SAFETY DEVICE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19988, 13 July 1939, Page 7

SAFETY DEVICE

PROTECTING SUBMARINES TORPEDO TUBE DOORS DISCLOSURE AT INQUIRY DISASTER TO THETIS (Eloc. Tel. Copyright—Unilml Tress Assn.) (Reed. July 12, 2.15 p.m.) LONDON, July 11. Giving evidence under cross-exam-ination at the inquiry concerning the disaster to .the submarine Thetis, Which failed to rise after diving during her trials off the mouth, of the Mersey on June 1, Mr. L. C. Williamson, the assistant director of naval construction, said that :if the Thetis had- been Titled with efficient mechanism preventing the outer and inner doors of the torpedo tubes opening simultaneously, the disaster might inot have occurred. Other technicians testified to inspection o£ the Davis escape apparatus on March 30 and finding the apparatus satisfactory. Mr. Justice Bucknill said that the probable reason for putting four men into the escape chamber of the Thetis was the shortage of time. “They must have been very much like sardines in a tin and the apparatus required certain freedom of movement” he continued. I do not think there is the slightest reason to suppose that there was any panic.” Lieutenant-Commander Me Vic ke r demonstrated the difficulties of four men using' the apparatus in the chamber. He thought this was the chief cause of the failure/ Since 1937 there had been only four complete failures of the apparatus at the training centre, Port Blockhouse, from a total of 3279 men. Lieutenant-Commander McVicker, said that it was a mistake to send Tour men into the chamber. It was designed for two. Four men would be crushed together, this probably affecting their ability to breathe out. The crowding might even double up the mouth-piece tubes in such a way as the mer could neither breathe in nor breathe out.