Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-01-30
TO GUARD WARSHIPS.
Floating Shield Suggested As Pro-;
lection Against Torpedoes. =.
.T.!tIt u yi.tst5,s.if
Carried outboard, II 10 Figured, = Sub
marines Torpedo. Striking Il,
Would Explode Harmlessly-s !!
Advantages Over Chain Net. 7

Washington.-The battleship of the
future may pillow her way through the
seas towing on either side. an immense
steel shield which will. parallel the
vessel from bow to: stern and which
will form defensive bulwark from
waterline to keeflevel.a+ -. - 3.,,.y.,-.
Such Il the plan OF : Phildde.phia
inventor, who has filed with the navy
department plans for thus safeguard:
ing American battleships from tor.
pedo attack in case of war. = These
steel shields would give bsttleship
much the appearance of q man carry.
inging a window SHUTTER uaAer, each
arm. In the case of the battleship.
however. the long tubular float which
would support itie lippaf s<age :of the
'torpedo-shield on the surface would
be the only part OF the shield visible.
The shield, q Sfopbssd! Ais remark.
ably simple in construction, and while
the navy experts have not. passed
upon its practicable features it prom.
Uses to superseds, the, old. chain nets
used with many war vessels at the
present time. The advantage claimed
for the shield ID that It II tosed son
edge through the water and cuts down
the Roadway Of the towing vessel but
little. This cannot be said for the
chain nets. which seriously impede the
vessel. :7sssI1ai4is ,bsd, Il tk%1; ;2'S;
The idea Of Z steel shield. carried
from twenty to thirty feets ont from
the side Of the vessel, Is based On the.
fact that submarine usually has a
chance to are but. ope torpedo at a
ship. Tho shield would receive the
blow Of the torpedo and, cause, the
projectile to explode far enough away
from the vessel to make the explosion:
practically harmless in SO far as the
battleship itself is concerned. Of
course part OF the shield would; be
hopelessly demolished. bit the whole
shield. long as . battleship, can be.
furnished. it il estimated, ,fot So, 600
These shield1 need only be carried
when the battleship enters \ war zone
where submarines are known or are
expected to be operating. One of the
clever features OF the plan is to dis
guise tho floats. supporting the shield
in the water BY its upper edge, az
submarines. The float, under ordinary
circumstances. is-a long tube of steel.
which IL but little wider. comparative
~ speaking, tl1n the width OF the
shield itself. "
Assuming that these floats are made
larger and painted to resemble sub,
marines. an enemy submarine. rising
for observations to port or starboard,
probably would be deceived by the
looks of the dummy on either side
of the vessel, and, II she attacked at
all. would attack BY torpedo only
from . distance. which would greatly
diminish accuracy Of aim. Should
the torpedo strike the defense screen
It would appear that q submarine it!
self had been struck and the attack
ing craft would. in al probability, es-
cape before discovering the mistake.
Particularly. however, is the shield
adapted to protection OF vessels In
harbors. where submarines have oc-
casionally penetrated and wrought
great havoc to vessels q az saFtA
When . vessel equipped with one Of
these shields goes into =action the
shield can be cast sdrift and picked
up after the engagement.
Another plan suggested 'is to equip
these shield AoatSiSSfth litaa Ines
which. when tho SkiAlds % 80
adrift at the beginning Of an engage,
ment. would serve q support Tor
survivors of vessels which might be
sunk. 81
The greatest ebjectioN To- the .tdfs
pedo nets carried son vesseis atlfa
present time is their tendency 10 n1a
to the surface g the vessel gains
speed. besides materially reducing the
speed of the towing vessel