South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-10
REVEAL DETAILS
Of EAGLE BOATS
Knife Like Nose, Filled With
Concrete, Designed to
End Sub War.
,eciaI Service:

News-Times Special Service:
DETROIT. Jan. ia long. mar
row wedge. with a steel-encasec
nose OF solid concrete tapered 10 a
knife-like edge. forming a consider
able part OF its total length OF 204
feet, and declared TO be capable of
crushing any submarine-such as
the Eagle. built by Henry Ford and
designed originally 10 help rid the
seas or the menace Of the German
U-boats.
Contrary TO popular belief the
Eagle Is not a motor boat. but an
oil-burning steam turbine-driven
craft. with a cruising radius OF s.
600 miles The Eagle is not a thing
Of beauty; beauty was not cOntem-
plated ln rs construction. IL Is
long. gaunt weapon Of war, OF all
steel construction with the eXcep-
ton Of the. concrete nose.
Another popular impression that
has been shattered is an idea that
the Eagle boat is equipped with tor
pedO tubes The submarine chaser
was not intended TO combat the
major instrument Of German ruth
lessness with its own weapons. II
was designed 20 depend rather upon
its manoeuvering qualities, its pow
erful light guns. and "a new Ameri-
can invention for directing its fire
at unseen objects.
It's crew including operating and
lighting complement numbers APP
proximately so men.
Is Long and Narrow.
To the observer. the first impress
sion of the Eagle boat is one OF
wonder that a craft so narrow can
Iossess buoyancy sufficient 70 keep
it upright in heavy seas. Despite
it's length OF more than an average
city block. the craft has a BEEN of
only % feet, and draws when fully
equipped less than 10 feet Of water.
It's sea worthiness. has been dem
onstrated in the official trials, &C
cording TO reports TO the navy de-
partment.
While Il is admitted the Eagle
does not make the speed Of the aver
age destroyer. it is claimed that it
can outdistance most submarines
and the razor-like edge OF the bow
silently. but eloquently tells what
would have happened had il come
in contact with the German under
sea pirate.
Built with utility as its prime pur-
pose. seemingly not an inch OF space
is wasted in the fitting of the vessel.
and not an ounce OF superfious
weight enters its construction. When
dropped into the water ready for
the installation OF its engines, guns,
etc. less than zoo tons of material
have been riveted together TO shape
the Eagle boat.
Parts Pressed Cold.
The plates that form the shell Of
the submarine ehasers vary in
thickness from IA 20 3-S inch. and
not a single forging or rolled beam
enters their makeup. Everything IS
pressed from sheet metal, cold, by
means OF machinery that cuts every
piece TO an exact pattern, punches
rivet 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 highest point. Except for this
superstructure. the deck of the
Eagle carries always the stripped
for action" appearance.
The first Eagle boat was launched
July II, 1918. and when the arm
istice ended hOstilites. early in No
vember. eight had been completed
and 2I others were under construc-
tioa in various stages OF completion.
Some of these have arrived at Allan
ito coast ports.
Although the sudden cessation OF
hostilities deprived the Eagle boats
OF an opportunity 10 test their Prov
ess against the German undersea
terror. they are nevertheless to be-
come a part OF the American navy
the government having announced
It's intention to use them as gun
boats in coast patrol work, and
possibly I'm insular waters.
The contract for the construction
OF tho Eagle boats, which the gov
eminent has announced Will be
carried out. calls for 100 Of the YES
sells for the United States govern
,a,4 opd 10 for the French navy