The Oskaloosa herald., 1916-03-02
TO GUARD WARSHIPS
Floating Shield Suggested as Pro-
H. lection Against Torpedoes.
Carried Cupboard, ills Figured, Sub.
marines Torpedo, Striking u,
q Would Explode Harmlessly---
Advantages over Chain Net.

Z p 81
Wlashington.-The battleship of the
future may plow her way through the
seas towing on either side an immense
steel shield which will parallel the
vessel from bow to stern and which
VIII form defensive bulwark from
waterline to keel-level.
Such is the plan of Philadelphia
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 a battleship
much the appearance Of a man carry.
inging a window shutter under each
arm. In the case of the battleship,
however, the long tubular float which
would support the upper edge of the
torpedo-shield on the surface would
be the only part of the shield visible.
The shield, as proposed, Is remark
ably simple in construction, and while
the navy experts have not passed
upon its practicable features it prom.
ises to supersede the old chain nets
used with many war vessels at the
present time The advantage claimed
for the shield is that it is towed on
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.
The idea Of steel shield, carried
from twenty to thirty feet out from
the side of the vessel, is based on the
fact that a submarine usually has
chance to fire but one torpedo at a
ship. The 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. but the whole
shield, long as a battleship, can be
furnished, 1t is estimated, for $50, 1000.
These shields 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.
gutse the floats, supporting the shield
in the water by its upper edge, as
submarines. The float, under ordinary
circumstances, is a long tube of steel,
which is but little wider, comparative.
ly speaking, than 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, If 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
1t would appear that submarine it.
self had been struck and the attack
ing craft would, in all probability, es-
cape before discovering the mistake.
Particularly, however, is the shield |
adapted to protection of vessels in
harbors, where submarines have &C.
casionally penetrated and wrought !
great havoc to vessels of all sorts.
When a vessel equipped with one OF |
these shields goes into action the
shield can be cast adrift and picked
up after the engagement.
Another plan suggested is to equip
these shield floats with life lines,
which, when the shields are cast
adrift at the beginning of an engage
ment, would serve as a support for
survivors of vessels which might be
sunk.
The greatest objection to the tor
pedo nets carried on vessels at the
present time is their tendency to rise
70 the surface as the vessel gains
speed. besides materially reducing the
speed Of the towing vessel.