The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-09-04
DEFECTS IN F SUBMARINES.
BOARD OF INQUIRY POINTS OUT
WEAKNESSES.
FL Was Not Worst of Undcrsca Craft,
Although Disaster to Vessel Is
Though To Have Been Caused by
Faults I'm Construction.

washington Aug. 3l.-SeriOuS |
weaknesses common to all four Of the |
navy's II type of submarine are point
ell out in report made public to-
day of the board of inquiry which |
made an investigation at Honolulu |
Immediately after the loss of the F-4 |
with her crew of 22 last March. So |
far as could be determined before |
the boat was raised, the board found |
that every possible precaution had
been taken within the limitations Of |
design. and the report pays tribute to |
the efficiency of the men who lost |
their lives.
With the F-i now In dry dock at
Honolulu, n new board headed by
Rear Admiral Bousch has been ap-
pointed to ascertain the cause of the
disaster.
Although the first board reported
that it could draw no conclusion as
to the cause, the possibility that the
crew might have been killed by
chlorine gas is indicated in the find
ing that:
Sea water has at times seeped into
the cells of the storage batteries of
the boats of the f class, causing the
evolution of the chlorine gas, which is
quickly destructive of life."
In connection with the principal
findings of the board it is pointed out
that each defective condition reported
as to the F-4 obtained in all be IS.
of the class:
The structure of the hull of the
submarine torpedo boat F-4 was reg
ularly inspected and the condition as
to repair and upkeep was excellent
THE propelling engines have in
herent faults and are difficult to keep
in repair, but were kept in as high a
state of efficiency as practicable with
in the limitations of said design.
This unsatisfactory condition of
the propelling engines had no bear
ing on the loss of the submarine as
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, having been repaired by
the ships force assisted by the navy
yard force at the United States naval
station, Pearl Harbor, territory of
Hawaii.
THE storage batteries were in
good condition within the limitations
of design.
The storage batteries were always
in state of being more or less cleo
trically grounded due to the Leak
age of electrolyte, or by capillary ac-
tion of the electr6lyte or moisture and
poor insulation. or bad electrical con-
tact. and these said grounds have
been noted TO be of sufficient intensity
at times to cause flame and the fusing
of electrical connections.
The storage batteries during the
charging evolved excessive quantities
of hydrogen gas. and. further. during
the early states of discEarging guam
titles of hydrogen gas was evolved and
the fumes Of hydrogen and of acid be-
came noticeable in the interior of the
boat on long drives.
"On the F-4 March 6, 1915, while
one electrical vcntilator blower was
stopped for Il short period for minor
repairs. probably from a ground in
the ventilating blowers electrical cir
cult. Il hydrogen explosion took place
which damaged the battery deck and
broke several separators of the cells
of the storage batteries.
The covering over the storage bat
teries of the battery deck, in accord
ancc with Specifications for subma-
rine torpedo boat No. %, is to be
practically gastight and watertight,
which condition does not obtain. as
this socalled battery deck does per-
init water to seep into the batteries.
THE sea water has at times seeped
into the cells of the storage batteries
Iof the boats Of the + class, causing
the evolution Of chlorine gas. which
gas Is quickly destructive of life.
AN inspections of safety appliances
as lar as can be ascertained have
been carried out, as required by the
navy regulations. and orders from the
division commander OF this division.
"All inspections were regularly car
ricd out by the commanding officer of
the submarine.
THE FL was docked recently and
the question of stability investigated
ny the officers of the navy yard and
found To be satisfactory. In general