WORLD'S FASTEST SUBMARINE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 217, 7 June 1919, Page 11

WORLD'S FASTEST SUBMARINE

Tho fastest submarine vessels in the' world were designed and constructed for the British Navy during tho war. They were evolved in response-to the demand for submersible erait which could keep station with" the ilect when cruising, and' also undertake long, voyages without the. aid of "mother crait." Many-new features wero embodied in this class, which has. proved itself -a conspicuous triumph of firitish... engineering.' Unlike #ther submarine's they ate'lilted with'steajn, tur-. ■ bines,': which are '.used during '.operations at' a high speed on the surface. ■ Secondary propelling .power .is obtained .from a heavy-oil engiiio of 800 brake iiorse-pbwer; which drives a -dynamo' 'supplying electricity. either to electric motors' geared to the propeller shafts>(for surface cruising at moderate speeds), .'or to -'electric: "batteries which store energy for propulsion under water. When.subinerged-theso - vessels, have r.displaceilient of 2570 tons. ;.T|iey iu'e-.neariy 3-iO:fcet long and have a 'double. hull '.except .at thij . eiids. ..Aii ex-' • cepti.onally. 'powerful wireless, telegraph installation., js*. fitted .for... long-distance work; the aerials are carried - on':long -.telescopic-, masts operated by a telemoloi- " system.:Elcctx-icity :".is also. - used for driving tho air compressors and bilge pumps, _ while the steering gear and the Hydroplane driving . gem's are; controlledby a special hydro-electric-system, ..*