GOOD HUNTING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 285, 21 August 1918, Page 8

GOOD HUNTING

OUT ONi U-BOAT "STRAFE"

(By f'Ajax" in the "Navy League Quarterly,")

,he patrol of our home waters by seaMarie provides good hunting for tho members of the Boyal Naval Air Service, and hold a promise of greater things to conic. As submarine strafer the seaplane has already proved its efficiency, and tho tally of U-boats bagged by seaplane grows longer week by week. Even the restrained language of official reports cannot entirely hide the exhilarating nature of these encounters between the German submariner and the British air patrols. Hero are a few of recent date;—

Two largo seaplanes were on patrol together, when, at 7.18 a.m., they sighted a uibinarine on tho surface, travelling at M knots, with a couple of Germans on the: conning tower. Both 'planes quickly turned towards her, and from a height of 800 feet dropped a bomb, which exploded on the starboard side of tho U-boat, half-way betweon her stern and conning-tower. The boat heeled slowly over to port, with her stern down and her bow up. The second 'plane now camo over her, as the conning-tower was disappearing, and dropped a bomb which fell just in front of the conning-tower. Immediately after its explosion another explosion took place under water, and this was followed by several others of a less violent nature. fifteen seconds later tho first machine had wheeled back over the spot and dropped ,her second bomb. This fell within ten yards of tho ring made by the previous bomb, and the remains of the submarine finally disappeared. . It happened a few days later that a Short seaplane, on special, patrol, sighted a U-boat stationary on the surface at 10.20 a.m. The submarine was 10 miles away, but figures could be discerned on deck. The 'plane • dived from 4000 feet to a height of 1200 feet, and at 10.30 dropped a bomb on the spot where the submarine had disappeared five seconds previously. She was then sighted just below the surface, and a bomb was dropped on her, "after which she disappeared." This seaplane probably saved a convoy which was then approaching the spot where the.submarine had been lying. A,fortnight after tho-above incident one large seaplane, flying at a height of 4100 feet, sighted a big submarine with two- periscopes and a length of 200 feet showing above •water. The seaplane hastily dived to 800 feet, and as the U-boat submerged, dropped two bombs, which fell just abaft the conning-tower one apparently making a'direct hit. The submarine at mce turned upside down and sank. Then a largo bubble appeared on the surface, and presently some, wreckage, together with large quantities of oil, appeared. In the following week a large seaplane was on patrol at 8.30 a.m., when a submarine was sighted oho mile ahead, lying on. tho' surface, with a man standing forward by her gun. The seaplane increased her speed, dropping to a height of 600 feet, and' flying directly over the submarine, released a bomb. As . she swooped round to repeat the attack a shell from the U-boat burst in the air 50 feet in front of her propeller. It was seen that tho bomb had made a direct hit on .the U-boat's tail, a big rent; being visible in the dcck. Just then several red flashes appeared above the water, and, out of the mist ahead three more enemy submarines appeared, proceeding in line abreast, and followed closely by three German destroyers. All six vessels maintained a hot fire against tho seaplane, which now turned about and again passed over the disabled Üboat. Her stern was by this time well down, while her nose stood up clear of the water. The seaplane gave her a second bomb, and this exploded dead on 15 feet ahead of the bow. The whole submarine seemed to vibrate and then sank quickly, leaving ■ a large quantity of blackish oilf air buobles, and wreckage upon, the surface of the sea. The enemy vessels were now drawing near, as well as a couple of enemy seaplanes, so our seaplane, having no more bombs, returned, to her base,