Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1915 — GREATEST SUBMARINE [ARTICLE]

GREATEST SUBMARINE

In the World Now Being Built for the U. S. Navy. The submarine Schley, which is to be built at once by the Electric Boat Company at Groton, Conn., will be by far the most interesting and the most dreaded of all submarines, and in its design, and construction the naval architects have taken big strides. Up to date the largest submarine, as far as can be learned, that is building is under 200 feet In length. This is the Class F of the British, which has 5 not yet made its appearance unless it has.been commissioned recently and is being used secretly. The boats of this class are to have a surface speed of 20 knots. The largest of the German boats are of 800 tons displacement, with a cruising radius of 2,000 miles and make, so it was planned, 18 knots on the surface and 7 knots submerged. The Schley is to be of the Holland or diving type. It will displace approximately 1,100 tons at the surface and much more when submerged. The length will be' 265 feet over all, or about 65 feet longer than any submarine now projected by any European power. This craft is to be driven by Niseco Diesel oil engines which will develop 4,000 horsepower, and these engines will enable the craft to maintain a speed on the surface of 20 nautical miles an hour. When submerged the vessel will be driven by electric motors, and will then make 11 nautical miles an hour. The cruising speed of the Schley will be from 11 to 15 nautical miles an hour, and at these speeds it. will have a cruising radius of 7,000 miles. That is, it will have sufficient fuel capacity to enable it to cruise across the Atlantic and back again without replenishing its fuel oil. This is an advantage that no other submarine at present projected has and will make the Schley the most destructive vessel of its kind ever built.

Mit h its speed it will be exceedingly difficult for any vessel to avoid its attack, merchant ships are able to do in many cases with the present German submarines. It has been suggested that this vessel, instead of using heavy oil engines, should be fitted with steam power using the high speed turbine; but this idea was not practical for a vessel of this kind because if steam were used it would take from 30 to 40 minutes to prepare the vessel for diving. With an internal combination engine the diving can be done instantly, because when the motor is shut off there are no fires to draw or bank, no boilers to cool; and again when the vessel comes to the surface the oil motors can be started instantly. From a military point of view it nas been decided that vessels of this type equipped with steam' will prove very inefficent. There will in all probability be a class in the United States navy of these fast submarines, and. the one now building is only the first. From a military point of view the Schley wffll be of enormous value in both offensive and defensive service. The boat will have considerable freeboard to make it seaworthy under all conditions in the open sea. It will have an elevated bridge in addition to a conning tower, and this will make it practically a small gunboat when used on the surface. It will carry a number of guns of small caliber and machine guns, and in addition will be fitted with 10 torpedo tubes. These tubes will be arranged to discharge torpedoes at all angles, and it will not be necessary to manoeuvre the vessel into some certain position to send forth its weapon of destruction, but it will be able to discharge ahead, broadside and astern. The interior of this vessel, too, will be more like that of the warship of her size. She will have comfortable quarters for officers and men; be heated, well stored with fresh air and carry supplies that will last for a lengthy cruise. It is. expected that the Schley will be ready for sei-vice next year, and work will be pushed as fast as possible to get her out early. The cost of the Schley will be $1,350,000. New York Sun.