BRITISH SUBMARINE BOATS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 30 April 1901, Page 4

BRITISH SUBMARINE BOATS.

The Firsfc Will Be Launched In

May.

Messrs Vickcrs, Sons, and Maxim have received instructions for the building of the five submarine boats provided for in this year's Naval Estimates. The boats are now being constructed at the naval construction works at Barrow-in-Furness, and the first vessel is expected to be launched in May. The vessels are of an improved "Holland" type, and will be about sixty feet long, their speed on the surface being ten knots, and when submerged between seven and eight knots. They will have capacity for carrying five torpedoes, and will be manned by a crew of seven. In their design Messrs Vickers, Sons, and Maxim have had tlio advantage of the experience gained with the American boats, the Vickers-Maxim Company having purchased the complete rights for the world except in the United States. Messrs Vickers, Sons, and Maxim, state (hat the submarines will be 63ft 4in long, with lift 9in beam, and a displacement when submerged of 120 tons. The main engine will be of gasoline type, for surface propulsion, and of 160 horse-power. The fuel supply will allow of a maximum run of about 400 knots. The maximum speed on the surface will be about, 9 knots per hour. Tho main motor will be of the electric, waterproof type, giving the vessel a speed of 7 knots per hour submerged. Storage battery will havo capacity for a four hours' run at 7 knots per hour. The vessel is to bo provided with means of expelling torpedes while ia the following conditions and positions :At rest, or during run on the surfaco; before or after t-.ubmergencc; while awash, at rest or at full speed, with a sufficient portion of the conning tower emerged to allow observation by the navigator; while running submerged. Tho plating and frames are to bo of steel, of sufficient size and thickness to withstand the pressures of depths not over 100 ft. Bulkheads are to be located to provide safety in event of collision and to stiffen the hull as a whole. The superstructure is to bo located to allow of an above-water deck, 31ft .long, when the vessel is light for surface running. The conning tower will bo of armour steel, having an outside diameter of 32in, and a minimum thickness of 4in, and provided with ports for observation. The vessels will be lighted by incandescent electric lamps. Compressed air will be stored aboard, and ventilators will bo provided for the circulation of outside air throughout the vessel.

The armament will consist oE one torpedo expulsion tube, located at the extreme forward end of the vessel, opening outboard, 2ft below the light waterline. The vessels will have capacity for carrying live torpedoes, each lift Sin long" In diving, the boat will be brought to an awash condition, with only the con-ning-towcv ports above water, then dive at a small angle until the proper depth is reached, when, through automatic or hand-operated means, the boat is brought to a horizontal position.

The oliieial trial will consist of a surface run of 1" knots at 7 knots per hour, and a submerged run of 2 knots at 7 knots per hour. At the end of the submerged run a service will be discharged and strike a target, 150 ft long by 10ft dec]), the upper edge of the target being awash, and place at right angles to the course.

A correspondent, who is likely to be well informed, writes :—Russian and French agents have already been instructed to keep a sharp watch to see whether the new British submarines will not be constructed in a different way from the ordinary Holland type.