The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1916-08-18

SlueS, anu tne not at all appeLlZlnS
smell of oil and gasoline and also the
rocking of the boat make the interior
by no means a pleasant place for any.
one who is not accustomed to it. The
only exit, our manhole, is being
screwed down and made air and water
most under such conditions, you can
well imagine that it takes will power
and energy. And the men have it.
Our air pump for the rear ballast
tank begins to show little trouble
and Immediately one of the mechanics
is underneath it to make repairs. He
is working hard in space where
there is no room to turn around, lying
between moving engine parts, soaked
with oil and gasoline, but it is done
willingly at moments notice. The
captain has taken his place in the
chart room, the most important part
of the submarine. He is intently study
ing the planes Of the periscope, the
only eye of the submarine.
Mechanism Of the Torpedoes.
There are different styles of peri
scope in use. Ours extends approx
mately sixteen feet above the upper
deck and gives very clear picture
Of the surroundings. Speaking tubes,
levers and push buttons are on all
tain directs the movements of the
boat and also the firing of the deadly
torpedoes. We have three torpedo
tubes on board; one in the front, one
in the rear and one in the starboard
side. Smaller boats have two and the
newer type has four. The various
sizes of the torpedo itself range from
approximately ten inches to twenty
four inches in diameter. We are
equipped with sixteen inch torpedo
arrangement. The length of the tor
pedoes also varies on an average of
ten feet.
The torpedo the most splendidly
worked out weapon, but also the most
dreadful, may be called a small boat
in itself. OF cigarlike shape, the
outer shell, built of steel and bronze,
conceals the finest and most accurate
mechanical works, machinery and air
chambers, besides the deadly explo-
sive, one of the most important Sc.
crets. There are at the rear of the
torpedo two propellers driven by COM
pressed air and dial to be used for
setting the range the torpedo has to
travel. For instance, if we fire the
torpedo at target 1000 yards away,
we set dial at 1900 yards, Then if
the torpedo has travelled 1,500 yards
and has not hit the target by that
time, a flood valve opens, thus allow
ing the water to enter the torpedo
and sink it, removing all danger for
shipping and preventing the enemy
from making studies of the most Sc.
cret weapon of every navy. The CON-
plicated mechanism of torpedoes may
be realized by their cost The prices
range from $4,000 to $1,000 apiece.
When the torpedo is fired it is
forced out of the tube under water by
compressed air of $50 to 300 atmos-
pheres, approximately 1000 pounds to
the square inch. / will mention that
on torpedo boats we carry a small.
sized torpedo which is fired from a
tube above the water level and which
drops under water after leaving the
tube. Up to the present time we have
not been able to make use of this
type on submarines, for the reason
that we must keep the gravity point
of the boat as low as possible. This
disadvantage is noticed when reload
ing the torpedo tube on submarines.
1t requires the work of an eXcellently
trained crew to bring an 5000 pound
torpedo into the tube correctly on a
moving boat and within as small space
as is available for the torpedo room.
Getting Ready to Attack the Foe.
After travelling for hours we are APP
preaching the line of torpedo boats of
the enemy on guard against us and
now every precaution must be taken.
The order, Clear for action!" is co.
ing through the boat. Everybody att
his place has done his duty for the
last twelve hours without rest and
everybody knows that chances for
rest are not very frequent. And yet
our captain takes care of that; he has
studied his maps and knows the depth
of the water. Orders go through and
within fifteen seconds our boat is
slowly going down. The ballast tanks
have been opened, water is pressed I'M
and produces our downward move
ment. Our instrument shows a depth
Of forty-five feet when we come to a.
stop. All machinery is investigated,
some members of the crew stay on
watch, the others are ready for a
warm meal and rest. All this is at
the bottom of the ocean, the only safe
place for the submarine.
The food that is served consists of
canned goods. Pork and beans, pork
chops with gravy, heated on an elec-
trio stove, and peas are serving as a
main food and also tea with lemon to
quench thirst