The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-01-02
FLOATING SHIELD
FOR PROTECTION
OF WAR VESSELS
Submarines Torpedo, Strik-
ing II, Would Explode Harm
iesSIy, 1t is Figured.

-
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-The
battleship Of the future may plough
its 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 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 batteship
much the appearance Of man carry
ing 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 re-
markably simple in construction, and
while the navy experts have not pass
ed upon its practicable features 1t
promises to supersede the old chain
nets used with many war vessels at
the present time. The advantage
claimed for the shield is that II 1t
is lowed on edge through the water
and cuts down the headway of the
towing vessel but little. This cannot
be said for the chain-nets, which
seriously impede the vessel.
Theory Of It.
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 a chance to fire but one torpedo
at ship. The shield would re-
ceive the blow Of the torpedo and
cause the projectile to explode far
enough away from the vessel to make
the explosion practically harmless
insofar as the battleship itself is con-
cerned. or course, part Of the shield
would be hopelessly demolished, but
the whole shield, long as battle
ship, can be furnished, it is estimat-
ed, for $4,000.
These shields need only be car
ried when the battleship enters a
war zone where submarines are
known or are expected to be operat-
ing. One of the clever features OF
the plan is to disguise the floats, sup
porting the shield in the yater by its
upper edge, as submarines. The
float, under ordinary circumstances
is long tube of steel, which is but
little wider comparatively speaking
than the width Of the shield ITSELF.
Assuming that these floats are
made much larger and painted to
resemble submarines, an enemy sub
marine, rising for observations to
port or starboard porbably would be
deceived by the looks of the dummy
on either side of the vessel, and, il
she attacked at all, would attack
by torpedo only from distance.
which would greatly diminish accur-
acy Of aim. Should the torpedo strike
the defense screen 1t would appear
that submarine itself had been
struck and the attacking craft would.
in all probability, escape before dis
covering the mistake.
Particularly, however, is the shield
adapted to the protection Of vessels
in harbors, where submarines have
occasionally penetrated and wrought
great havoc to vessels Of all sorts.
Advantage Over Chain Net.
When 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 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 to the surface as the vessel gains
speed, besides materially reducing the
speed Of the towing vessel.
The shield ordered to the navy can
be manufactured and delivered in
quick time to any naval base, and
1t requires but little time to attach
1T.
1t is proposed also to equip trans
Atlantic liners with the shield. An
other use proposed is to tow three
of four screens behind a destroyer,
keeping them separated, OF course,
to sweep" areas of sea free from
mines. II the screen hits mine,
the mine may or may not explode,
but it makes no material difference
to the destroyer as the explosion
would be so far astern as to be HARM
less to the vessel itself.