The New York herald., 1921-07-16
us. WARSH|PS sink
ENEMY DESTROYERS
Erstwhile German S-132
and V-43 Sent to Bottom
of Virginia Capes.
STAY AFLOAT HOURS
Leary and Herbert, Steam
inc 20 Knots, Fill Craft
Full of Punctures.
CRAFTSMANSHIP is FINE
>Eattleships Florida and Della
ware Put Finishing Shots
Into Captive Targets.
MARKSMANSHIP is FINE

Special Despatch to THE New YORK HERALD
WITH THE ATLANTIC FLEET OFF THE
VIRGINIA CAPEs, July 15.-Battleship
fire was necessary to sink two German
destroyers. S-lS2 and the V-43. to-day
after two destroyers of the American
feet poured sixty shots at them without
serious results.
The battleships Florida and Delaware
sent out ESQ rounds before finally, full
of holes, the recent enemy craft were
swallowed by the ocean. A total of $40
shots was fred.
The sinking of the two German de-
stroyers completed the disposal of a trio
of them awarded to the United States
under an allied agreement, the other.
the G-102, having been sunk on Wednes-
day in twenty minutes by army air.
planes flying 100 miles over the ocean
from Langley Field. Virginia. The tests
to-day were 100 miles from shore.
The entire day was required to sink
the two destroyers. the operations start
ing at IL o'clock, after two hours delay
and incomplete until 1907 o'clock to-
night when the V-43, rddled with shell
from the Delaware. went under. one
hour and seventeen minutes after the
battleship fire began.
shots Fired at Battle Speed.
The S-132 went down at 4 so o'clock,
twenty-seven minutes after the battle
ship Florio,t began firing. The rules
provided fd' sinking by destroyers with
four inch guns, the destroyers to run
at a battle speed of thirty-fve knots.
The American destroyers Leary and
Herbert were assigned to the firing, one
70 each of the Germans, but they were
to make the run with others as di-
vision. There were five in the forma-
ton, including the Dickerson. Sicard
and Schenck The range was fixed at
5000 yards.
The sea was rough and the sky over
cast when the destroyers started. cir
cling the battleships of the fleet. After
much delay the destroyers reported that
with a rough sea they would have to
reduce their speed, since firing under
the prescribed conditions would be in
effective. The speed for the firing was
fixed at 20 knots and the range at
between $500 and 5 1000 yards.
The Leary made two direct hits on
the V-43, one on the bridge and the
second on the starboard bow. They
were the sixth and seventh shots. The
Herbert made two hits on the S-132, but
with ricochet.. There were six holes in
here. three at the water line. one on the
bridge and two in the tunnels.
The board of observers reported after
ward that the S-132 was in a sinking
condition as a result of the hits. but she
remained afloat until the battleship
Delaware finished her, six hours later.
Battleships Fire Swiftly.
The shots put by the battleships. fol-
lowing the failure of the destroyers.
were so rapid, 40 rounds for each in
ten and thirteen minutes respectively.
that no record could be kept of the hits.
The Germans were literally riddled
The Florida had difficulty getting the
range of the v-43 at first. but closed
In soon, so that the score was more
perfect toward the close. Within
twenty-seven minutes after the firing
stopped the destroyer. which had been
set afire on the bridge, dipped bow for
ward into the water and. with some
hesitation. went under. AS she stag
gered and twisted the stern stood
straight UP. fully hundred feet in the
cir. and then shot down.
There were innumerab BILE hits. The first
and second landed squarely on the
bridge. sending out cloud of smoke
that concealed many others that fol-
lowed When visibility was reestab-
lshed. the after deckhouse was aflame
and there were holes all over the hull.
The later shots were not so good, due
10 the changing of the range
When the V43 had gone down the bat
tleships. the line of which included the
Florida, the Delaware. the North Da-
kcta and the Pennsy -va,ia. steamed back
20 their position of 10000 yards, turned
and gathered speed for renewed firing.
The Delaware then did the shooting, 140
rr unds In eight minutes.
The S-132 went down in an hour and
four minutes after the firing ceased.
The battleshps were steaming at ten
knots. The secondary batteries only
we're used. five inch guns. The range
varied from 5000 to 5000 yards
Both the German destroyers offered
small targets. as they were of less than
900 tons displacement.