NEW U-BOAT ENGINES.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 May 1917, Page 7

NEW U-BOAT ENGINES.

USED UNDER WATER INSTEAD OK BATTERIES. The Tribune, of Lausanne (Switzerland) publishes the following details of Hew German submarines from its Vienna correspondent:— "The distinctive features of the new large German submarines, which have the appearance of veritable cruisers, are. according to 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 lb-- h.p. "These heavy oil motors drive the new submarines when they have submerged, vhcreas in the older submarines electric motors have to be installed for use below the surface. Their chief advantage lies in the great speed, even under wate •, and their power of remaining long submerged without being obliged to come 10 the surface to recharge their accumulators. "The gas produced by combustion is ied through a pipe which is filled wit.i loose lime, and oxygen is added to it from cylinders of compressed oxygen which are carried on board. The space usually taken up by tln> accumulators is filled with the apparatus for renewing the oxygen. "The motors are so silent that when the vessel is beneath the surface they c'iinot be detected by i struments. Another advantage gained by this nso of oxygen is that the crew can stand uw atmosphere much longer when und».r Water. "The Reichspost states that the ne p submarines are also fitted for minelaying. They have a compartment in which arc two tubes for discharging mines, and each contains two mines, which can be released as desired."