El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-08-02
FOrd'S First
Eagle, U-BOat
Chaser, Ready
Size Of Boat Is Surprise;
It's As Large As Old
Style Destroyers.

Detroit, Mich, Aug with the
I launching OF Eagle J.. the first Of the
fleet Of submarine destroyers being
built by Henry Ford for the United
States navy, detailed information con-
corning the construction, purposes
and possibilities Of the 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, were
dropped into the waters OF River
Rouge by q great mechanism oper-
ated by hydraulic pressure. Tabulated
by dates the story Of the Eagle is
this:
December %. 1s17-Henry Ford Of
fered TO build boats for the navy.
January 10. 19I8-Navy department
awarded Ford company contract for
Eagles.
january 1s-wOrk on design Of
Eagles completed.
January 26-First piece for boat was
February Keel for first Eagle
was. laid.
February 2O-Construction OF the
shipbuilding plant began.
March Hull OF the first Eagle
was completed.
-tAaag " Va II NAA inc NNAAHAA ANAAAAA
of Eagles was begun in shipbuilding
plant
June 15-several boats were assem-
bled.
July 11-First completed boat
launched.
The Eagles are within 50 feet Of
approximaung the length OF the
standard $500 ton wooden ships being
built for the Emergency Fleet corpOr-
alton.
It's n sturdy Craft.
Viewed from above deck the Eagle
is much more like a founder than a
Its midship cross section
bears a strong likeness to the lines Of
a canal barge. Its stern Is square
and blunt The remainder OF the snip
is built generally in straight lines
and plane surfaces. The bow, how
ever, tapers TO a kuifelike edge, seem
ingly sharp enough and strong enough
literally 70 cut a submarine in two.
Except for the high deck house and
the bridge a little forward amidships,
the deck Of the Eagle is unbroken.
Utility has been the ruling considera- I
ton, with low cost production Sec
ond in Importance. and with beauty
and comfort only incidentals.
Crude OH for Fuel.
The Eagles are built 10 pass easily I
through the Melland canal and the I
boats draft and beam are also small I
enough 10 permit Of the boats passing 7
through the New York state barge I
anal The boats VIII have q draw 4
# eight feet when fully equipped and 4
'eady for sea A steam turbine.
reared 10 the propeller shaft on which {
s mounted a single three blade screw
II rather deep pitch. furnishes the I
motive power. Crude oil viii be used I
IS fuel The tank capacity is easily
ufficient for a steaminE radius equal
o the distance across the Atlantic.
No FOrEings Mt All.
There is not a forging or rolled
.eam in the entire ship. Everything
s pressed from sheet metal. cold, BY
means Of automatic machinery that
uts every piece to an exact pattern,
hen punches the rivet holes and
ends every part TO its required
hape.
After the launching Of the first
agile. Er. Ford said;
4 am. OF course, delighted at this
Initial success. but / knew It would
e all right When you have a task
Ike this, entrusted TO men who know
heir business. it can't 80 wrong.
1T them alone-but watched all of
be time.
There's no use making unnecessary
ISIS over a little launching. We've
OF a lot more back in the shops ,
early ready 70 follow Eagle l.