SUBMARINE IN ARCTIC

Hokitika Guardian, 1 July 1930, Page 7

SUBMARINE IN ARCTIC

ACROSS TOP OF WORLD

SIR HUBERT WILKINS’ EXPEDITION.

SAN FRANCISCO,- May 2G

Sir Hubert Wilkins’ expedition, ivhich would sn.il beneath the ice across the top of the world—from Spitzbergen, via the North Pole, to the Behring Sea—lias chosen, the old and battered United States submarine 012 for its craft, and has made written request to the U.S Navy Department for a charter.

The submarine, if made available, will be virtually rebuilt, with machinery for boring through ice 50ft. thick, equipped with a balloon for air observation, and provided with bo.th television and radio. { The expedition’s proposal is one of the most daring ever made by man. Commenting on it, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy saysi “Here is an undertaking that would bring Jules Verne to the 20th. century.” 108 ONLY 10ft. THICK. In a letter to the Navy Department, Mr Sloan Danenhower said on behalf of the expedition that no gfeat unbroken ice floes had been observed irl the Arctic regions, and that there were no icebergs there of gront size, and over 25 per cent, of the distance from Spitsbergen to tho Behring Sen- could be sailed in open water. On much of the remainder of the route, estimates placed the ice depth at 10 feet, due to the breaking of me floes in summer.

“A submarine should be able to'rise within ten miles of any. given, spot in tho Arctic Ocean,” it was fsqidvt The submarine would be instaFleci'. with a “telescopic conning tower for; thepurpose of drilling ice,” ;und ;in'xh||f'manner it was estimated that; ice 'Of. lpft. thickness could be opened for sufficient distance to permit -the submarine to

emerge. Another device would be''provided to. drill through ice up to 50it. thick’ opening a hole of sufficient (size' 1 to enable air to be renewed, engTri&uexhausts discharged and the/batteries recharged. & $ i j A ( LIGHTS TO PENETRATE WATER An observation chamber would be built into; the'prow, irid finely!) focused lights, provided 1 which, wa-tild lpenetrate the s ; prater ' .sii|||ep distance ahead. ■ In addi ession chamber ,would ]pe addedj'in qrder that men in diying.-sui.ts.oouldjpiove in and out' of the Jjtibmerged/ braft.// ; Wit h this equipment it A was estimated a s submarine could ritovO ufider 'the ice at an aVeragfe/peed/pf four knots an hour with .little, danger of damage by collision. Nayigatiori would be managed entirely •by magnetic compasses. Mr Dahenhower, in his letter, said that if tbb’Navy, granted their request for a charter on the 012, ho would Sir Hubert would',lead/the expedition, Hr if! chief scientist of "the Pram expedition, had* also h|?nJ. e Pf; lifted, and’ he, would apply to ; the Norwegian Geophysical Institute fpf permission to serve as chief .bf the seientillc staf- r 6f the expedition/:, , "it '■ • v