GOOD HUNTING.

Taihape Daily Times, 23 August 1918, Page 6

GOOD HUNTING.

OUT ON A U-BOAT "STRAFE" (By "Ajax" in the "Navy League Quarterly." The patrol of our home waters by seaplane provides good hunting for the members of the Royal Naval Air Service, and hold a promise of greater things to come As submarine strafer the seaplane has already proved its efficiency, and the' tally of U-boats bagged by seaplane grows longer week by week. Even the restrained language of official reports cannot hide the exhilarating nature of these encounters between the German submariner and the British air patrols. Here are a few of recent dates: —

Two large seaplanes were on patrol together, when, at 7.18 a.m., they sighted a submarine on the surface, travelling at 14 knots, with a couple of Germans on the conning tower. Both 'planes quickly turned towards her, and from a height of 800 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 her bow up. The second 'plane now came over her, j as the eonning-tower was disappearing and dropped a bomb which fell just in front of the connirig-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 first machine had wheeled back over the spot and dropped her second bomb. This fell within ten yards of the Ting made by the previous bomb, and the remains of the sub--1 marine finally disappeared. It appeared a few days later that a Short seaplane, on special patrol, sighted a U-boat stationary on the , surface at 10.20 a.m. The submarine was 10 miles away, but figures could be discerned on deck. The 'plane dived from 4000 feet to a height of 1200 feet, arsi at 10.-30 dropped a bomb on the spot where the submarine had disappeared five seconds previously. She was then sighted just below the surfaee, and a bomb was dropped on her, "after which she disappeared." This seaplane probably saved a convoy which was then approaching the spot where the submarine had been lying.

A fortnight after the above incident one large seaplane, flying at a height of 4100 feet, sighted a big submarine with two periscopes and <a length of 200 feet showing above the water. The seaplane hastily dived to SOOft. and as the U-boat submerged, dropped two bombs, which fell abaft the conningtower, 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 largo seaplane was on patrol at 8.30 a.m., when a submarine was sighted one mule ahead, lying on the surface, with a man standing forward by her 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 i nthe, air 50 feet in front of her propellor. It was seen that the bomb had made a direct hit on the U-boat's tail, a big rent being visible in £he deck.; JjUst then! yAevkral 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 by this time well down, while her nose stood up clear of the water. The seaplane gave her a second bomb, and this exploded dead on 15 feet ahead of the bow. Thewhole submarine seemed to vibrate and then sank quickly, leaving a large quantity of blackish oil, air bubbles, and wreckage upon the surface. The enemy vessels were how drawing near, as well as a couple of enemy seaplanes, so rtur seaplane, having no more bombs, returned to her base.