Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-10-03
]. S. SUB BEATS
CERMANY'S BEST
American Boat Speedier, Has
Greater Radius and Is More
HabitabIe.
RESULT OF RECENT TESTS
Direct Comparison Is Made With Sub
marines Of Latest German Type
Good Accommodation for Off,
GERS and Crew.

Washington Elaborate tests car
ried OH 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
a greater radius Of action and IL much
more hahitable than the German boats.
Naval officers are e the opinion that
the American submarine il the more
seawofthy OF the characteristics of
the two types the navy department
says in an authorized statement:
New and interesting light il thrown
on the efficiency Of the German sGbma.
rines by recent tests conducted 10y If,
feers IN the bureau Of construction
anti repair
AN opportunity recently developed
in this country which permitted Il 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 muchadvertised superb
GRITTY 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 thcsf own
power. manned by officers and men If
the United States navy. The pronul-
sive machinery of the fifth WAS par
TALLY destroyed or removed, so that II
was necessary to tow HE vessel across
1.-THE best of these German boats
was tuned up for special trials. When
reported ready for these trials Il ~pp-
cial board was designated TO contlHrt
the trials, following the established
practice in carrying out contract trials
for submarines Of the United States
navy The boats compared were cN-
German submarine T-l1l, built III the
Germana yard, kisl. Germany (com
pleted in 1919. and SO, submarine
designed by the navy department; So
was built at the Portsmouth navy yard
and was commissioned in 1915
."These boats both belong to the 500
ton class U-1l1 having a surface dis
placement of $40 tons and SD a sur
face displacement of s54 tons.
''In the trials the maximum surface
speed of the U-11 was 1873 knots. while
the SO made hi knots. The sub
merged speed of the U-1l1 was IS
knots, while SD made 12.4-a remark
able difference in favor of S-3. 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 s
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
II torpedoes Till mounts two +
inch guns, one forward ana one ait,
So mounts one finch gun forward
this practice Of one gun on suhma-
rine being standard practice in the
United States navy.
American Boat More tiabitabe.
at is necessary TO really live IN these
vessels to appreciate the radical diff
ference In their habltabllity, Il vital
military characteristic for Il Suhna-
rine is no better than It's crews
"U.11l is congested 10 the last de.
gree; she is complicated in the eX-
IRENE by the installation Of many
'cadgets' some of which are az duuht-
fl utility gn2- '2"rc enuhtfUl rN"o,.