SUBMARINES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1330, 6 January 1912, Page 14

SUBMARINES.

FOE OFFENCE AND DEFENCE,

The idea entertained at one time was ;that submarine boats would act only as a moral deterrent, because the existenco of a submarine fleet "iu being" would so interfere with tho nerve of an officer of any opposing naval fleet. But wo havo long since passed beyond that view, owing to the reliability of submarine boats proved in long cruises, and to the great devclopiueut in the size, power, speed, and radius of action of these vessels. The vessels built ten years ago wero comparatively small craft, few were over about 200 tons displacement when submerged, but, there has been a steady growth, conservative, no' doubt, in regard to each step, but as a consequence -successful iu its result, and of great significance in its aggregate. Thus v;o find that-some of tlio Continental Powers''aro- building ships of close upon 1000 tons, while iu tlio case of the British Navy, the submerged displacement lias reached about 800 tons. It is recognised, however (says "Engineering"), that mere size Will not render these vessels suitable units of an ordinary squadron. The speed of a squadron: is determined by the slowest ship, and for strategic reasons it may be desirable for a "fleet to steam long distances at the highest possible rate, so that with a fleet, including battleships, having a speed of .at least 21 knots, surrounded by a curtain formed of 24-knot 'and 25-knofc scout cruisers, and of 28knot heavier armoured cruisers to pierce the screen of the enemy, a distinct handicap would result' from the inclusion of submarine vessels of slow speed. There is no doubt, however, that in this quality of design great advances have been made even within the past year or two, and if there is similar advanco within the next three or four years, such vessels will, no doubt, win their place in the squadron by virtue of spfed, as -well as of fighting pov;er. It will be noted that the 950-ton Holland special type submarine is to havo a speed of 17 knots on the surface, and a correspondingly high rate is anticipated in the latest British submarine ships. This, ?f course, demands great horsepower in the propelling. internal-combus-tion engines—approaching 2000 brake horse-power in the case of the Holland boat. Advances have been, and are " being, made in the development of heavy oil-engines for such craft, and weights havo -consequently not gone up at the samo rate as power and speed. It isill be noted that the form of ship is undergoing modification, which is further. conducive to efficiency in speed. As regards offensive power, the submarine boats aro able to take advantage of the recent improvements in the size, speed, and therefore range, of the Whitehead torpedo, as well a 9, of the higher bursting charge. It would seem also as if with development in size there may come the emplacement of disappearing guns for use when the vessels are on tho surface. Experiments are being tried, but it remains to be seen whether such a departure from what has hitherto been regarded as the exclusive function of tho submarine boat—the firing of torpedoes—will be widely approved. As to reliability, there have ' been many evidences. afforded by performances in the course of manoeuvres with souadrons. and also" by the Ion? voyages taken by, individual boats and fleets of boats. It is thus accepted that not only for defensive, but also for offensive, operations, the, submarine has established its practicability.