
around 200 feet. German subma-
rines, as rule, are tested at depth
around $50 feet, and. those Of the
British navy sometimes at a greater
depth.
From the outset of submarine, con-
struction the American underwater
craft have been built on stout lines.
: The original "a" boats are still do
ing good service daily in the Philip
pines. The first submarines built for
the navy are opeSated on the surface
by gasoline engines, which have been
replaced in newer boats by Diesel en-
gines, burning heavy fuel oil.
The first periscopes were far from
satisfactory and are being rapidly re-
placed by the more efficient peri
scopes which have been evolved since
the Introduction of submarines as a
naval factor.
Another defect of our early sub
marines which was common to un-
derwater boats of all nayies in the
beginning-was faulty ballast tanks.
Since the water-ballast tank on a
submarine is a vital part of the ship
the naval experts lost no time in inn
proving this feature. All of our sub
marines now have improved tanks.
OF all submarine defects those af-
fecting the propelling engines have
been most numerous and bother
some. The development of this type
of engine has been very gradual. I'm
5 til very recently, however, engine
trouble has been of common occur
renee in submarines, and the work of
construction has been delayed more
by engine defects probably than from
all other defects combined.
For example, while the contracts
5 for submarines usually call for de-
livery within two years, it has been
understood al! all times that the YES
sells could not be completed and de-
livered in that time, and the reason
given always has been the engines.
It is. believed, however, that the sub
marine engines have been so far per-
fected that from now on delivery Of
the boats may be confidently EXPECT
ed within the contract period Nava!
experts, eoncede that Germany may
have superior submarine engine.
Germany was the birthplace Of
the Diesel engine said one expert.
SIT is only reasonable to believe that
the Germans have succeeded in de-
yeloping the various types of this en-
gine to higher degree of perfection
than the United States or any other
naval power. When it is realized
that our first heavy oil submarine
engine was brought to this country
in the head of one man-and not
Ii OW ID 1AoI oAAASoAI w
understand that the drawbacks to its
rapid development were considerable.
In recent years these engines have
been greatly improved and are now
very promising"
Inasmuch as the same individuals
design as many of the submarines
constructed for the British navy as
for the United States navy, naval ex-
rerts here are quite certain that John
Bull has nothing on Uncle Sam in
the way of underwater craft, especial
ly in view of the fact that the United
States always requires greater hull
strength than Great Britain, In this
connection naval officers point to the
fact that the British, submarines ap-
pear to be giving an excellent account
OF themselves in the operations at
the Dardanelles, having sunk large
numbers of Turkish troop ships after
entering the sea Of Marmora under