The Delta independent., 1915-07-23
German Submarine Freight Trains.

An underwater IrelSnL tTdlH -lHdt
makes it possible for a submarine
torpedo boat to operate in hostile
waters for an indefinite period of
time has been devised by Simon Lake.
an American inventor, who has de-
signed and constructed submersible
fighting craft for the navies of sew
eral of the European powers.
Just how many of these novel sup
ply trains are in use, and by what
nations, are military secrets. 1t has
been pointed out by naval authorities
that the German submarines which
have been operating as commerce de-
stroyers in the territorial waters of
the British isles must have some
means of replenishing their supplies
of fuel oil, fresh water, food and am
munition without returning to Ger
man naval base. Few IL any, sub
marines now in existence are known
to have a cruising radius of more
than 500 miles. German submarines
operating in the Irish sea and off the
northwest coast of Scotland are at
least roo miles from the nearest Ger
man port.
By means of the submerged supply
train, however. it is comparatively
easy for a fighting submarine to OBJ
tain supplies at regular intervals with
almost complete secrecy, for the
transfer of stores of all kinds can be
made under water. The only way the
enemy could detect wnat was going
on would be by observation from an
aeroplane.
Two, three or more submersible
cars cigar-shaped. water-tight, and
fitted with buoyancy tanks inside and
wheels on the lower side, make up a
submarine freight train. These cars
have no propelling machinery, no
quarters for crews, but are towed be-
hind a self-propelling submarine which
may also be equipped for firing tor
pedoes.
Each of the towed cars contains
compartments for fuel, oil and fresh
water. each with a hose connection
on the outside of the hull and space
for food supplies and ammunition in
water-tight cases. This last-named
compartment has a door opening out
ward. on the bottom of the circular
hull near the keel.
Transferring supplies from the
towed cars to the towing craft or to
an independent fighting submarine is
done on the bottom of the sea, in
shallow water
Arrived at the rendezvous. which
may be almost under the guns Of
the enemy's coast Qualifications anil
still be unsuspected. the submerged
freight train comes to halt ON the
bottom in fifteen or twenty fee. Of
water Under the bow of the towing
vessel is a door. opening downward
leading into the sea from the com
partment that is cut off from the res;
of the crafts interior by alright bulk
heads. This diving lock is another
feature developed by Mr.. Lake Al 4
used on nearly all his submarines.
to maintain. inside this lock, either
from compressed air tanks or by the
direct action of pump. an air pres
ure that will balance the external
water pressure and keep the inside
dry, even with the door wide open.
The diving compartment, in fact, is
practically a travelling diving bell
1t is large enough to hold two men.
one to aid the diver, the other in
diving armor. being free to walk
along the sea bottom and unload the
towboats. Oil and water are trans
ferred to the waiting submarine
through pipes. To get at the stores
in the air-tight compartment. the diver
opens the door from the outside.
Air pressure from the pumps of the
towing vessel keeps the water out
and the interior is lighted by elec-
tricity conveyed from the storage bat
terry of the main craft. Food in tins,
cartridges for rifles and machine guns,
even torpedoes, may be transferred
in this way from one vessel to an
other without so much as ripple
on the surface indicating to an OBJ
server on shore or on a hostile ship
that anything unusual is going on
Popular Mechanics Magazine.
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