The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-20
SUBMARINE BEST TO
MAINTAIN WAR ZONE
Prof. Hovgaard Says Undersea
Boats Can Attack With
Impunity.
BATTLESHIP NAVAL UNIT
n. WILLIAM HOyG&&RD.

PROFESSOR ~ udruf design and cou-
Silu"tioh MdSSoch 1setfs Institute OF
Technology; instructor OF narai con-
SirtcforS JPtod Sfutcs Nary; former
'"T"anJcr IN ne DANISH nury. author
OF "Submdrine Boats"
PHILADELPHIA. Feb l9-"SuDma-
rincs vs.. BattlcshipS.'-An estimate Of
the probable efficiency OF the former
in maintaining a war zone.
II IS only about seven years since
the submarine acquired substantial
i~illtdlN value. Its development from
the experimental stage was rand and
~ one" placed the battleShip at a dis
ADVANTAGE which it has not yet had
time to emoNe. Within Il zone OF sey-
cral hundred miles from the coast II
81 enemy well provided with this new
weapon. battleships can operate only
at their peril,
VIII the submarine be able TO main
tain its lead. extend its radius of action
and eventually drive the battleship from
the ocean, or Will the battleship develop
means OF defence and attack that will
restore its superiority and insure its
continued mastery Of the sea?
In order to answer these questions We
must first examine the present stand.
point Of the submarine. speaking uf
the largest Of existing boats. the dis
placement has not reached l,2O0 tons.
as in boats of he English r class. laid
down IN 1913. Whon a submarine
navivates on the surface. as II must do
for all long distance travelling. II is
propelled by oil motors. or by steam
power. The maximum speed is about
Is knots and the greatest range is
about 1000 miles at moderate speed.
When In the war zone a boat travels
mostly by night. In the daytime IL must
be ready to dive at short notice when
an enemy ~ sighted. Under water IL is
propelled by electric power. giving it a
speed which I'm some boats reaches ~
knots. At slow speed a range Of up
to about Loo miles may be attained.
The distance from its base at which
a boat can operate effectively depends
not only on tn. fuel supply. but much
more ON the endurance OF the crew and
the material Life in n submarine Is
very fauguiug. The space * confined.
the air * bad. the temperature high and
tht nervous strain il APT to be great.
How long - boat is capable OF keep
ing the sea under var conditions with
out relief of the crew will depend on
man circumstances. but chiefly on the
endurance. skill and discipline OF the
men.
The speed of submarines Is relatively
SLOW flfSI. because the nun ~ very
heavy: second. b.caus. there mus, he
two separate power plants. one for sur
face and one for under water driving.
THIS drawback is Intrinsic. and IT IL hard
70 see now IL can lie entirely removed.
II an enemy snip goes az high speed il
Is therefore difficult for a submarine to
get into position for attack. The opera
ton requires both skill and luck.
ON the other hand. the submarine has
f1. nl.Haatn ya that .,... "a, n.gfstn,, 4, o.
can deliver its attack with relative i'm
punity az compared with original tor
pedo boats. F,
Turning our attention 20 the battle
ship. detection of the ubmarine Is the
first and most important point 10 con-
slider, but so far no other means are at
hand but lookout from the battleship
and from accompanying small fast YES
sells. Once the submarine Is detected its
periscope will be covered with a hail
storm OF shell and shrapnel. Often the
battleship may Void attack by virtue
of its superior speed. II the periscope
is hit the boat is virtually put out OF
action.
Seaplaues or other aircraft when sufii-
GENTLY developed are likely to prove
deadly enemies Of the submarine.
The battleship possesses several pas
sive means of defence. watertight subdi-
vision, armor and elastic bulkheads,
which are capable of further develop
ment.
On the whole. then. the resources of
the battleships are far from exhausted.
Will undoubtedly the sphere OF action
of the submarine will be further ex-
tended in the future, the development IS
likely to he gradual and In the mean
time also the battleship and its access
SORES Will be enabled better to meet this
new danger. II seems likely, therefore.
that the b1ttleship, and We include In
this term also the battle cruiser, will for
time yet maintain its position as
the supreme unit of naval power.