NEW U-BOAT ENGINES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 282, 8 June 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

NEW U-BOAT ENGINES.

USED UNDER WATER INSTEAD OF BATTEUIES. «SLv Trib Js???" of (Switjerland) publishes the following del tails of new German submarines from »w Vienna correspondent: The distinctive features of the new large Gtrman submarines, which have the appearance of rentable cruisers, arc, accord ng t o the " Fremdenblatt/' their great radius of action and powerful armament. The German shipyards have built motors which are much more powerful than those employed hitherto. They have six cylinders, and develop a thousand harse-power. These heavy oil motors drive the new submanes when they have submerged whereas in tho older submarines ele* trie motors had to bo installed for uso below the surface. Their chief advantage lies in their great speed, even under the water, and their power of remaining long submerged without being obliged to come to the surface 10 recharge their accumulators. The gas produced by combustion is led through a pipe which is filled with loose lime, and oxygen is added to it from cylinders of compressed oxygen which are carried on board. The space usually taken up by tb e accumulators is filled with the apparatus for renewing the oxygen. The motors are so silent that when the vessel is beneath the surface they cannot be detected by instruments. Another advantage gained by this use of oxygen is that the crew can stand the atmosphere much longer when under water.

The "Reichspost" statw that the new submarines are also fitted for minelaying. They hove a compartment in which are two tubes for discharging mines, and each contains two mines, which can bo released as desired.