The Elbert County tribune., 1919-10-10
American Boat Speedier, Has
Greater Radius and Is More
HabitabIe.
RESULT OF RECENT TESTS
Direct Comparison Ia Made With Sub
marines Of Latest German Type
Good Accommodation for Off
GERS and Crew.

Elaborate tests car
r1ed 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
mere habifable than the German boats.
Naynl 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-
rfnes by recent tests conducted by Of
fcers In the bureau of construction
and repair.
An opportunity recently developed
In this country which permitted d.
rect comparison between late design
of German submarine and 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
ority of the German submarine.
Given Special Trials.
"As is well known. five German sub
marines of the latest design were
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.
''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
fer submarines of the United States
navy. The boats compared were ex-
German submarine U-111. built nt the
Germania yard, Kiel. Germany (com-
pleted In 1919. and SO, submarine
designed by the navy department; S-3
was built Mt the Portsmouth navy yard
and was commissioned in 1918
These boats both belong to the 800
ton class U-111 having n surface dis
placement Of $50 tons and S-3 sur
face displacement of S54 tons.
"Iu the trials the maximum surface
spee1 of the U-111 was 1873 knots, while
the SO made 14.7 knots. The SUBJ
merged speed OF the U-111 was 7.S
knots. while S-3 made 12.4La remark
able difference In favor of SD. 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 S-3 can cover 10000 miles
at IL knots. The submerged cruising
radius shows an equal preponGerance
in favor of SO. Both boats can carry
u torpedoes. U-111 mounts two A.
inch guns, one forward and one aft.
S-3 mounts one finch gun forward.
this practice Of one gun on subma-
rine being standard practice in the
United States navy.
American Boat More HabitabIe.
1T is necessary TO really live in these
vessels to appreciate the radical diff
ference in their habitabillty. a vital
military characteristic. for subma-
rine is no better than its crews.
"U-111 is congested to the last de-
gree; she is complicated in the ex-
treme 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 1t is necessary