Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-09-01
WEAKNESS OF
F-4 SUBMARINE
Board of Inquiry Makes Report On
Ill-Fated Boat.
DANGER FROM CHLORINE GAS.
The Report Of the First Of Inquiry
Failed to Show the Cause Of the
Disaster, But Names Many
Defects.

Serious weakness common 20 all four
Of the Navy's f type of submarine are
pointed out in the report of the board
Of inquiry which made an investiga-
ton at Honolulu Immediately after the
loss of the F-4 with her crew of % last
March
So far as could be determined before
The boat was raised the board found
hat every possible precaution had beer
aiken within the limitations of design.
and the report pays tribute to the eff
cheney of the men Who'll ost their lives
With the F-4 now in. drydock at Homo
lulu. new board, headed by Rear Adj
uiral Bausb. has been appointed by the
Navy Department TO ASCERTAIN If pos
sible. the cause of the accident.
Although the first Loard reported
tnat II could draw no cnoclusion as to
he cause, the possibility that the crew
might have been killed by chlcrine gas
is indicated in the finding that:
Sea water has at times seeped into
the cells of the storags batteries of the
boats Of tine + class causing the evolu-
tion of chlorine gas. which is quickly
destructive of life
In connection with tue following
principal findings of the board. II is
pointed out that each defective condi-
tion reported as to the F-4 obtained i'm
all boats of its class:
"rhe propelling engines Diesel oil
type. 4 cycle) have inherent faults and
are difficult to keep in repair, buo were
kept in as high as tate of efficiency as
was practicablewithin the limitations
of said design. This unsatisfactory
condition of the propelling engines had
no bearing OH the loss OF the submarine
say this boat at the time OF her loss was
being propelled by the electric motors
and storage batteries
The electric motors were in good
condition and thes forage batteries
were always in the state os being more
or less electrically grounded due to
the leakage of electrolytle or by ca
pillary action of the electrolyte or
moisture or poor insulation, or had
electrical contact and these said
grounds have been noted to be of SUI
ficient intensity at times to cause flame
and the fusing of electrical connec-
tions.
"The storage batteries during the
charging evolved excessive quantities
of hydrogen gas, and further during
the early stages of discharging quan-
titles of hydrogen gas was evolved and
the fumes of hydrogen and of acid be-
came noticeable in the interior of the
boat on longer dives. On the F-4 on
March 6. 1915, while one electrical ven-
tilet or blower was stopped for short
period or minor repairs probably from
a ground in the ventilating blowers
electrical circuit, a hydrogen explos-
ion took place. which damaged the bat
terry and broke several separators Of
the cells of the stroage batteries
THE conditions under which an ex-
plosion Of hydrogen IS always possible
obtain in all the boats of the F class.
The covering over the storage batteries
or the battery deck, in accordance with
specifications for submarine torpedo
boat number 23 is to be practically gas
tight and water tight, which condition
does not obtain, as this so-called bat
terry deck does not permit water to seep
into the batteries
A comparatively small amount of
sea water can cause the Liberation OF
sufficient chlorine gas to asphyxiate
the crew of a submarine while in a
submerged condition. This condition
obtain in all boats of f class and in
the submarine torpedo boat FL small
quantity of sea water seeped into three
of the cells of the forward storage bat
terry, damaging the cells and liberat-
ing quantities of chlorine gas. No IA
talities or injuries to personnel follow
ed as the boat was moored to the deck
and the batches were open at the time
The steering gear of the submarine
torpedo boat F-4 had IN the past given
trouble, but had been repaired. Off
GERS and men of the F-4 were. in so far
as can be ascertained, diligent and
alert in the performance of their du-
ties. and no reluctance was shown by
them in operating the said F-4. even
though thes aid officers and crew were
well aware of the existing defects"
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