New-York tribune., 1921-06-25
The Bombing and Gun Tests
Little Learned Thus Far in Sinking
German Submarines
BY Quarterback

by Quarterback
1t is important to avoid erroneous
conclusions and exaggerated claims
from the bombing and gun tests against
the three German submarines.
AS matter Of fact, very little that is
rev has been developed thus far.
Only three Of the twenty-six navy
planes were required to sink the U-117.
Only one-eighth of the naval air force,
pitifully small as it is, was employed.
It's battle formation and tactical meth
ods were not exhibited except by three
planes, which were very skillfully
handled.
In the first flight over the subma-
rine only three small bombs, carrying
lit pounds of INT, were dropped to
get the ranges in trial salvo. One Of
these three bombs struck 80 near the
submarine that it is claimed by one of
our expert aviators her seams must
have been opened sufficiently to have
sunk her In time had she been let alone.
Several orlookers shared this belief.
The first salvo having been accurate,
the planes dropped all their remaining
nine bombs in the second attack. One
or two Of these were direct hits, and it
is believed that these direct hits blew
big hole in the hull. This was the
cause Of her sinking so quickly. though
the remaining bombs falling near must
have contributed in opening her seams.
The bombs used were not armor-
piercing. Their effect was more like
that of depth charge. The fact,
therefore, that these small bombs
sufficed to smash or open the seams
in the heavy %-inch plates of sub
marine, which are designed to resist
the pressure of water at depth Of 200
feet, is very significant. This fact must
be remembered in connection with the
coming experiment against German
destroyer, whose deck plates are very
much thinner-less than half an inch.
1t can be predicted that these small
bombs will penetrate the destroyer's
deck and, exploding inside, will have
very destructive effect. And 1t is more
than probable that the heavier armor-
piercing bombs used by the army and
navy will likewise penetrate the COM
paratively thin decks Of q cruiser with
disastrous results.
AS regards accuracy in bombing
nothing new was discovered. Naval
aviators have practiced bombing with
great success against smaller targets
than the submarine and at greater
heights. The results of these tests
had not been made public, but the
officers were perfectly confident Of
their ability to hit the submarine or
sink her, even from higher attitudes.
Nothing whatever was gained by
sinking the two remaining submarines
by gun fire. Naval officers knew per-
fectly well that destroyer could hit a
target like submarine at the small
range of 1000 to 5000 yards. More
over, it must be plain even to layman
that one hit would suffice to kill SUBJ
marine. One small hole from q
three-inch shell would cause leak
that would forbid the diving of the SUBJ
marine or compel her to rise again to
the surface and surrender. 1t is pity,
therefore, to have wasted time and neg
lected opportunities in sinking two SUBJ
marines by gun fire.
| Had the bombers been employed
against all the submarines, the remain
der of the naval force might have got
into the game. We want informa-
tion ON bombing-that is the vital
point. We know all about gun fire.
But bombing is new art. 1t is of the
utmost Importance to the navy to ex-
haustively test the value of air forces.
If we miss this opportunity we may
| deceive ourselves.
1t is to be hoped, therefore, that fu-
ture tests will require or permit the to-
tai naval and army air force to be en-
ployed We must know the truth and
the whole truth about this new force.
There will never again be such an OPP
portunity to get information of vital
Importance in the shaping of our naval
and military policies.