The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-08-07
F0RD'S EAGLE BOATS.
REMARKABLE REcoRD MADE IN
BUILDING SUBMARINE
DESTROYERS.
Great Plant at Detroit Devoted to
Turning Out New Type Of Ships for
United States.

Detroit, July 31.-With the launch
ing of Eagle-I, the first Of the fleet
of submarine destroyers being built by
Henry Ford for the United States
Navy, detailed information concern
ing the construction, purposes and
possibilities Of this newest naval
weapon became public for the first
time. The general belief that the
boats were little more than eXagger-
ated launches, equipped with light
guns, was dispelled 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 operated
by hydraulic pressure. Tabulated by
dates the story of the Eagle is this:
December 22, 1917-Henry Ford
offered to build boats for the navy.
December 27-Discussed plans with
Washington officials.
January Is, 191S-Navy depart
ment awarded Ford Company con-
tract for Eagles.
January 1S-Work on design OF
Eagles completed.
January 2e-First piece for boat
was completed.
February keel for first Eagle
was laid.
February 2O-Construction of the
shipbuilding plant began.
March Hull of the first Eagle
was completed.
May 1O-Work on the. construc-
ton of Eagles was begun in ship
building plant
bled.
July 11-First completed boat
launched.
The Eagles are within thirty 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
is much more like founder than a
nlackerel. It's midship cross-section
bears a strong likeness to the lines
of a canal barge. It's stern is square
and blunt. The remainder of the
ship is built generally in straight
lines and plane surfaces. The bow,
| however, tapers to a knife-like edge,
seemingly sharp enough and strong
enough literally to cut a submarine
! in two.
Except for the high deck house and
the bridge little forward amidships,
the deck of the Eagle is unbroken.
| Utility has been the ruling consideEa-
ton, with low cost production second
in i'm, ortance. and with beauty and
comfort only incidentals.
The Eagles are built to pass easily
through the Welland 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 will have a
draw of eight feet when fully equip
ped and ready for sea- steam tur--
bine, geared to the propeller shaft
on which is mounted a single three
blade screw of rather deep pitch, fur
nishes the motive power. Crude oil
will be used as. fuel. The tank capac-
ity is easily sufficient for 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 it's required
shape.
After the launching of the first
Eagle Mr.. Ford said: Il am, OF
course delighted at this initial Sue
cess, but knew it would be all right.
When you have a task like this, en-
trusted to men who know their busi-
ness, it can't go wrong. I left them
alone-but watched all Of the time.
There's no use making unneces-
sary fuss over little launching.
We've got a lot more back in the
shops nearly ready to follow Eagle
l."