530 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN December 9,1911 The Modern Submarine A Seaworthy and Deadly Craft, Which May Ultimately Dominate Naval Warfare

By Lieut. D. C. Bingham, Assistant Director of Target PractIce, Etc., Late Commander Third Submarine Division

HE influence of sea power on the rise and fall submarine may be divided into compartments, any one to withstand the pressure due to a depth of two hun­ T of governments is well understood. In th9 past of which may be flooded without destroying the flota­ dred feet, and they are fitted with simple and quick sea power has been won and held by vessels that tion; furthermore, being buHt to run under the sur­ means of admitting and discharging the water. Air cruised and fought on the surface of the seas, and face, it is stronger in construction than those vessels pressure and large pumps driven by electricity are the logical outcome is the enormous displacements of designed solely for surface cruising. generally used when it is desired to free the tanks the fighting ships of all countries. Within the last The phrase, "The Mother and her Chicks alongside," of water. Compressed air is carried in strongly con­ decade three weapons or warfare, which in future which often appears in the press, cannot fail to leave structed tanks for expelling water from the tanks struggles for the control of the seas are to be of great an impression of weakness and helplessness. The and for renewing the air in the vessel during a sub­ importance, nave been undergoing development. battleship divisions of the Atlantic fleet to-day do not mergence; although air renewal is not necessary for These three weapons are the automobile torpedo, the assemble without their repair ships, supply ships, col­ runs of under three or four hours' duration. The supmarine, and aero-craft. Too much stress cannot liers, tugs, and tenders, all of which are "Mothers," motive power on the surface is the fuel oil engine; be .'laid on their influence on sea power, the sub­ and as an effective force they cannot move away from under the surface it is the el�ctrjc motor driven by marine' carrying the automobile torpedo as the de­ the coast without them. the power of the storage batteries. In making passage str'u'ctive agency, the aero-craft acting as a scout. Diving to avoid collision has its share in building from one point to another the modern submarine uses A number of erroneous ideas exist in regard to the up· the mysterious atmosphere about the submarine: the same methods, appliances, landmarks, etc., as sur­ modern submarine, which prevent a thorough under­ It sounds well as a subject of conversation and gives face vessels. When cruising submerged with the tops standing of that type of vessel-its achievements and a thrilling touch to a story; nevertheless few sub­ of the periscopes exposed, the methods, etc., are the its future development. A few of the causes and marine commanders ever consider that method of same, except tha,t the bearings and observations are conditions producing the above result will be dealt avoiding imminent collision .. taken through the periscope; . and when. totally sub­ with briefly. During the last half century the advance in hull con­ merged the conditions as regards vision are the same The policy of secrecy that has been maintained in struction and in propelling machinery has made of as those aboard a surface vessel cruising 'in ·a fog, as the development of the s'ubmarine has led to its o"ing the submarine a vessel that can cruise and maneuver it is impossible to see more-th�ri.a:f�w ·feet thro�gh looked upon as something mysterious. So long as on the surface, that can change its depth of submerg­ the waters of the sea. The depth under water is the popular idea of a submarine is one of mystery, ence with safety and rapidity, and that can readily registered on a number of water-pressure gages, and just so long will it fail to receive the recognition it maneuver submerged. Its tanks, to which water is there is never any doubt as to the distance of the deserves. Many unreasonable claims are made for admitted when a submergence is made, are constructed vessel from the surface. new inventions; even those barely out The operation of making a sub­ of the experimental stage, and the sub­ mergence in the modern submarine is marine has not escaped; although now comparatively simple and is readily it has passed beyond the experimental understood. First, the upper deck is stage; a fact which the progressive cleared of bridges, life lines, etc., al· programmes of construction, especially though in time of war and maneuvers in Great Britain, prove most conclu­ this gear is not rigged. This material sively. is stowed inside of the submarine and Those who do not know the sub­ can be unrigged within eight minutes. marine, quickly bring to your atten­ Second, the vessel is completely sealed; tion certain dangers to which it is ex­ an operation that requires only a few posed, that are supposed to make it as seconds. The large holes in the hull much of a menace to itself as to are covered by doors with rubber fit· other vessels. These dangers are gen­ tings and are made watertight by the erally grouped under the head of "ex­ throw of a lever; the smaller holes are plosions" and "collisions." A few closed by a turn of a valve handle. moments' reflection will reveal the Third, water is first admitted to one or fact that these risks are no,t peculiar more large tanks to destroy the major to the submarine, except in the case part of the floating power of the ves­ of a collision when the submarine is sel; then to the tanks forward or aft rising from a complete submergence. to level her; and finally to tanks in the These dangers are avoided by sub­ center of the vessel. Tbe water ad­ marines in the same way as by surface mitted to the last tanks does not ma­ vessels; although there is more care terially change the inclination of the exercised aboard the submarine than vessel, and it is admitted in small In the c;enter are the two torpedo discharge tubes, To the left is the electric ­ on any other type of vessel. The dan· quantities until the floating power motor and gear by which the doors in the nose of the submarine are opened is ger of explosion lies in the storage reduced to from six hundred to for discharge of torpedoes_ ' a battery and the fuel oil, which are the thousand pounds. Gages record the results of each stage. The sources of power respect­ INTERIOR VIEW ON MAIN FLOOR OF SUBMARINE ;'NARWHAL" ively for submerged and submarine in this condi­ surface cruising. Thou­ tion exposes about ten feet sands of power boats, auto­ of her periscopes and is mobiles, etc., use gasoline ready for running sub­ without fear, and the same merged. The electric is true of· the storage bat­ motors are then started, tery, except as to numbers. and the resistance of the The danger of collision is water, acting on horizontal no greater for the sub­ rudders and the deck, marine than for surface forces the submarine be­ craft, except in the case low the surface. The de­ when the submarine is sired depth is obtained by changing its depth from giving the proper inclina­ sixty feet or more to one tion to the rudders and the of about twenty. At sixty vessel. In fact, the control feet the submarine is clear of the submarine in chang­ of the hulls of shipping; at ing 'and maintaining Its twenty the shipping can depth is very similar to be observed through the the control of a surface observation tubes, or peri­ vessel when making a scopes. The time to rise passage on the surface. from sixty feet to twenty The modern submarine, is but a few seconds, and starting with its main before the ascent is made tanks free of water, can it is the practice to care­ totally submerge within fully "listen in" on the three minutes. Such a submarine bell receivers weapon is not and cannot for the noises made by the be a mystery. propellers of passing ves­ What the Submarine has sels, and a submarine com­ A.ccomplished.-The record mander is almost assured of the "Davids" before that no danger lies above Charleston during the before changing depth. civil war, when a blockad­ Even the danger from col­ ing squadron was kept on View !ooldng forward from the bridge, showIng the ample (leek space. lision is not so great as is the move for over a year, generally supposed. The THE SUBMARINE "NARWHAL" MAKING 14 KNOTS AT THE SURFACE three ships injured, and a December 9, 1911 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN 531

fourth sunk, proved at that early date the value of the make a record. The battleships, the torpedo craft, and cessful beyond the expectation of the most enthusi­ submarine. The radius of action of the "Davids" was naval militia engaged in combined maneuvers off New­ astic. In the day problem two succeeded in attacking limited, that of the modern submarine is almost un­ port from July 18th to 20th. The part assigned to before the battleships anchored, the others within limited. The Division of Submarines now in commis­ the submarine Division approached war conditions three hours after they had anchored. In the night at­ sion (m the Atlantic Coast was actively engaged in almost perfectly. All harbors fvom Gay Head to Mon­ tack the invading force pierced the line well to the cruises, maneuvers, and target practices, from March tauk Point that could be used as bases by an invading eastward and only two submarines were successfuL 1st to November 1st of this year. During that time fleet had to be protected. The disposition of the seven The exercise was declared finished before the sub­ the Division cruised from Annapolis, Md., to Ports­ submarines was made accordingly, and they were suc- marines at the entrance of Long Island Sound had mouth, N. H., and familiarized itself time to come up. The readiness with with all harbors along the coast. The which the modern submarine can de­ harbors of Chesapeake Bay, those -of liver an attack was vividly demon­ Newport, Provincetown, Boston, Glou­ strated on the morning of the 19th. cester, Rockport, Portsmouth, and Vine­ At 3: 30 P. M. on July 18th the "Gray­ yard Haven Sound were successfully ling" anchored on the outer line be­ navigated by the submarines in the sub­ tween Block Island and Gay Head, merged condition, and, at times, much ready in every respe(;t fol' quick work. to the surpris·e and astonishment of th-e At night lights were screened and a unsuspecting shipping. The submarines watch of three set. At 4: 10 A. M. of were often separated from the tenders the following morning the lookout re­ for periods of two to four days and ported an armored ship to the south­ severe weather conditions of gales, ward and eastward, distant several snowstorms, and fog were encountered. Running submerged, conning tower awash. miles, and standing to the northward. As the conditions were successfully met "All hands" were called at once, ham­ from time to time, officers and crews mocks lashed and stowed, thirty gained confidence in the reliability of fathoms of anchor cable hove in and the weapon placed in their hands. anchor secured, and preparations made While the Division was in the waters for running submerged. At 4:24 A. M., of the Chesapeake, three- and four-day just fourteen minutes from the time of cruises away from the tenders were receiving the first report, the "Gray­ made for the purpose of thoroughly ling" was submerged and. running at developing the crews. On one of seven and one-half knots to intercept these cruises a gale, accompanied by the armored ship, which proved to be snow and hail, struck the Division when the scout "Washington." At 4:58 A. at anchor in the lower Chesapeake. The M. an attack was delivered. The scout blow continued throughout

Recent Development in Ordnance LEGAL NOTICES (Ooncluded from page 5911.) Armor. There has been no important advance 1'ATENTS in quality of armor since the Krupp pro­ LIDGERWOOD cess of hardening was introduced about If you have an invention which you wish to fourteen years ago; during this period patent you can write fully and freely to Munn the side armor belts of our battleships &I Co. for advice in regard to the best way of have been of from nine to eleven inches obtaining protection. Please send sketches or a model of your invention and a description of thickness. To meet the increasing power COALING DEVICES the device. explaining its operation. of guns and penetrative effect of projec­ tiles, a tendency toward increasing this All communications are strictly confidential. Our vast practice. extending over a period of thickness to twelve or thirteen inches is In the U. S. Navy more than sixty years, enables us in many cases evident, and the Bureau of Ordnance has to advise in regard to patentability without any even had one experimental eighteen-inch expense to the client. Our Hand Book on Patents " Without Coal our Battleships are as Helpless plate made and tested with a view to is sent free on request. This explains our possible future, demand for armor of that methods. terms. etc .• in regard to PATENTS. as a Dismasted Sailing Vessel in Mid-Ocean." TRADE MARKS. FOREIGN PATENTS. etc. thickness. That the art of armor making has not All patents secured through us are described stood still, in spite of there having been without cost to the patentee in the SCIENTIF IC AMERICAN. no radical changes in methods, is shown by the two photographs on page 520. The former shows an armor plate produced in MUNN & COMPANY 1905, and the latter a plate produced in 361 BROADWAY. NEW YO RK 1911, against each of which three projec' Branch Office. 625 F Street. Washington. D. C. tiles have been fired. In the one case the flaking of the hard surface was excessive, SEC U FEE AT E N T S ll.fUR�rD in the other almost nil. It will be no­ Free reool't. 8S to Patentability. lJlustrated GUide ted that neither plate was completely P Book. and 'What '1'0 Invent wttb Li�t of . [nven. tion� \Val1ted and Prizes offered for invention::; penetrated. sent free. V JCTOIt .T. FlV ANS & CO.• Washington. D.C. Thin plates, which are not technically classed as armor, have been much im­ proved in resisting power by changing the alloy used; a nickel·chrome-vanadium alloy has been adopted, and this when Galvanized Rounds, specially treate·d produces turret and conning tower tops of great resistance. Half Rounds, Spikes, Experimental Work. Chains-in fact ANY­ COALIN G IN A SEAWAY Much valuable information has been obtained by experimental firing at the U. S. S. "Katahdin" and "San Marcos" THING Galvanized The U. S. Collier " Vestal," fitted with the (formerly "Texas"). Each of these is a vessel of small military value, but cap­ always in stock. Lidgerwood - Miller Marine Cableway, de- able of affording an actual target {-or ex­ perimental firing. The "Katahdin" was livered under test 72% tons of coal in one fitted with armor plate targets erected on her upper deck; one target repre­ J.C.H. hour to the U. S. S. "Virginia," 400 feet sented the side of a battleship, the other distant in tow, speeding 12 knots per hour. a turret barbette, and in both the armor plate was braced by appropriate framing GALVANIZING The Marine Cableway will operate in any and structures. Firing was conducted with a 12-inch gun on board the U. S. S. sea fit for towing a battleship. "Tallahassee" at ranges of 7,700 to 8,500 CO. yards, using service ammunition, but not No. Front Street with explosive shell, as the object was 1110-12-14 solely to determine penetrative effect. Philadelphia, Pa. Two hits were scored on each target with r'€sultant complete penetration of the armor, as was expected in accordance with theoretica.J calculations. The re­ sults of this test also proved that a pro­ jectile while in flight is at all times tan­ gent to the trajectory. The "San Marcos" furnished a target for more extensive firing, the greater part of which was conducted by the U. S. S. "New Hampshire" for purposes of gun­ nery training of the personnel. The most striking lessons of this firing were: Maxim Silencer (1) The fact that, at ranges of 10,000 and 12,000 yards, the "New Hampshire" could place her shots on any portion of the ship at will, thus proving the accu· racy of her spotting and pointing. Annuls Concussion, Reduces Recoil (2) The tremendous havoc wrought in and Stops Flinching the' "San Marcos" by the passage or Adopted by the United States War Department bursting of entering shell. for its military advantages and its great value in improving the marksmanship of the ordinary soldier. Modern Submarines Made in all calibres, for a11 military and sporting rifles. Provided with coupling for easy and im (Ooncluded f"om page 531.) mediate attachment. Interesting Catalog sent anywhere or the asking. HARBO R COALING therefore it is apparent that none of the MAXIM SILENCER, Hartford, Conn. surface elements can damage it. Its nat­ ural subdivision into tanIDS for submerg­ The U. S. Colliers, "Neptune," "Vestal," ing purposes gives it a safety which every surface craft strives for by putting in THE EDISON ARTICLES "Prometheus," "Mars," "Vulcan," and "Hec­ double bottoms. There is no smoke, no on the development of the leaky or hot steam pipes, or any other STORAGE BATTERY tor" are fitted with the Lidgerwood-Miller of the numerous di,sadvantages of the or­ can only be found in the leading Militaryand Naval publication,the Marine Transfers and Colliers Nos. 11 and dinary surface vessel. The reliability of the motive power, the internal combus- ARMY & NAVY JOURNAL 12 will be so fitted. tion engine, is assured, and the modern Published every Saturday at submarine being a twin-screw vessel is 20 VESE Y ST REET. NEW YORK readily maneuvered. The radius of ac· Thesf'instructiveand interesting articles began in the Oct. 2151 issue One Man on the Collier "Neptune" can and will run every weekfor a year. See page 5 I 0 of this Scientific tion of submarines now under construc­ American - then subscribe at once for the A. & N. Jou rnal. discharge 100 Tons of Coal per hour to tion exceeds 5,000 miles on the surface $6.00 Yearly. Single Copies, 15 Cent. and 100 submerged, the maximum speed a vessel alongside. The "Neptune" has on the surface being 13lh knots, that sub­ Admiral Mahan's New Work merged 10lh knots. Ten miles is the twelve Marine Transfers. farthest that a submarine can be seen on NAVAL STRATEGY Compared and Contrasted with the Principles rt,he surface, and its submerged radius of and p,.cllce of MIlttary OperatIOns on Land action is such as to permit many hours of By AD MIRA L A. T. MAHAN

maneuvering unseen and unsuspected, be- This new work, just issued, contains the results LIDGERWOOD MFG. CO. neath the surface. The comfort of the of almost a lifetime's study of the subject, by cre·w depends entirely on the weather the world's foremost authority on naval matters. 96 LIBERTY STREET, NEW YORK, N. Y., U. S. A. and sea as it does in all craft. The sub- Wlth]3 Map; and Plans. 8'Vo. Cloth, $3.50nel_ marine may escape from heavy weather UTTLE. BROWN & CO.. PUBUSHERS (Concluded on paoe 536.) 34 Beacon Street. Do.ton 536 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN December O. ID.1 I

by remaining under the surface. This was POPE QUALITY HAS NEVER BEEN QUESTIONED actually done by the "Snapper" in 1910, when she remained on the bottom off Bos­

ton Light Vessel in seventy feet of water (Re2, U. S. Pat. Off, ) for 12lh hours. The invulnerability of the submarine PROOF is well nigh perfect. In its approach, /lftery ou liave satisfied after sighting the enemy, its invisibility affords better protection than any armor '''Y?rcn�'' c/1 yourself tliat tlie or watertight subdivision that has been put abroad a surface vessel. The ex­ is a proof, not a cloth posure of as much as five feet of one ,PoPE-HARTFORD or more periscopes, each six inches in It is the only proof that will make any diameter, is necessary, in an attack, for cloth permt

Consider the price- A Geographical Excursion Across 4 cyl. 50 h. p. Touring Car $3000. 4 cyl. Limousine$4150 the United States T is announced that the American Geo­ Pleasure Vehicles I graphical Society, which c·elebrates its Three Ton Trucks jubilee next year, is planning in connec­ tion therewith a transcontinental excur­ Public Service Wagons sion for the purpose of geographical Catalogues on Request study, in which delegates from the geo­ (Specify the one desired) graphical societies of other countries will 6 cyl. 60 h. p. Touring Car. Model 28. $4000 be invited to participate. The party will With Catalogue Equipment THE PO PE MANUFACTUR ING CO. Hartford. Conn.• U. S. A. be "personally conducted" by Prof. W. M. The many who have Davis, of Harvard. who has lately had ex­ perience in carrying out similar under­ worn Jaeger Underwear 34 YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN THE' MANUFACTURE OF HIGHEST GRADE MECHANICAL VEHICLES takings in Europe. It is expected, also, do not need to be told of thM the American members of the party its merits. The few who will, so far as they are able, act as guides have not should lose no for the foreign visitors. While the nat­ ural features of the landscape are to be time in adopting it, as it the principal objects of observation, at­ benefits pocket as well as tention will also be paid to the agricul­ health in the end. tural and industrial development of the country. All weights for A Lea It is expected that the excursion will all wants leave New York some time in August, Motor Trucks 1912, on a special train, and will spend Dr. Jaeger'. S. W. S. Coo's OwnStores six or seven weeks in traversing the New York: 306 Fifth Avenue, 22 Maiden Lane. country. The itinerary, as now planned, Brooklyn: 504 Fulton St. B.ston: 228 Boylston St. Philadelphia: 1516 Chestnut St. Chicago: 126 65 Per Cent of all Alco Trucks are is to include, among other points of in­ N. State St. Agents in all Principal Citi... terest, 'the highlands and gorge of the Owned by Million-Dollar Companies Hudson, Niagara, the shore-lines of old _-II lakes in Ohio, the southern end of Lake Michigan, with its artificial outlet into And 62 per cent of all Alco Trucks are Re-orders. s the Missis ippi sy'stem, the upper Missis- r------P -IP- E--, sippi and Missouri, the Yellowstone CONGRATULATIONS SMOK ERS con erns own Alco Trucks This was the logical reasoning upon Canon and National Park, the Rockies of IG c Here's a pipe you can keep clean and dry -big concerns like the Ameri­ B which nearly every single big com­ southern Montana, the Oascade Range, without taking any time or doing- any can Express Company, Gulf pany made its first Alco purchase. Seattle, and Puget Sound. The return dirty work. It means food health Refining Company, Barrett Manu­ to you and improved flavor to any be br lar And since its first purchase every will probably be made by a southerly tobacco. A wonderful treat bowls used in all facturing Company, Gimbel Broth­ single big company has ordered more route. for every smoker. No .. Defin pipes are ers, Standard Oil Company, Singer knockin2 or scraping' to keep seasoned by a scien­ Alco Trucks! Every single one! Sewing Machine Company. tbiS pipe rigue. One twist tificsecret process. And sixty-two per cent of all A lco of the patent bowl and it's ··Defi" Big companies, like big men, don't Trucks were purchased on such repeat Fishing With a Steam Pump ready for another smoke. superiority_ make many ];)ig mistakes. The cleaner is part of Four styles. strail;!bt orders! NE of the most singular fishing de­ the pipe-can't be mis­ or curved stems. no French briar bowls. They are shrewd. They know. In the service of Department Stores vi,ces imaginable WaJS discovered by la1d. takes space. O finest solid rubber Sixty-five per cent of all Alco 78 per cent are re-orders; Oil Re­ accident in France. Though extremely "DEFI" bit. 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Capital, $50,000,000 as one cannot have his fish and ellit it, too, Good ••ince 1835 and as such rapid con.su-mpti()n would have led to equally rapid extermination, the local a.uthorities were obliged to take mellBures to stop the practice.