TO CATCH SUBMARINES

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 96, 15 October 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

TO CATCH SUBMARINES

NOVEL AMERICAN IDEA

Mr. Jesse W. Reno, of New York, has suggested a new method and apparatus for catching submarines, differing in many features from those previously used. Comparatively narrow channels to harbours are usually protected from submarines by mooring strong steel nets across the channel from shore to shore. Such protection, however, is not 60 well suited to large bodies of water, as bays and open roadsteads. Mr. Reno's plan is to drop overboard from small cruisers several hundred ol his "catchers" and leave them free to float bock and forth with the current. It would be impossible for the enemy to locate them from the conning tower of a submarine, and therefore their presence in such waters would exert a powerful moral influence to prevent the free access of this terrible engine of destruction. There can be little doubt that a submarine will be put out of commission if it enters or even strikes a glancing blow against the submerged ring of the "catcher." This ring, made of light gas pipe or angle iron, is 24ft. in diameter, and is suspended freely by chain to a float which is nearly submerged. Attached to the ring are eight Jin. ropes about 100 ft. long with looped ends. The ropes are continuous in pairs, and the attachment to the ring is such that it will easily break away, and thus permit about 200 ft. of rope to wrap around the propeller blades and shaft when the loop is caught. The "catcher" would have little or no effect upon the ordinary ship, the bow of which, if coming in contact with it, would not engage ;in fact, the bow wave would probably push the "catcher" to one side, permitting it to drift astern.