The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-08-19
FORD'S NEWEST
NAVAL WEAPON
Larger Than Old Type OF DestroyerS
Eagle 1 is 2O4 Feet Long.

Detroit. Aug. 3.-With the launch
ing of Eagle-I, the first of the Heet
of submarine destroyers being built
by Henry Ford for the Unitt q States
Navy, detailed information concern
possibilities of this newest naval
weapon became public 70! the first
time. The general belief that the
boats were little more than eyagger-
ated launches, equipped with light
guns, was dispel:ed when the vessel,
204 feet long, larger than the old
type of United States destroyers was
dropped into the waters of River
Rouge by a great mechanism operat-
ed by hydraulic pressure. Tabulat-
ed by dates the story of the Eagle is
this:
December %, ls17-Henry Ford
offered to build boats for the Navy.
December 27 - Discussed plans
with Washington officials
January Is, 131S-Nayy DEPART
ment awarded lord Company cen
tract for Eagles.
January 1S-N'ork on design of
Eagles completed.
January 26-First piece for boat
was completed.
February keel for first Eagle
was laid.
February 20-Constructio of tie
shipbuilding plant began.
March HUT of the first Eagle
was completed.
May 10--Work on the c0u=truc-
tion of Eagles was begun ilI ship
building plant.
June 15-Seyeral boats were as
sembled
July 11-First completed noat
launched.
The Eagles are within thlrty feet
of approximating the length of the
standard $500 ton wooden ships be
ing built for the Emergency Fleet
Corporation.
Viewed from above deck the Eagle
lis much more like a founder than a
mackerel. Its midship cross section
bears strong likeness to the lines Of
and blunt The remainder of the
ship is built generally in straight
lines and plane surfaces. The bow,
however, tapers to knife-like edge,
seemingly sharp enough and strong
enough literally to cut submarine
lin two
8 Except for the high deck-house
and the bridge a little forward amid
Bsfsths deck of thew ewEagie isszuuz
broken. Utility has been the ruling
consideration, with low cost produc-
tion second in Importance, and with
beauty and comfort only incidentals.
The Eagles are built to pass easily
through the WeIland Canal and the
boats draught and beam are also
small enough to permit of the boats
passing through the New York State
barge canal. The boats viii have a
draw of eight feet when fully equip
ped and ready for sea. A steam tur-
bin, geared to the propeller shaft on
which is mounted a single three
blade screw of rather deep pitch
furnishes the motive power. Crude
oil will be used as fuel. The tank
capacity is easily sufficient for q
steaming radius equal to the distance
across the Atlantic.
There is not a forging or rolled
beam in the entire ship. Everything
is pressed from sheet metal, cold, by
means of automatic machinery that
cuts every piece to an exact pattern
then punches the rivet holes and
bends every part to its required
shape.
After the launching of the first
Eagle Mr.. Ford said: Il am, OF
course delighted at this initial sue
cess, but l knew it would be all right
When you have task like this, en-
trusted to men who know their busi-
ness, it can't go wrong. l left them
alone-but watched all of the time.
There's no use making unneces-
sary fuss over a little launching
We've got a lot more back in the
shops nearly ready to follow Ea-