The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-28

lne SuDTneTSenCe OF the tender WIFI
which | salvaged the coal from the
sunken barge in Long Island SOUND
years ago. That cargo boat had tanks
into which water could be admitted
from the sea and certain of the inle.
passages were closed by means OF
check valves. which were automatis.
seating themselves by the tension II
springs. In order to submerge the
boat it was only necessary to admit
water purposely and to open a valve
on the deck for the escape of the air
as the water entered.
To refloat the tender after it had
reached the bottom and was loaded
a diver went from the submerged
Argonaut by way Of the diving COM
partment and attached a hose to the
deck vent. This hose was then con-
nected to the compressed air TASKS
in the submarine. The air was blown
down through the pipe INTO the bal
last tanks and the water forced nut
board. past the check valves that
yielded in that direction, but reseat.l
and closed themselves as soon as the
air pressure stopped. In this fash
ion buoyancy was reacquired and the
tender rose TO the surface.
"Of course the initial sinking
operation required the presence OF
some one aboard the tender | have
Just described. This would not be
feasible in case Of the military sup
ply boats have in mind. These must
be made to sink by suitable control
ling devices manipulated from within
the military craft. but in principle
the cycle would not differ from tina.
which | have described.
The deck valve allowing the air
to escape from the tanks n the in
lets admitting sea water could be
operated by suitable electrical mech,
anisms. and, once opened. the sea
water would enter and destroy the
reserve buoyancy, thus causing the
tenders to sink. Again. compressed
air supplied from the submarine or
compressed air carried by the supply
craft themselves could be turned on
by electrical control and the boats
brought 10 the surface at the will Of
the military commander.
The supply boats, like the fighting
submarine, would have diving com.
partments. but these would be ar
ranged SO that the bottom door could
be opened from the outside by divers.
who. by manipulating suitable valves,
would fill the chambers with COM
pressed air and thus permit the door
TO Ice opened and allow entrance into
the tender. An air lock would then
facilitate a passage into the inside
of the craft. where stores would b.
slowed. This air lock would have t.
be operated, as we have already
described each time materials were
brought into the diving chamber IL
transfer to the submarine.
The provisions and other portable
supplies rould be packed in metal
cylinders capable Of keeping out the
water at any depth in which a dive
could work safely. l should couu'
upon carrying on this transfer 81
provisions. &c, in depths of water Il
100 feet and less. but deep enough to
cOrstitut" a sufficient cover lCaiu>'
detection by acropldnos. To facilita'r
disguise in clear water the tenders
could b" painted notified cllprs wh.,g
would make them blend into the back
ground Of thu SEA bed. much after IT,,
fashion Of It iluundcr.
These provision tanks, when loaded,
would HAY" "a uc-at.vr huoyau,y If
MY a f"w pounds, just nough To-
make them sink, and a diver would
have 10 trouble in either carrying or
dragging one of them from the tender
20 the open diving compartment ut
the submarine. only food. potable
water. the ammunition FIR guns AMI
he d!sjointed sections of torpedocS
need to be transported in this way.
Fuel oil for the engines and even
lubricatinE oil could be sent from the
tender TO the submarine in a very
simple manner.
The outboard connection of the oil
tanks OF the supply craft would have
hose joined 10 them leading TO the
fuel tanks of the submarine.
"Thc supply boats will have Tenders
in the shape of long metal rods reacl''
ing out from the bow and the stern
and Doth sides. These give the
tenders the appearance of gigantic
waterbugs. but they serve to form
smooth surfaces over which tn" loop
of the sweep would glide freely without
cncouutering any proj"cti MS t. whi'l
1t could cling. Thus, while the sweep
would certainly pick up a floating mine
il would pass without warning over 4
submerged supply base capabl" or
holding stun sufficient to keep a sub
marine goinE for weeks without re-
turn to her home port.
with such a system or reNIctua'-
ling submarines should be able to OPP
crate secretly for long periods ana
virtually TO hold the sea the entire
time. doing in that interval what
would be absolutely impossible for any
.ypc of surface fighting craft Of KIM
bred displacement and military power
The submarine commander would n'
the only one having knowledge of tn"
position of his submerged supply
bases, and he could place them under
cover of night just whore they would
contribute best TO the carrying out Of
the operations planned for him.
con almost every coas: there are
areas Whrr submarines could sink
, safely to the bottom in moderate
, depths of water, and there are also
quiet covcs but little f~requent"d where
ideal resting places could be found ior
the submerged supply boats, with
t.. a.t, l,,sAE tho f,tIArs