The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-10-07
U. S. SUB BEATS
GERMANy'S BEST
American Boat Speedier, Has
r Greater Radius i; aid ltudt:1 Is More ..
Habitable.ca:
RESULT OF RECENT: TESTS
Direct Comparison 10 Made With Sub
marines Of Latest German Type
Good Accommodation for OFF,
GERS and Crew.

Iooo Accommodation for off,
GERS and Crew.
Observation-Disclosures tests car
ried on by the navy department, the
results Of which were announced by
Acting Secretary Franklin Roosevelt,
show that the latest type Of American
submarine is superior in nearly every
respect to the German U-boat.
The American boat is speedier, has
greater radius of action and Is much
more habitable than the German boats.
Naval officers are Of the opinion that
the American submarine is the more
seaworthy. OF the characteristics of
the two types the navy department
says in an authorized statement:
':New and interesting light is thrown
on the efficiency Of the German subma-
rines by recent tests conducted by Of
f1cers in the bureau of construction
and repair.
an opportunity recently developed
in this country which permitted d.
rect comparison between a late design
Of German submarine and a late design
of American submarine. While details
Of the comparative tests cannot be CIV
en-, sufficient information is available
to destroy the much-advertised superb
GRITTY Of the German submarine.
Given Special Trials.
"As is well known, five German SUBJ
~ ~ thn 1otA
brought to the United States for use
in the Victory loan campaign. Four of
these boats came over under their own
power, manned by officers and men Of
the United States navy. The propul-
sive machinery Of the fifth was par
TALLY destroyed or removed, so that It
was necessary to tow the vessel across.
1.-THE best Of these German boats
was tuned up for special trials When
reported ready for these trials spe-
cial board was designated to conduct
the trials, following the established
practice in carrying out contract trials
for submarines Of the United States
navy. The boats compared were e1-
German submarine U-111, built at the
Germania yard, Kiel, Germany (cop,-
pleted in 1919, and S.8,a5 submarine
designed by the navy department.; SD,
was built at the Portsmouth navy yard
and was commissioned In 1918. .. ,~.,.-
"These boats both belong to the 800
ton class U-111 having surface dis
placement Of $50 tons and SO a sur
70 ~
"In the trials the maximum surface
speed of the U-111 was 1873 knots, while
the So made 14.7 knots. The sub
merged speed Of the U-111 was 7.S
knots, while So made Pa remark
able difference in favor of SO. The
radius Of action of the two boats is
also in favor of SO, despite all the
Juror that was created by the advent
of the German U-boat on American
coasts during the war.
"U-111 can cruise $500 miles at 8
knots, while So can cover 10000 miles
at II knots. The submerged cruising
radius shows an equal preponderance
in favor of SO. Both boats can carry
~ torpedoes. U.111 mounts two A.
inch guns, one forward and one aft.
SO mounts one 4-inch gun forward.
this practice of one gun on subma-
rine being standard practice in the
United States navy.
American Boat More Habltable.
1T is necessary to really live in these
vessels to appreciate the radical diff
ference in their habitability, vital
military characteristic, for a subma-
rine is no better than its crews.
"U-111 is congested to the last de-
gree; she is complicated in the ex-
IRENE by the installation Of many
'cadgets' some of which are Of doubt
full utility and more doubtful neces-
sity. Accessibility to her equipment Is
very difficult; frequently it Is necessary
to take down, three installations to
overhaul one.
ION the contrary, SO Is a habitable,
livable proposition; comparatively
'roomy,' with reasonable accommoda-
lions for officers and crew. Her equip
ment Is accessible and her general hab-
liability Is vastly superior to the o.
Ill.
Much has been written Of the sea-
worthiness Of the German U-boat. An
opportunity to compare the. seagoing
capabilities Of the two vessels oe-
Cured during these trials, and the
general consensus of opinion among
the officers conducting the test Is that
the So is the more seaworthy vessel.
Her decks are drier; her bridge less
subject to green seas and her general
behavior in seaway superior.
Referring to the comparative nv-
ink capabilities Of the two vessels and
GENERAL handling there are few differ
ences and those few appear to favor
the So.
I'm the reports Of the outcome Of