The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-07-24
CONCRETE ship TO
DEFY SUBMARINES
A Double-Hulled Ship Against Which
The Torpedo Would Prove Harm
less.

menlS- a Boston expert III coHSti w
tion engineering has written for Inc
Boston Evening Record the claims
for the ship of reinforced concrete,
his argument being that it is quickly
constructed, OF large carrying capacl-
ty, and proof against destruction
] from torpedo attack. He writes:
1t is urgent that every effort be
made by inventors and specialists in
modern construction TO bring out a
strong sea-going ship that can be
built quickly and be proof against
the torpedo. \ number Of men OF
inventive minds are working on the
problem, ana with the aid OF special
lists, each in their own line. the tor
pedo-proot ship will soon be at1oat.
one proposition was made and illus
trated in the Scientific American OF
June 9 by HUDSON Maxim. He says ::
1t is necessary at this time to
stimulate inquiry and invention with
respect to ways and means for pro
tecting treight-ships and troop-ships
against torpedoes. and while | believe
that my plan of torpedo-proofing
ships will be very efficient. and that
it is the best thing that has yet been
suggested, still what | have done may
possibly serve as a suggestion 10 lead
some other inventor to do far better
than | have done; and the facts that
have given in this article about the
nature and action of the explosive
blast Will help others in the investi-
cation and understanding of this
subject"
1t is by the careful study and re-
search given by the specialists, the
marine engineer, the concrete engi-
neer, the naval architect and the gun
expert, each doing mis- own part, that
the problem will be successfully sol
we'd and will bring forth the ship of
such sturdy strength that on the new
ship the submarine Will have lost its
power.
Many are cOnVerSant with the featS
of engineering accomplished with re-
inforced concrete: factories and man
ufacturing plants having great siren
9Th and practically free from Tibra-
ton, bridges capable of carrying any
load. are demonstrated facts, but its
possibilities in modern shipbuildlng
are not SO we'll known. But nearly
every country in the world is max
ing some use of reinforced concrete
as applied to shipbuilding. 1t re-
mains for the methods to be thorou-
ghly worked out and perfected by
specialists to give us practically an
indestructible ship.
This article is to deal with the tor
pedo-proof ship; the writer makes
public his plans for the same reason
as that given by Hudson Maxim, in
Ventor of the gun silencer: the per-
feoted work is for our common good
and to defeat the enemy. Let other
specialists bring forth their expert
ence to perfect the weak points that
/ they may discover, and the work of
putting the submarine out of COM
mission (as far as the new ship is
concerned) is accomplished. Let us
put forth every effort to build up
quickly an unsinkable, tireproof mer-
chant marine.
My plan makes little if any change
in the outward appearance of our
modern steel ship. except that the
structural part of the ship is of a
specially prepared emulsitied con-
crete reinforced with a fabricated
network of steel rods that binds the
ship together in every part, giving
great strength and making the struC-
ture one continuous monolith. All
decks, bulkheadS, partitions, etc, are
interviewer together in one continu-
Gus mass of steel and concrete. The
ship has two hulls and a double bot
tom; the double hull runs to above
the water line all around the ship.
There is a space of ft.-0 in. be-
tween the outer and inner hull which
is divided every II it, making a con-
tinuouS number of water-tight com
partmentS 3 ft.-O Y II ft.-0 in. grid
ing every part of the ship to above
the water line. In the center of this
! 3 ft.-O in. space is system of fabri-
! Gated steel rods looking somewhat
) like heavy wire fence; the purpose
: of which will be explained later. This
: space between the double hulls and
| double bottom is not wasted, but be-
ing Watertight, is used as storage
tanks for carrying oil cargoes and fol
. storing fuel for the ships engines
| the vessel being driven by oil en-
gines. requiring much smaller crew
than a steam driven vessel and Civ
ing more space for freight.
The designs and methods of fabri
: eating the steel reinforcing rods i:
. such as to make ship strong enough
to resist the heaviest sort of a gale
without straining herself, yet no at
tempt is made in this plan to buile
the outer hull heavy enough to resis
the explosion of a torpedo; so let u!
= suppose such a ship is struck by
torpedo fired from an enemy subma
rine; the force of the explosion is 81
great that hole two or three fee
in diameter may be shattered. in thu
outer hull, and now appears the us'
for the fabricated rods Tor Strons
| -i,,n Of hn o
| tween the two hulls.
These rods work on the same
principle as Mr. MaXim's gun silen
Ger, they diSSipate. or in other words
: break up, the force of the explosion
1 at the same time they protect th'
= walls of the inner hull from beln!
: damaged by flying pieces of the con
2 crete; thus a section 3x12 feet i
2 damaged and its cargo of oil L
I thrown against the force of the eX
} plosion, but this of itself helps tt
1 cool the hot gases caused by the ex
5 plosion; each 3X12 foot section Ii
vented at the upper deck with
/ hatch that opens outward 10 let th'
2 explosive gases escape. The torpedo
: has now done its worst, and the Shll
= has lost few hundred gallons, may
>'N-
{ readily be repaired in a few hours OF
| arrival at her destination, or ever
| while at sea if necessary. as concrete
5 will set in water without decreasing
| its strength.
1t will also be seen that if a yes
| sci of this kind should be damaged
l by collision or by striking a rock ol
Y an iceberg. only her outer hull coult
/ be damaged, while her freight ant
passengers are carried to their destl
nation in safety. a few OF the item:
to recommend such q vessel are:
: First A stronger and more dur
/ able sea-going vessel at less cost
| Second Can be built in one-hal
| the time required for wood or stee
: vessel.
Third. An absolutely tire-proo
structure.
= Fourth. A vessel practically free
: from vibration, greatly adding to lift