The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-10-10
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.

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
Il 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 h efficiency Of the German Subma-
rines by recent tests conducted by of
Rcers in the bureau Of construction
and repair.
AN opportunity recently developed
In this country which permitted a d.
rect comparison between a late design
" German submarine and a late design
Of American submarine. While details
W III oihldidtiN ltSlS CdllllOL Dt Civ
en-. sufficient information is available
tO destroy the much-advertiSed superb
,rity of the German submarine.
Given Special Trials.
Gas Is we'll 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
the United States navy. The propul-
Jve machinery Of the fifth was par
tally destroyed or removed, so that II
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 a 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 ex-
German submarine U-111, built at the
Germania yard. Kiel, Germany (com-
pleted in 1919, and SO, a submarine
designed by the navy department; SO
a built Mt the Portsmouth navy yard
and was commissioned in 1913.
''These boats both belong to the 800
ton class U-111 having a surface dis
placement Of $50 tons and S-3 a sur
face displacement of S54 tons.
"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 12.4-a 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 S-3 can cover 10000 miles
at II knots. The submerged cruising
radius shows an equal preponderance
In favor Of So. Both boats can carry
Il tOrpedOes. U-111 mounts two A.
inch guns, one forward and one aft.
So mounts one finch gun forward.
this practice OF n gun on a subma-
rine being standard practice In the
United States navy.
American Boat More Habitable.
1T is necessary to really live in these
vessels to appreciate the radical diff
ference In their habitability, a vital
military characteristic, for n subma-
- ~ 49, IA $500
"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
fui utility and more doubtful neces-
Ntv. Accessibility to her equipment is
very difficult /; frequently it is necessary