The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-02-24
VESSEL
DEF|ES BOTH
TORPEDOES
AND SHELLS

In an effort to defeat the C-boats,
the Italian government is working on
3 new type OF submarine-proof
freighter OF a two-hull type. Experts
in all branches OF science and ship
builders in Italy are putting their
heads together TO make this proposed
ship an actually. From reports just
received. says the Scientific American.
the eXperinl n; is about to be tried
out on a small scale in Italian waters.
With the Italian government forced
10 rely on the cargo carriers assign
ed TO her by the admiralties OF Great
Britain and France, and the fact that
Italy has lost much tonnage recently.
the urgency for such a continuance Is
readily realized. The sinking OF the
Italian steamship Milazzo of ll.4fI
tons, which was built as late as 1916
and combined all the latest economi-
cal construction in cargo distribu-
tion. and the sinking later OF the San
Guglielmo, OF S.34l tons, have natural
~ quickened the efforts OF the men
who are considering the proposed
double-hull type.
Details of the "double-huller" are
given at some length in the current
issue of the Scientific American,
which says:
Details Kept Secret.
Just what the nature of the most
favored type is has not been dis
closed. but in all likelihood, it is
probably that developed by Naval
Constructor Umberto Pugliese, which
occasioned a great deal OF favorable
comment in Italian technical jour
nails a few months ago
The whole problem OF how best TO
neutralize the ravages OF the U-boat
may be broadly divided into two
classes. The first involved protective
features that curtailed the cargo
carrying capacity, while the second,
because OF greater speed Of construc-
Iion and comparative simplicity OF
design, promised more numerous
fleets. able to transport full cargOes.
and thus offsetting by numbers the
net sacrifices. In other words, the
first class. although damaged, would
probably be able to make port; those
of the second class being without
structural defense, would in all like
lihood sink If hit. but enough OF them
would get through to strike a fair
average in the matter Of freight de-
lIvered.
In brief, the controlling keynote in
, the calculation OF the problem for the
Italians has been that OF most prac-
rical conservation. Engineer Pug
liese has taken as a basis for his de
sign the familiar cargo type known
20 the shipping world as the "turret"
steamer-really an improved order OF
the whaleback vessel. which original
ed in the United States early in the
sos
Internally. however. the Italian
naval architect has made changes
which he is confident will greatly re-
duce the menace both of the subma-
zine mine and the automobile torpedo.
His plan calls for cargo carriers rang
ing from 10000 to u. 1000 tons displace
ment, Of ten TO twelve knots. capable
Of transporting from 1900 to $500
tons OF freight. respectively.
The 1O0OO-ton steamers would be
3s5 feet long. and when full laden
would draw something less than l6.5
feet, as against the o2-fOot draft of
an ordinary craft Of identical dis
placement. The purpose OF this re
decd draft is 10 lessen the chance OF
a tOrpedO-set TO run at A normal
depth of fourteen feet-hitting iIs tar
get and, likewise. reducing the prob
ability of the freighter stumbling
upon submarine mines planted at a
predetermined depth.
II the torpedo be adjusted TO run