Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-10-28
SUBMARINE F-4
Continued from Page onel

mopellers probably took place
The appreciable length of time req
t!.stfe for air to build up in ballast
tanks for the expulsion of sufficient
quantities of water resulted In vessel
reaching crushing depths.
Seams of the vessel began to open
and-probably through open torpedo
tubes and seams-water entered the
vessel A condition of positive buoy
ancy was never attained.
There followed actual disaster.
Vessel began filling with water.
Personnel abandoned stations, and
many sought refuge in the engine
room, closir its doors.
Under great pressure. engine room
bulkhead failed suddenly. leaving.
Attempt to Bring to Surface
Vessel on bottom, completely flooded. "
From its examination of the valves OF
the automatic device which WAS set TO
expel water from the vessels ballast
tanks at depth of 100 feet as required
by departmental regulations. the board
the rs or her downward plunge had oc-
CURED before the 100-foot mark was
reached The most effective procedure
for sending the boat to the SURFACE was
promptly carried out. diving rudders
we're set to send her upward. valves
| opened to empty the forward ballast
tanks and the electric motors started to
| drive her inward, all without avail 1t
was then some members of the crew
rushed into the engine room compart-
ment and the door of the hulkhead was
closed Fifteen bodies were found there
| and from this fact and the position OF
| valves and rudders the board conciud-
ed that.
Some member or members of the
| personnel were alive and capable OF &C
| tor for al least q short time after the
occurrence which led to the disaster
The hoard locates the primary cause
u the tragedy forward of the engine
room, hulkhead. In this connection II
says
Stop tanks and lead lining OF bat
terry steel tanks found corroded ana
therefore this corrosion resulted from
the chemical action of suiphuric ACID
upon impurities in the lead.
"Battery steel tanks in general FOUND
IN excellent condition, and therefore
"The corrosion Of certain rivets and
are as occurred prior to Marcn % 1870
Inc date of the disaster.
Valves and rudders found operated;
switches found thrown; engine room uoof
Intentionally closed; and, therefore,
The personnel were not asphyxiated
sefore the vessel under normal conu'-
tons, could have been brought to the
sarface
"corroded rivet in port wall of forward
battery steel tank, in wake OF Irame
number 81. found to leak Slightly ,Nh>
yer even small head of water-not more
mar one foot to which this portion OF
ank could be subjected in dock. ano'
therefore
On the dive of March %, 1918, TINS
eofroued rivet leaked considerably.
Due 10 inevitable short -circut or
neavy ground. caused by flooding Oh
1eis through Stop tanks, in the pres
soce OF -chlorine and free hydrogen Cor.
The presence of free hydrogen
s'0ae' if in sufficient quantity electric
NC struck and therefore.
An explosion occurred.
battery fire of limited extent &C.
-, ssrred in the forward battery posi-
~, I've cell, but. nevertheless this bat
~ . hre was not the primary cause
Inc disaster.
Nak found in port wall Of forward
steel tank; probable leaks