The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-20
NAVY'S MONSTER
SEAPLANES MADE
70 BOMB HUN SUBS
Details Of Construction Re-
veaIed Show Design Called
for Delivery to Europe
Under Their Own Power.

WASHINGTON, May 20.-American
naval seaplanes which have undertaken
the first flight across the Atlantic ocean
were built especially for bombing Ger
man submarines and In initiating their
design Rea Admiral David w. Taylor,
chief Of the bureau Of construction and
repair, had in mind the construction Of
ships capable OF flying across the
ocean so as TO avoid difficulties Of de-
livery during tho war. This was dis
closed by the navy department, which
made public the memorandum sent by
Admiral Taylor on August rs, 1917, to
Naval Constructor J. C.. Hunsacker.
Admiral Taylor, after discussion OF
the problem with his assistants, d.
leCted preparation Of tentative plans
TO show In a preliminary way size and
design Of a large flying boat to combine
the maximum Of seawoT thiness with
sufficient endurance to fly across the
Atlantic to the antisubmarine operation
bases In France and England and cap
able OF carrying heavy depth charges
and a large battery Of machine guns
covering every angle OF fire, II was
anticipated hat the boats would be
attacked In the air by enemy aircraft.
Early in September Glenn n, Curtiss,
OF the Curtiss AerOplane and Motor
corporation, and his engineers, W. l.,
Gilmore and Henry Klecker. came to
Washington at the navy's invitation to
discuss tho proposed designs and they
Co-operated with the navy throughout
the designing and buildings OF the ships,
A three foot model Of tho design was
made exactly to scale and tested by
Or. A. F. Zahm in the wind tunnel
at the Washington navy yard,
Construction work began In October
and Commander II. G.. Richardson, q
naval constructor, was directed to de-
sign the hull Of the boat. His design
was Of novel form N construction,
~embodying directly information OBJ
tanned from his successful seaplane
~pontoons. A series of models Of hulls
were made up and tested by naval con-
structors McEatee and Richardson In
the towing basin at the Washington
navy yard and the best OF the series
was adopted.
The engine plant design was the
work Of the bureau Of steam engineer
ing n II was decided to install three
Liberty motors. III December. 1917,
a contract was made with the Cur
tiss company for building four Of the
boats, but separate parts of the craft
we're made by u number OF factories.
The NC-l, the first Of the boats, was
| completed and given a flight on October
4. 1918, and the trials were a source
Of much satisfaction.
The month OF November was spent
in thoroughly trying out the NC-l, and
many flights wore made. After MAX
ing various minor changes II vas con-
Guided that tho maximum which could
be obtained from three Liberty engines
had been reached and that no further
improvements In Performance could be
expected until geared Liberty motors
became available. II was apparent,
however, that the flying part OF the
craft could sustain n greater load II
l $500 ANSA -,aRn ANralIaLla and a. ana a
decided to add a fourth engine,
Tho second boat was completed In
March, 1919, and successfully flew with
a total weight Of $4,000 pounds. The
NC-3 and NC-4 we're completed last
month, It had been intended to fly
all four boats across the Atlantic. but
an accident to the NC-t led TO tho de-
cision to place the wings Of the NC-2
on her and thus only three vessels were
left available for the start Of the flight.