The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-06-16
Radio-Controlled Battleship
 To Be Attacked By Air Force
 In Arny-Navy Bombing Tests

Washington, D. C.. June 16-As June 21, the datc set for the first of the joint Army and Navy bombing tests, approaches, interest among par usans in the airpIane vs. battleship controversy, which has ragged among officers here for the past year, is growing more tense. While some with the conditions of the tests, a majority of them believe that, even with the latitude allowed, they will be able to demonstrate their ability
 ito blow a battleship out of the water with aerial bombs.
 The first tests will be held against the former German submarine U-117. Greatest interest centers, however. in the experiments to be conducted against the radio-controlIed battle ship Iowa on June 28. These tests are expected more nearly than any of the others to approximate actual bat tie conditions.
 With not even "a midshipmite'' aboard, this vessel will maneuver at practically full speed, while aviators attempt to drop bombs upon her. Her boilers, pumps, engines, steering gear-every piece of machinery on the old warship will be controlled au- tomatically by wireless impulses sent out from the "control ship" Ohio
 Control Ship Will Steer Iowa.
 The apparatus for controlling the Iowa CnnSiStS of standard radio transmitter aboard the mother ship. receiving aerial on the Iowa, With special radio receivers, ampljfierS and relays for converting the radio sig nals into such form that they will operata other electrical devices com I1unicating with the steering gear
 To fit the Iowa for use as a moving target extensive changes in power plant were necessary, as the propel- ling machinery must be capable of running for a considerable time with out attention. The boilers were changed to oil burners instead of coal, and automatic devices for feed ing the fuel and supplying water to the boilers had to be provided
 The officer in charge of sending out the radio signals from the control ship has absolute control of the start any direction desired When every thing on board the Iowa is ready the main engines are started and left running slowly The ship is then abandoned and the officer aboard the control ship takes command.
 The first radio signal sent out is intercepted by the aerial on the Iowa and passes into the radio receiver well below deck It Is then ampllhed by means of special vacuum tube am pIihers, so that it is of sufficient force to operate a very sensitive relay or switch, which in turn operates a larger relay. This larger apparatus closes an electrical circuit which op- crates an electrically controlled pneu- matic valve. When this valve opens it admits compressed air to the thrOt- tie control of the main engines, caus- ing the throttle to open. thus bring ing the ship up to full speed
 Mechanical Brain of the Iowa.
 The first relay also operates a de- vice called a cOmmutator, which is a special switch having control of the steering mechanism The steering gear consists of a standard steam en- gine-driVen rudder gear, the throttle valve of the engine being geared to a, small electric motor. The com mutator is connected to the control panel of this motor and is thus able in turn causes the steam engine to drive the rudder either to starboard or port as desired.
 A novel feature of this installation is the automatic steering made pOsSi- bIe by the use of a gyro-compass. The compass is electrically connect ed to the control panel of the cleo tric motor on the steering gear, so that the ship can be made to hold any course, the gyro-compass imme- d;ately correcting any variations. The control officer can steer the battle ship either StarbOard or port, or he may put the gyrO-compass in control and allow it automatically to hold the ship on a steady course
 Carries SSIcty Clock.
 The conamUtatOr might be regarded as the mechanical brain of the Iowa. It receives the radio signals and in terprets them, passing them directly to the electric motor controlling the steering engine if the order is either starbcard or port. or giving the gyro-compass control if that is the order received
 If the officer in control on the mother ship desires to stop the Iowa