Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-07

side Is necessary, the men can wait In COM
paratiye comfort.
If an accident should happen to the sub
marine and the service of divers should be
available there are valves on the hull to
which hose can b. attached, both for the pur-
pose Of supplying liquid food, the exhalation
of foul air and the intake of fresh air.
This was a lesson learned from the S-4.
which had but ore valve for such connections.
permitting only tie intake of air. To pump
in fresh air without sucking out the carbon
dioxide would have meant that the pressure
would have been raised to the danger point
The innovation which enables all matches to
be operated from inside outside the ship Is
an advancement in safety. BY this system it
Is believed that in a grave emergency divers
could enter flooded compartment and start
pumping machinery to raise the ship with its
men.
distributed to the various compartments, there
are fresh-water connections in each section-a
part of the system Of multiplying the safety
factor.
In the fateful Sd the coming tower alone
constituted the escape hatch; and this was
damaged by the collision with the Paulding so
that it could not be used. Moreover. this
opened through the top, so that the water
rushed in on the man trying to escape.
The new way is to place the escape matches
on the sides, thus creating an air pocket when
the hatch is opened and making it easier to
leave the submerged vessel through these exits.
The VS., now in command of Lieut.. Comdr.
John H. Brown, will be assigned for service
with the Pacific Submarine Squadron Division
No. 20, which operates from the Sandiego
(Calif) base
Besides the greatly increased factor of safety,
the VS. engroSses the interest of the Navy
because of its fighting efficiency and size.
TT HAS surface displacement of 2,76O tons
u and submerged displacement of $3.50 tons,
and although naval officials are silent as to its
ability to stay away from home and rove the
seas there are indications that it can travel at
least 1000 miles without refueling.
To glimpse the role of the VS. in warfare
It is necessary to know that there are two main
types of submarines. The smaller ones have
q displacement of about 800 tons and are used
along the coastline or from bases to break up
an attempted blockade. Their limitations of
size and speed make them most effective Is Q
defensive weapon.
The VS. approaches a rating where it be-
comes member of battle fleet, even if only
baby member. 1t carries deadly armament
The size of the two guns be estimated by
comparison with the men standing on the
deck of the vessel in the accompanying photo.
graph.
1t carries torpedoes and has a series of good.
sized racks which hold enough shells to enabD
it to maintain a running fight for some time
before it is out of ammunition.
Because of its size, fighting qualities and sta
bility, which is aided by the fms which also
aid in diving and rising, the VS. is expected
to accompany the fleet in all kinds of weatheS
and to be available for variety of auxiliary
services
Such feet submarine as the VS. can be
used for scouting, for haraSsing the enemy
trade routes and for strewing mines where they
will do the most damage both in enemy fleets
and near enemy harbors.
knife for cutting nets and cables is an In
tegral part of the bow and stern of the ship.
The VS. has speed of eighteen knots on
the surface and can therefore move quickly if
the need arises. The strength of the hull will
enable the VS. to rest quietly in water at least
200 feet deep and resist the water pressure I'M.
definitely.
The record for submarine diving in the navy
was made in the trials of the Va a 2,50O-ton
mine-layer, which reached a depth of 318 feet
In its diving test and was down for twenty-one
minutes.
Two years ago. when the We was introduced.
it was intended as sister ship to the VS., but
many improvements have been made in the
two years which have interviewed between the
completion Of the VS. and the VS..
The VT, now under construction, will be
IIorf hAar%f INaU