Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-01-08
Eagle "Sub" Chasers
Are Now Revealed

Detroit, Jan. S.--A long, narrow
wedge, with a steel-encased nose OF
solid concrete tapered to knife-like
edge. forming a considerable part OF
it's total length of 204 feet, and dc-
clared to be capable OF crushing any
suLmarine-such is the Eagle. designed
originally to help us rid the seas ~
tie menace of the German U-boAts.
Contrary to popular 5slief the Eagle
is not a motor boat but an oil-burnins
steam turbine driven craft, with Il
cruising radius of 5000 miles. The
Eagle is not Il thing of beauty: beauty
was not contemplated in its construc-
ton 1t Is a long. gaunt weapon OF
war of all-steel construction with uie
exception-of the concrete nose.
Another popular impression that has
:seen shattered is an idea that the
Eagle boat is equipped with torpedo
tubes. The submarine chaser. was not
intended to combat the major instru-
ment of German ruthlessness with It's
own weapons. 1t was designed to de-
pend rather upon its maneuverins
qualities. its powerful light guns. and =
anew American invention directing It's
fire at unseen objects.
It's crew, including operating ami
fighting complement, numbers eighty
men.
To the observer, the first impression
of the Eagle boat Is one of wonder
that a. craft so narrow can possess
buoyancy sufficient to keep it upright
in heavy seas. Despite its length OF
more than an average city block. the
craft has a beam of only 20 feet, ana
draws when fully equipped less than
ten feet Of water.
Its sea wor1niness has been demon-
strated in the official trials, accordinS
to reports to the navy department.
While it is admitted the Eagle does
no. make the speed of the average de-
! stroyer, it is claimed that it can GU,
distance most submarines and the
J razor like edge Of the bow, silently
/ but eloquently tells what would have
happened had it come in contact win
| the German undersea pirate.
| Built with utility as its prime pur'
| pose seemingly not an inch of space
| is wasted in the fitting Of the vesse,
and not an ounce of superfluous weight
enters its construction. When dropped
into the water ready for the installa-
ton of it's engines, guns, etc, less than
| 200 tons of material have been rivet-
ed together to shape the Eagle boat.
| The plates that form the shell of the
| submarine chasers vary in thickness
! from " to y inch, and not one forg-
, ing or rolled beam enters their make
, up Everything is pressed from sheet
metal cold by means of machinery
; that cuts every piece to an exact pat
| tern, punches rivct holes, and bends
| the interior part to required shape.
! Amidships rises the deck house
topped by the pilot house, with radio
quarters. and above all the coming
tower with the crows nest at the high
est point, Except for this superstruc'
ture, the deck Of the Eagle carries
always the stripped for action ap-
pearance.
The first Eagle boat was launched
July II, 1918, and when the armistlce
ended hostilities, early in Novembc.'
eight had been completed and twenty
ono others were under construction
in various stages Of completion. some
of these have arrived at Atlantic coas'
ports. ,.
Altho the sudden cessation Of hostili-
! ties deprived the Eagle boats OF an OPP
portunity to test their prowess against
| the German undersea terror, they are
nevertheless 70 become part OF the
American navy. the government nav
ing announced it's intention to use
them as gun boats In coast patFoi
work, and possibly in insular waters.
The contract for the construction OF
the eagle boats, which the govern,
ment has announced will be carried
ont. calls for 100 Of the vessels for the
United States government, and twelve
Por tho French navy.