Submarines, Mines And Torpedoes In The War - free ebook by Charles W. (Charles William) Domville-Fife

Submarines, Mines and torpedoes in the War

Photo, Cribb, Southsea. ]...

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PREFACE

Warfare has become so largely a matter of science that in order to arrive at an intelligent understanding of the naval situation or of the military campaigns in the Great European War, a knowledge of the scientific factors contributing to victory or defeat is essential. And in this volume it has been my aim not only to review the actual fighting underseas, but also to present a compendium of information relative to the submarine fleets and arms of the great Naval Powers engaged; which I venture

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INTRODUCTION THE SUBMARINE PHASE OF THE NAVAL WAR

In the mist of war which envelops over half the entire world, no less than 264 underwater fighting ships are engaged. They form the submarine fleets of England, France, Russia, Japan, Germany and Austria; and the highly-trained crews of these modern additions to the fighting navies comprise nearly 20,000 men. But the conduct of submarine warfare on the grand scale requires far more than flotillas of submergible warships and their daring crews. This new branch of naval science is ever widening in

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Method of Submergence

It may sound ridiculous, in face of the many accidents which have occurred, to say that one of the greatest difficulties is to make a submarine sink sufficiently quickly, and one of the easiest of operations to make her rise, and yet such is undeniably the case. [1] It will be readily understood that any delay in disappearing beneath the surface when attacking would be a great danger to a submarine in action. For example, a number of hostile torpedo-boat destroyers are scouring the sea in advanc

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Propulsion.

Of the many complicated problems surrounding submarine boat construction the motive power and propelling engines have been in the past, and are still, the most profound puzzles. Steam, compressed air, electricity, petrol, and heavy oil have all been used with varying results since first this type of vessel came into being; and many curious engines for using these prime movers in conjunction with each other and with chemical compounds have been evolved by ingenious inventors. About steam and comp

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Vision When Submerged.

Perhaps the greatest difficulty which has beset both submarine construction and navigation is the puzzle how to see when submerged. This is now accomplished by means of periscopes, or tubes extending up from the roof of the submarine to a height of several feet above the surface—not unlike hollow masts. By a series of lenses and reflectors a picture of the surface is thrown down these tubes on to reflectors inside the submarine. A man with his eyes at the bottom of a periscope can see the surfac

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Armament.

The chief armament of all naval submarines is the torpedo, which is expelled by a blast of compressed air from one of the tubes fitted in the bow and stern. Several torpedoes are usually carried by each boat, so that if one failed to strike the object of attack further attempts can be made. About the efficiency of torpedoes nothing need be said here, for they now form an important weapon in every navy, and to this subject a future chapter is devoted. The latest submarines built are also fitted w

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Habitability.

Many people imagine the interior of a submarine to resemble a stokehold, hot, stifling, and semi-dark, whereas the exact contrary is the truth. The temperature is but little above the normal for a ship’s engine-room, the air-supply is amply sufficient, and the whole interior is well illuminated by electric lamps. The necessary supply of pure air is derived either from large steel cylinders containing the air in a highly compressed state or from flasks of oxylithe. The carbonic acid gas of the re

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Submarines on Foreign Stations.

Attached to Mediterranean Fleet.—Submarines B.9, B.10, and B.11. At Gibraltar.—Submarines B.6, B.7, and B.8. Attached to China Squadron.—Submarines C.36, C.37, and C.38. With Australian Fleet.—Submarines A.E.1 [2] and A.E.2. The statement that the headquarters of the various submarine flotillas in home waters are at Chatham, Portsmouth, and Devonport, must not be taken as indicating that these are the only points along the coast protected by submarines. These places are merely the chief bases of

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“A” Class.

These vessels are the oldest British submarines in commission. They were built at Messrs. Vickers’ works at Barrow, and have a submerged displacement of 204 tons. Their length is 150 feet. They are propelled on the surface by petrol motors of 600 H.-P. and by electric engines of 100 H.-P. when submerged. Their surface and submerged speed is 11 knots and 7 knots respectively. The cruising range, or maximum surface endurance on the fuel carried, is 400 knots at 10 knots an hour, and the endurance

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“B” Class.

These are submarines of the improved Holland type, and are in every way superior to their predecessors. They may be considered the first of the sea-going type. Their submerged displacement is 316 tons; length 135 feet, and beam 13 ½ feet. The motive power is the same as in the “A’s”—petrol for surface propulsion and electricity for use when submerged. The horse-power of the petrol engines is 600, and that of the electric engines 189. As in most submarines the supply of current for driving the el

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“C” Class.

This class of submarines is composed of vessels of the improved “B” type. They have a submerged displacement of 320 tons and are 135 feet long and 13 ½ feet broad. The petrol motors develop 600 H.-P. and give to these vessels a speed of 14 knots an hour on the surface. The power of the electric engines was increased to 300 H.-P. , giving a submerged speed of just over 9 knots an hour. The surface cruising range is 2,000 knots at the most economical speed, and the submerged endurance 100 knots at

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“D” Class.

These are all modern vessels of the sea-going type, and are of considerable fighting value. They, however, differ slightly from each other: D.1 has a submerged displacement of 595 tons; D.2 of 600 tons; and the remaining vessels of this class of 620 tons. They have an approximate length of 150 feet and a beam of 15 feet. Heavy-oil engines of 1,200 H.-P. drive them at a maximum speed of 16 knots an hour on the surface, and electric motors of 550 H.-P. give them a submerged speed of just over 10 k

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“E” Class.

These fine ocean-going submarines are the latest additions to the British Flotillas. They have a submerged displacement of 800 tons, are 176 feet long and 22 ½ feet in beam. The heavy-oil engines of nearly 2,000 H.-P. give them a surface speed of over 16 knots, while the electric engines of 800 H.-P. drive them at a maximum speed of 10 knots an hour when submerged. Their surface cruising range is 5,000 miles at economical speed, and the submerged endurance 140 knots at 8 knots an hour. In point

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Australian Submarines:

These vessels are exactly the same as the “E” class. The fact that they both accomplished the 13,000-mile voyage from Barrow to Sydney under their own power and without convoy is practical proof of the wide range, seaworthiness and general efficiency of the latest British Naval Submarines. The A.E.1 mysteriously disappeared in Australian waters in October, 1914, and has not been recovered....

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British Submarines Building.

At the commencement of the great war there were 22 British submarines in course of construction at the various shipbuilding works and naval dockyards. Up to 1909 Messrs. Vickers Ltd., had constructed all the British submarines, but in that year the vessels C.17 and C.18 were laid down at Chatham Dockyard. Since then several other boats have been constructed there, and of those now in hand some are being built by Messrs. Vickers Ltd. at Barrow, others at Messrs. Scott’s shipbuilding yards at Gree

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Lutin Class.

These are the oldest submarines in the French Navy, and are all of the defensive type. They have a displacement of about 185 tons, with electric engines for propulsion both on the surface and when submerged. Their speed is 12 knots on the surface and 8 knots when submerged. Their range of action is about 200 miles at 7 knots. The armament consists of one bow tube and two holders, with four 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes. The complement is nine officers and men. Photos, M. Bar. ]...

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Française Class.

These two vessels are of the improved Morse type, and are intended solely for coast and harbour defence. Their surface displacement is 146 tons, and they have electric engines of 350 H.-P. for both surface and submerged propulsion, giving them a speed of 12 knots and 8 knots an hour, respectively. Their surface radius is about 80 miles at 8 knots. They have one bow tube and two holders, with four torpedoes. The complement is nine officers and men....

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Triton Class.[3]

These four vessels were the first of the submersible type and were designed by M. Laubeuf, who has since designed many vessels for both France and other countries ( Laubeuf type). They have a submerged displacement of 200 tons, and are 111 feet long and 12 ½ feet in beam. Steam is used for surface propulsion (217 H.-P. ) and electricity when submerged. Their speed is 11 knots on the surface and 8 knots when submerged, with a cruising radius of 600 miles at 8 knots. They are armed with four holde

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Naiade Class.

Twenty small harbour defence submarines, having a displacement of about 67 tons. They have petrol and electric motors, giving them a speed of 8 ½ knots on the surface and 5 knots when submerged. Their armament consists of one bow tube and two holders; four torpedoes are carried. Their complement is six officers and men....

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Aigrette Class.

These two vessels are submersibles of the Laubeuf type, and were great improvements on their predecessors, the Triton Class. Their submerged displacement is 351 tons, and their dimensions 118 × 12 × 12 feet. A triple expansion steam engine of 200 H.-P. is used for surface propulsion and an electric motor of 150 H.-P. when submerged. Their speed is 10 knots and 8 ½ knots. Their maximum surface endurance is 700 miles at 8 knots, and submerged 60 miles at 6 knots. Their armament consists of one bow

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Argonaute.

A submersible designed by M. Bertin (late Chief Constructor French Navy). This vessel, which was first named Omega , has a displacement of about 300 tons. She is driven by steam and electricity, and has a speed of 11 knots and 9 knots. Her armament consists of two bow tubes and two holders, with six 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes. The complement is about seventeen officers and men....

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Emeraude Class.

These six vessels are of the Maugas type and are sea-going submarines with a submerged displacement of over 400 tons. They have petrol and electric motors of 600 H.-P. and 450 H.-P. , respectively. Their surface speed is 12 knots and submerged 8 ½ knots. Their surface cruising radius is just over 1,000 miles at economical speed. Their armament consists of two tubes and four holders with 8 torpedoes of the usual pattern. Their complement is seventeen officers and men....

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Circe Class.

These two vessels are of the Laubeuf type, and are improvements on the Aigrette class. They have a submerged displacement of about 450 tons and are 160 feet in length. They are driven by a steam engine of 440 H.-P. (flash boiler and oil fuel) when on the surface, and by electric motors when submerged. Their speed is 11 knots and 8 knots; and the range of action 1,000 miles. Their armament comprises two tubes and four holders with eight torpedoes. The complement is 21 officers and men....

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Pluviôse Class.

Submarines of the Laubeuf type with a submerged displacement of nearly 600 tons. All built at Cherbourg. The Brumaire and Frimaire are driven by petrol motors of 700 H.-P. when cruising on the surface, but all the others have small steam turbines with a special type of flash-boiler. Electric motors are used for submerged propulsion. Their speed is 12 knots above and 9 knots below. The armament is seven 18-inch torpedoes. Their complement is 22 officers and men....

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Fresnel Class.

Twenty-two submarines of the largest sea-going Laubeuf type. Only three of these are steam driven, the others using heavy-oil engines for surface propulsion. They are in all respects similar to vessels of the Pluviôse class, and have a displacement of about 600 tons. Their speed is 12 knots above, and 9 knots below, and the armament seven 18-inch torpedoes. These vessels are fitted with stern as well as bow tubes. Their surface cruising range is over 2,000 miles....

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Amiral Bourgeoise.

An experimental boat of the Bourdelle type, built at Cherbourg. The submerged displacement is just under 800 tons and the length 190 feet. She is driven on the surface by heavy-oil engines of 1,600 H.-P. , which give a speed of 15 knots. The electric motors for submerged propulsion are of 700 H.-P. , giving a speed of 10 knots. The armament consists of seven 18-inch torpedoes, and the cruising range is 3,500 miles....

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Archimède.

Another experimental boat built at Cherbourg. The submerged displacement is about 810 tons, and the length and beam 212 feet and 22 feet respectively. Steam turbines are used for surface propulsion and electric motors when submerged. Her speed is 15 knots above and 10 knots below. The armament is seven 18-inch torpedoes, and the complement 24 officers and men. Photo, M. Bar. ]...

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Mariotte.

The third experimental boat, of the Rodiquet type, built at Cherbourg. The displacement when submerged is 650 tons and the length about 200 feet. Petrol motors of 1,500 H.-P. drive her at 15 knots an hour on the surface and electric motors of 550 H.-P. at 10 knots when submerged. Her radius of action is 3,000 miles, and her armament seven 18-inch torpedoes, which can be fired from both bow and stern tubes. The complement is about 25 officers and men....

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Charles Brun.

The fourth experimental vessel, built at Cherbourg during 1909–12. The submerged displacement is 450 tons and the length 145 feet. Steam turbines of 1,300 H.-P. drive her at 15 ½ knots an hour on the surface, and electric motors of 500 H.-P. at 10 knots when submerged. Her armament consists of six 18-inch torpedoes. The complement is 22 officers and men....

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Clorinde Class.

These ten vessels are the very latest additions to the French Submarine flotillas. They have a submerged displacement of about 550 tons, a length of 177 feet and a beam of 16 feet. Heavy-oil engines of 1,300 H.-P. give them a speed of 15 knots on the surface, and electric motors of 550 H.-P. enable them to travel at 9 ½ knots an hour when submerged. They carry eight torpedoes, and have a complement of 25 officers and men....

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Gustave Zede Class.

These two vessels are the largest submarines in the French flotillas. They have a submerged displacement of 1,000 tons, a length of 240 feet, and a beam of 20 feet. Heavy-oil engines give them a surface speed of 16 knots and electric motors a submerged speed of 10 knots. Their armament consists of two bow and two stern tubes with eight 18-inch torpedoes. They are also equipped with two 14-pdr. quick-firing guns on high-angle, disappearing mountings. The cruising range is 4,000 miles, and the com

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Bellone Class.

Fast sea-going submarines with a submerged displacement of 610 tons. They have heavy-oil engines of about 2,000 H.-P. , which give them a surface speed of 17 ½ knots. Electric motors of 950 H.-P. drive them at 12 knots when submerged. Their surface cruising range is 4,000 miles. Their armament consists of eight 18-inch torpedoes and two 14-pdr. quick-firing, high-angle guns. The complement is 30 officers and men....

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French Submarines Building.

On the day when war was declared nine submarines were in the early stages of construction. The two most advanced of these were the Diane and Daphne . These vessels have a submerged displacement of about 800 tons, and the anticipated speed is 18 knots and 10 knots. Their armament will consist of ten torpedoes and four 9-pdr. guns. The complement will be 30 officers and men. The other seven vessels are of the improved Gustave Zede Class. They will have a submerged displacement of over 1,000 tons a

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Graf Cheremetieve Class.

These are the oldest submarines in the Russian Navy, and are small vessels of the Holland-Bubnoff type. They have a submerged displacement of 200 tons. Petrol and electric engines drive them at 9 knots on the surface and 6 knots when submerged. Their armament consists of one bow torpedo tube and two exterior holders, with four 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes....

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Ostr Class.

These five submarines are of the American Lake type. The Ostr was originally the American Lake Co.’s boat Protector . They have a submerged displacement of 175 tons, are 65 feet in length and 11 feet in breadth. Have petrol engines of 250 H.-P. for surface propulsion and electric motors for use when submerged. Their speed is 11 knots above and 7 knots below. The surface cruising radius is 450 knots at full speed. The armament consists of two bow and one stern tube with four 18-inch Whitehead tor

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Som Class.

These two vessels, which are of the Holland-Bubnoff type, have a submerged displacement of about 150 tons. Petrol and electric motors are used for surface and submerged propulsion, and the speed is 9 ½ knots and 7 knots, above and below, respectively. Their armament consists of two bow tubes with four 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes. Their complement is about fifteen officers and men....

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Sterliad Class.

These three vessels are also of the Holland-Bubnoff type. They have a submerged displacement of 150 tons. The petrol motors for surface propulsion are of 160 H.-P. The speed is 9 ½ knots and 7 knots, above and below, respectively. Their armament consist of two bow tubes with four 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes. Their complement is eleven to fifteen officers and men....

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Sig.

A submarine of the Lake type; similar in almost every respect to vessels of the Ostr class....

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Makrel Class.

Two vessels of the Improved Holland-Bubnoff type. They have a submerged displacement of about 200 tons. The petrol motors are of 300 H.-P. , and the electric engines of 150 H.-P. Their speed is 10 knots on the surface and 8 knots when submerged. They are fitted with two bow tubes and two stern holders , and carry six 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes. Their complement is fifteen officers and men....

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Lossos Class.

Two somewhat smaller submarines of the Holland type. Intended either for the Black Sea or Far Eastern Flotilla. Similar to those of the Sterliad class....

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Karp Class.

These two submarines are of the Germania, or Krupp type, and have a submerged displacement of 250 tons. They have Krupp-Nuremburg heavy-oil engines of 400 H.-P. , and electric motors of 160 H.-P. Their speed on the surface is 12 knots, and 8 knots when submerged. The surface range of action is about 1,000 miles, and the submerged endurance about three hours at full speed. Their armament consists of two bow torpedo tubes and four torpedoes are carried. Their complement is fifteen officers and men

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Alligator Class.

Four submarines of the improved Lake type. They have a submerged displacement of 500 tons. Their speed is 15 knots on the surface and 10 knots when submerged. They are fitted with two bow and two stern tubes, and carry six 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes. Their complement is seventeen officers and men. (See also page 96 .)...

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Minoga Class.

Two small submarines of the Holland-Bubnoff type, which were built in sections to facilitate transport by rail. They have a submerged displacement of about 150 tons, and a speed of 12 knots and 9 knots, above and below, respectively. Their complement is eleven officers and men....

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Akula.

A large submarine of the Holland-Bubnoff type. Her displacement is about 570 tons, and her speed 16 knots on the surface and 10 knots when submerged. The armament consists of two bow and one stern tube, with six 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes. The complement is 20 officers and men....

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Kaschalot Class.

These seven vessels are among the most modern submarines in the Russian flotillas. They are of the Holland-Bubnoff type, and have a submerged displacement of about 500 tons. Heavy-oil engines of over 1,000 H.-P. drive them at a maximum surface speed of 16 knots, and electric motors of 550 H.-P. give them a submerged speed of just over 10 knots an hour. Their surface cruising range is about 3,000 miles. Their armament consists of two bow and one stern tube with six 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes. Th

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Russian Submarines Building.

At the commencement of the war there were nineteen Russian submarines in course of construction. Very little information concerning these boats can be obtained, except that their submerged displacement ranges from 800 to 1,500 tons, and their anticipated surface speed is 20 knots. Some of the 800-ton vessels have already been completed, and the first twelve will be named: Svitza , Leopard , Pantera , Ruis , Kaguar , Tiqr , Yaguar , Vepr , Wolk , Baro , Gepard , and Tur . These vessels have a spe

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Nos. 6 and 7.

These two vessels were the first submarine boats to be built in Japan, but are of the same type as Nos. 1–5, only larger and faster. They have a submerged displacement of 180 tons, a length of 100 feet and a beam of 10 feet. The petrol engines are of 300 H.-P. and the electric motors of 100 H.-P. The surface and submerged speed is 10 knots and 8 knots an hour, respectively. Their armament consists of one torpedo tube with three 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes....

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Nos. 8 and 9.

These two vessels are very similar to the British “C” class, and were built by Messrs. Vickers Ltd. They have a submerged displacement of 320 tons; petrol motors of 600 H.-P. , and a surface and submerged speed of 13 knots and 8 knots an hour, respectively. Their armament consists of two bow tubes with four to six 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes. Their complement is sixteen officers and men....

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Nos. 10‒15.

These six vessels are the same in almost every respect as the later “C” class of British submarines (pages 70–71 )....

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Nos. 16‒17[4].

These two vessels are of the Schneider-Laubeuf or French type. (British “W” class.) Their submerged displacement is about 500 tons, and the horse-power of their surface engines 2,500. The surface and submerged speed is 18 knots and 9 knots respectively. Their armament consists of six torpedo tubes with eight Schneider torpedoes. The complement is about 30 officers and men. The natural adroitness with which Japanese sailors manipulate complicated machinery, combined with their absolute fearlessne

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U.1.

This U.1 was built as an experimental boat by the famous firm of Krupps. She has a surface displacement of 197 tons, a submerged displacement of 236 tons, and her heavy-oil surface engines are of 250 H.-P. The electric motors for submerged use develop just over 100 H.-P. The speed ranges from 10 knots an hour on the surface to 7 knots when submerged, and her surface range of action is about 700 to 800 miles. The armament consists of one bow torpedo tube and three (17.7) Schwartzkopf torpedoes ar

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U.2-U.8.

These seven vessels were great improvements on the U.1. Their displacement is 210 tons on the surface and about 250 tons when submerged. They are fitted with Krupp-Nuremburg heavy-oil engines of 400 H.-P. and electric motors of 160 H.-P. Their speed on the surface is 12 knots and 8 knots when submerged. The surface range of action is 1,000 miles and the submerged endurance about three hours at full speed. Their armament consists of two bow torpedo tubes and four torpedoes are carried. The comple

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U.9-U.18.[5]

These ten vessels are of increased size and power, their submerged displacement being 300 tons, and the horse-power of their heavy oil surface engines is 600. The electric motors develop 200 H.-P. The surface and submerged speeds are 13 knots and 8 knots respectively. The surface range of action is 1,500 miles, and the armament consists of two bow and one stern torpedo tube with five torpedoes. The U.13 and subsequent vessels of this class are provided with a quick-firing, high-angle gun for def

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U.19 and U.20.

There are only two vessels in this class owing to the adoption of certain improvements with the aid of which a partly new type has been evolved. These two vessels have a displacement when submerged of 450 tons. Their oil engines of 650 H.-P. give a speed of 13 ½ knots an hour on the surface, and their electric motors of 300 H.-P. give 8 knots an hour when submerged. Their surface range of action is 2,000 miles, and their armament consists of two bow and one stern torpedo tube with six torpedoes,

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U.21-U.24.

These four vessels are the first of the new type of large sea-going submarines for the German Navy. Their submerged displacement is 800 tons. They are propelled on the surface by heavy-oil engines of 1,200 H.-P. , and when submerged by electric motors of 500 H.-P. Their speed above water is 14 knots an hour and below the surface 9 knots. The surface range of action is 3,000 miles and the submerged endurance 120 miles at economical speed. Their armament consists of two bow and two stern torpedo t

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U.25-U.30.

These six vessels are the latest additions to the German submarine flotilla. They are vessels of 900 tons submerged displacement with heavy-oil engines of 2,000 H.-P. , and electric motors of 900 H.-P. Their surface and submerged speed is 18 knots and 10 knots, respectively. The surface cruising range is 4,000 miles. Their armament consists of two bow and two stern torpedo tubes, with eight large size torpedoes, and, in addition, two 14-pdr. quick-firing guns and two 1-pdr. high-angle guns. They

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U.31-U.36.

These are the six vessels which are rapidly nearing completion, and which were in a much more advanced state, at the opening of hostilities, than was generally known in foreign naval circles. They are the same in almost every respect as the vessels U.25 to U.30. There is, however, another submarine being built for Germany of a totally different design. This is the F.I.A.T. or Laurenti boat (Italian), laid down at the beginning of 1914. This vessel is very similar to the four “S” boats being buil

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U.1 and U.2.

These two vessels are of the American Lake type. They have a submerged displacement of 250 tons and petrol surface motors of 720 H.-P. Their speed is 12 knots on the surface and 8 knots when submerged. The armament consists of two bow and one stern torpedo tube. This type of submarine has three special features which distinguish it from all others. It is fitted with a kind of underframe and wheels, and is designed to travel in four different positions: (1) on the surface; (2) semi-submerged, wit

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U.3 and U.4.

These two vessels are of the Krupp design, and have a submerged displacement of 300 tons. The horse-power of their heavy-oil surface engines is 600. The electric motors develop 200 H.-P. The surface and submerged speeds are 13 knots and 8 knots respectively. The surface range of action is 1,500 miles, and the armament consists of two bow and one stern tube with five 18-inch torpedoes. Their complement is fifteen officers and men....

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U.5 and U.6.

These are submarines of the Improved Holland type. Their submerged displacement is about 316 tons; length 135 feet, and beam 13 ½ feet. The horse-power of the petrol engines is 600 and that of the electric engines 189. The speed averages 12 knots on the surface and 8 knots when submerged. The surface cruising range is 1,300 knots at 10 knots an hour. Their armament consists of two bow tubes with four to six 18-inch Whitehead torpedoes. Their complement is sixteen officers and men....

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U.7-U.11.

These five vessels are of the Krupp-Germania type, and are similar to those completed for the German Navy in 1912–13. They are large sea-going submarines with a submerged displacement of 800 tons. They are propelled on the surface by heavy-oil engines of 1,200 H.-P. , and when submerged, by electric motors of 500 H.-P. Their speed is 14 knots and 9 knots, above and below, respectively. The surface range of action is 3,000 miles, and the submerged endurance 120 miles at economical speed. Their ar

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Submarine Flotillas of Neutral European Powers.

Submarines have two great advantages over all types of surface warships; they can become invisible at will—or sufficiently invisible to make gun or torpedo-practice, except at very close quarters, almost entirely useless—and they can, by sinking, cover themselves with armour-plate of sufficient thickness to be absolutely shell-proof. These are the two main points in favour of the submarine. There are, however, many minor features. Although submarines are known in the naval services as “daylight

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Attacking at Right Angles.

The difficulty of attacking a surface warship steaming at right angles to the course of the submarine will be clearly understood by referring to the following diagrams. The first shows an attack on a warship travelling at 20 miles an hour, such as a big battleship or a cruiser Any increase in the speed of the surface vessel not only adds to the difficulty of the attacking submarine, but also the direction from which the attack must be made. This feature is shown in the second diagram, which illu

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The Porpoise Dive.

The manœuvre known as the “Porpoise Dive” is merely the sudden rising of a submarine in order to enable her commander to get a better view of the surface than that afforded by the periscope. The submarine on approaching the object of attack rises quickly to the surface by the action of her horizontal rudders, then dives again, only remaining above water for a few seconds to enable her commander to get a glimpse of the enemy, and to take bearings. The submarine can then get within torpedo-range,

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Difficulty of the Fixed Torpedo Tube.

With the exception of one or two vessels, which it would be unwise to specify, all the submarines engaged in the present war have what are called fixed submerged tubes . This means that the tubes from which the torpedoes are discharged are fitted inside the submarine on a line with the centre of the boat , and cannot be moved or aimed in any way apart from the boat itself. It therefore becomes necessary for the submarine to be aligned by the steering rudders on the object of attack before the to

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Submarine Flotilla v. Surface Fleet.

It is absolutely necessary for submarines acting in company to have each its allotted task; and for a wide space of water to be left between each boat; as it is impossible, at present, for one submarine to know the exact position of another when both vessels are submerged. Therefore, if each boat was not previously instructed how to act, there would not only be the likelihood of the greater portion of an attacking flotilla firing their torpedoes at one or two vessels of the hostile fleet and all

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Surprise Attack.

In this case invisibility is the element of success. Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge, G.C.B., in a letter to the Author once said: “When submerged the concealment of the submarine is practically perfect. If she has not been sighted up to the moment of diving, she will almost certainly reach, unobserved, the point at which she can make her attack.” And this opinion—shared for many years by all experts—has been amply proved in the present war. A submarine must, however, blend with the surrounding sea i

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CHAPTER IX ANTI-SUBMARINE TACTICS

In all warfare, new weapons of attack are, sooner or later, met by new methods of defence. The submarine and the aeroplane are at present the only weapons against which there is no true means of defence, and yet one is being used as an antidote for the other without, however, any very striking success so far. The seaplane may be able to distinguish the dark patch in the sea caused by the hull of the submarine in clear water , but she cannot destroy it, neither can she signal the exact locality t

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CHAPTER X THE SUBMARINE TORPEDO

The submarine torpedo has become one of the principal naval arms. Not only does it supply the chief offensive power of the submarine, the torpedo-boat and the destroyer, but it is also carried as a separate arm, with a special highly-trained crew, by almost every warship afloat. At the beginning of hostilities the Naval Powers engaged owned considerably over 80,000 of these weapons, and one factory in England alone can make them at the rate of two a day. During the first few weeks of the Great W

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CHAPTER XI SUBMARINE MINES

If the Russo-Japanese war was the first to fully demonstrate the value of the explosive mine, the Great European Conflict has certainly brought this weapon to the forefront in the rapidly growing science of submarine warfare. During the first few weeks of the naval fighting several warships, beginning with H.M.S. Amphion , and many merchant vessels representing millions of pounds sterling, were destroyed by these weapons. Had it not been for the foresight of the British Admiralty in providing a

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Mine-Laying Fleets.

These are all second class cruisers of from 3,400 to 3,600 tons, built about 1891–2, which have been converted into mine-layers. They are equipped with a very large number of submarine explosive mines, which can be automatically lowered into the water as the vessels steam along. Their speed is about 15 knots, and their armament consists of four 4·7-inch quick-firing guns. Their complement is about 150 officers and men. Photo, Cribb, Southsea. ] All these vessels, with the exception of the Arkona

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CHAPTER XIII MINE-SWEEPING FLEETS

For clearing away the mines dropped by an enemy special vessels are employed. Each vessel is fitted on both sides with a curious contrivance known as the “picking-up gear.” This apparatus is lowered into the water, and “picks up” any mines which may lie in the path of an on-coming fleet. When a mine-field is discovered by either destroyers or seaplanes these vessels are immediately dispatched to destroy it; and they are aided, in the case of the British Navy, by a large flotilla of steam trawler

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BRITISH NAVY.

It must, however, be pointed out that six vessels of the sea-going “F” class have not yet taken their place in the active flotillas; and that eight vessels of the “E” class were on duty on foreign stations when war commenced....

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AUSTRIAN NAVY.

When war commenced all the vessels of the German Flotillas (30 to 37) were concentrated in the North Sea and Baltic. The Austrian Flotilla of six vessels was in the Adriatic. Great Britain had in home waters 74 submarines and 14 others on duty in the outer seas. France had several of the 92 vessels composing her powerful flotillas at her oversea colonial naval bases. Russia had 14 submarines in the Baltic, 11 in the Black Sea, and 12 in the Far East. The Japanese Flotilla (17) was concentrated i

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