BRITISH SEA HAWKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1918, Page 4

BRITISH SEA HAWKS.

HARRYING THE IT-BO ATS

INCREASING “BAG” OF VICTIMS.

The patrol of our home waters by seaplanes provides good hunting for members of the Royal Navy Air Service and holds a promise of greater things to come (writes the special. London correspondent of the New York “World”). As submarine strafer the seaplane has already proved its efficiency, and the tally of U-boats bagged by seaplane grows longer week by week. E ren the restrained language of official reports cannot entirely hide the exhilarating nature of these encounters between the German submarines and the British air patrols. Here are a few of recent date :

Two large American seaplanes were on patrol together when, at 7.18 a.m., they sighted a submarine on the surface, travelling at fourteen knots, with a couple of Germans on the conning tower. Both planes quickly turned toward her and from a height of 80Q feet dropped a bomb, which exploded on the starboard side, of the U-boat half-way between her stern and conning tower. The boat heeled slowly over to port, with her stern down and lier bow up. The second plane now came "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 the second machine had wheeled back over the spot and dropped her second bomb, This tell within ten yards of the ring made by the previous bomb, and the remains of submarine finally disappeared. The pilot concludes his report with the remark that, although lie searched the vicinity for fifteen minutes afterwards, he failed to discover any trace of the two Germans whom lie had seen on the conning tower. Perhaps this is not altogether to be wondered at. It happened a few days later that a Short seaplane, on special patrol, sighted a U-boat stationary on .the sui fa’ce at 10.20 a.m, The submarine was ten miles away, figures could be discerned on deck. The ’plane dived from 4,000 feet to a height of 1,20 Q feet, and at 10.30. droppecl a bomb on the spot where the submuriue had disappeared five seconds previously. She was then sighted just below the surface, and a bomb was dropped on her, “ after which,” says the pilot, ‘'she disappeared.” This seaplane probably saved a convoy which,was then approaching the spot where the submarine had been lying. A DIRECT HIT. A fortnight after the above incident a large American seaplane, flying at a height of 4,100 feet, sighted a big submarine with two periscopes and a length of 200 feet showing above water. The seaplane hastily dived to SOO 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 once turned upside down and sank. Then a large bubble appeared on the surface, and presently some wreckage, together with large quantities of oil, appeared.

In the following week a large American seaplane was on patrol at 8.30 a.m., when a submarine was sighted one mile dead ahead lying on the surface with a man standing forward by lier 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 the bomb liad made a direct hit on the U-boat’s tail, a big rent beingjvisible in the deck. 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 the seaplane, which now turned about and again passed over the disabled U-boat. Her stern was bv this time well down, while her nose stood up clear of the water. The American gave her a second b.omb, and this exploded dead oti, 15 feet ahead of the bow. The whole submarine seemed to vibrate, then sank quickly, leaving a large quantity of blackish oil, air bubbles, and wreckage upon the surface of the sea. The enemy vessels vvere now drawing near, as well as a, couple of enemy seaplanes, so pur American, having no more bombs, returned to lier base.