New Britain herald., 1926-04-29
Exercises Take On In- ternational Aspect As The R-2 Slips Down Ways To Accompani- ment of Screeching Whistles.
Sister Ship to Be Launched in About a M0nth-Craft Have Latest Designs in
 Submarine Construction.

New London, April 29 lP,-Before crowd O. over 1.5U0 persons among whom were diplomats and Representatives Of several nations, Peruvian naval officials, United H'ates army, navy and coast guard "!ilcers of high rank, and prom I2ent Officials and citizens in the city. state and county. the subma- )'he R-2, built by the New London Snip and Engine company, under contract with the Electric Boat Company, for the Peruvian navy, vas launched from the ways Of the ship and Engine company at Gro- ton this morning
 First Company Has Bnilt
 The R-2 is the first submarine 10 be built by the Ship and Engine company Her keel was laid with an Appropriate religious ceremony on February 25, 1925, and contrary to the usual procedure in this country, the vessel was named during this ceremony: the sponsor for the R. being Mrs. Clark Woodward, wife of -admiral C. II. Woodward, chief or the United States naval commission to Peru. At the same time the keel Of the R-2 was laid, the keel of her sister ship, the R-1, was also put flown, the sponsor for the latter ship being Miss Isabel Leguia, daughter CT Dr. Augusta B. Leguia, president Of the Republic of Peru.
 Mrs. Woodward. original sponsor [. the R-2, was unable to attend the launching today and Mrs. Enrique .Monge, wife of the chief Of the Pe- luvian naval commission which has supervised the building of the two submarines, acted for Mrs. Wood "ard in christening the submarine at today's ceremonies. She was as- sisted by Mrs. Jose E. Alzamora, wife Of the Peruvian officer who will command the R-2.
 Peruvian Wine Used.
 The launching took place at ex- actly 1O:55 o'clock this morning. At that hour the way supports were sawed and with the reverberating crack that denoted their parting, Mrs, Mongo smashed a silk encascd bottle of Peruvian wine against the s eel nose of the undersea ship, and She glided gracefully down the ways. the Peruvian fleet pennants flying the length of her deck In a stiff breeze that was blowing. Her pas sage down the ways was accompan- led by the raucous blasts Of auto mobile horns. tug boat and factory whistles and the shrill whizz of the sirens of fleet of coast guard pa trol boats that assembled fin the Thames river to witness the launch ing.
 Graceful Landing.
 With scarcely a splash the giant l submarine took to the water, and !! settled deep until the green of her | lower structure passed out of sight | nd the freshly painted black upper ! dtck remained glstening in the sun.
 4 sudden blast of wind swept | down the Thames river, and with i her momentum from her glide down he ways still unchecked, the vessel | rolled to the starboard until 1t ! seemed that she was about to cap- size and then with the water licking Dver her deck. she righted herself, md came drifting in gracefully to- wards the shore.
 A tug boat took her in tow and her to a place at a wharf where the work Of completing her Aill take place.
 Next Ready In Month.
 The R-2 and her sister ship the RI, which will be launched in | lbout a month, are being furnished 0 the Peruvian government under contract issued to the Electric }oat company, covering the two ,oats, a naval base to be erected " the boat company on San LOT nzo Island, Peru. and a number Of orpedoes. Contract for the con- truction of the two submarines Jas given by the Electric Boat com ,any to the Ship and Engine con- ,any, a subsidiary concern.
 Measurements of Boat.
 The R-2 measures 200 feet fin ngth and displacement is approx nately 500 tons. She is somewhat lrger than the R-type of vessel used V the United States navy and some that smaller than the S-type of ubmarine. The vessel has a surface peed Of 141a knots per hour, and a Gbmerged speed of 10 knots. Her urface cruising radius is 5000 liles. T The vessel was very carefully de- igned by the Electric Boat com any 10 meet the requirements of | 7e Peruvian navy. She Is of the { Ioland type, of single hull con -~uction, and is equipped with the T lost modern devices known 10 the n f Of submarine construction and o 2vigation. Her main armament insists Of four torpedo tubes and d ' r'ne inch 50 caliber gun, mounted
 the forward deck. The vessel is c
 pelled on the surface by two six o finder Nelseco Diesel engines. de- fl
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