The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1943-05-27

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SUBMARINE ANTIDOTE

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SUBMARINE ANTIDOTE
A history making event took place
recently in the long war against the
submarine. Official tests were made
Of the helicopter, which, despite op
position Of the navy, has been urged
by officials Of the army and Wal
Shipping administration for anti
submarine patrol.
Within a few hours after the pub.
hcation Of a Merry-Go -Round story
on this subject, a group Of officials
from Washington, including highly
interested and highly placed officials
of the British admiralty. British ship
ping mission, and the Raj, stood in
amazement on the deck Of a tanker
offshore while a little airplane with
a crazy rotary wing on top landed
and took off from a deck space not
more than twice the size Of the plane
itself.
1t was a Sikorsky ~helicopter. pilot
ed by a boyish colonel who remind
ed everybody Of Charles Lindbergh
in his younger days-H. F. Gregory,
from Wright Field. Dayton, Ohio,
who knows more about %helicopters
than anybody else in the air force.
Gregory made "a landings on the
tanker during the two days Of trials.
He operated under all conceivable
conditions-when the tanker was rid
ing at anchor. when she was run
ming at l5t2 knots, when she was
headed into the wind, and when she
"a running with the wind.
The War Shipping administration,
which supplied the tanker, had Of
fered to remove the mast, to provide
a safer landing space. But inven-
tor Sikorsky scorned that as too
easy" Accordingly, his plane was
set down by Colonel Gregory in the
space between the mast and the
deck house, with only a 14-foot clear
ance on either side.
Far-Seeing Eyes
To the British and American ship
ping experts whose ships are going
to the bottom every day, the sig
nificance of this feat was inescap-
able. They firmly believe the hell
copter can be used to supplement
the escort vessels for the greater
protection Of merchant ships in con-
voy.
1t Is too light to carry much strik-
ing power Of its own, except a few
rockets. but it can fly out ahead Of
the convoy, hover over the sea, spot
the wolf pack, and report by radio
to the escort vessels. This saves
movement Of the escort vessels,
which in present practice have to
maneuver constantly around the
merchant ships, with heavy con.
sumption of fuel oil.
Moreover, the helicopter, without
firing a shot, brings alarm to the
prowling submarine and causes the
U-boat to dive.
Earlier acceptance Of the helicop.
ter was prevented by the navy's bu'
eau Of aeronautics, which contends
that the machine is defenseless
against the guns Of a submarine.
The defenders reply that the plane
can dart about so crafty that it is
too evasive to be easily hit. More.
over. helicopters can be built for
SIS, 900 each. and the loss Of a few
would not be serious, compared with
the loss Of escort vessels.
In any case, the matter has gone
beyond the stage Of argument.
The War Shipping administration is
determined to have helicopters, and
II the navy won't come along. VISA
will make a deal with the coast
guard to train pilots, and another
deal with the war department to
place the planes on its ships.