Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 09.djvu/171

LEFT SUBMARINES 137 STJBMABINES propelled by steam. The French navy in 1896-97, built four submarines, driven by electricity, and fitted with compressed air reservoirs. From that time onward the submarine grew rapidly in impor- tance. Inventors were many, among them being the Frenchmen, Goubet^ Zede, and Peral, and the Americans, Simon Lake, J. P. Holland and others. Modern submarines are of four types, coast defense, cruising, fleet and mine- laying. While generally similar, they necessarily differ in details according to the work they are called upon to perform. Those used for coast defense require only a small cruising radius, since they can readily return to their base for fresh supplies of fuel, food and ammunition. For a similar reason. Quarters for officers and crew need be only of the simplest necessarily be larger than the coastal type, and even beiore the war boats of 800 to 1,200 tons had been built. Dur- ing the war, both the United States and Great Britain built several of 1,500 to 2,000 tons, and similar large boats were owned by Germany. On the average, the submarine cruiser is 250 to 300 feei: long, with a beam of 18 to 25 feet or more. They are swifter than the coastal type, and can attain a speed of 20 knots on the surface, and 14 to 15 knots sub- merged. More recent vessels have a cruising radius of 10,000 miles. Theii- armament has steadily increased, and some of the larger boats are equipped with two 5-inch or even 6-inch guns. In the earlier years of the war the German boats were fitted with one or two 3-inch guns, to which very soon was added an Submerged-Steering by Periscope. . — h-oft Oc- e on F l o or: — "^ — — ^ SUBMARINE kind. Compared with the cruising type they are small, varying from 250 to 600 tons, being 150 to 200 feet long with a beam of 15 to 20 feet. They can attain a speed of as much as 16 knots on the surface, but when submerged this is re- duced to 8-11 knots. They have a cruis- ing radius of 1,000 to 2,000 miles, and are usually armed with one 3-inch gun, and sometimes with an anti-aircraft gun in addition. They carry also from four to eight torpedo tubes. The Submarine Crtdser was the type which showed probably the great- est development during the war. These formed the most active branch of the German navy, and the enormous de- struction of Allied and neutral shipping was carried out by them. Because they are away from their base for several days, or even weeks, they must contain sleeping and living quarters for officers and crew, with space for the prepara- tion and cooking of food. In addition, they have to carry a comparatively large number of torpedoes and other needed supplies. It follows that they ^^nst anti-aircraft gun. These were, of course, in addition to the torpedo tubes, which numbered as many as eight. They car- ried a crew of from 40 to 50 men. The Fleet Submarine, as its name implies, is intended to accompany the fleet in action. Its radius of action need not necessarily be high, as it can be accompanied by a mother ship carry- ing supplies of fuel, extra ammunition, food for the crew and other necessities. This type can therefore be smaller than the cruiser, but it must be speedy and also^ possess seaworthiness. The sub- m-arine mine-layer was a type evolved by Germany during the war, and proved of great value to her in laying mines off the coast of Great Britain. They car- ried 16 mines in inclined tubes, which were open at the lower end. The tubes were loaded from the deck, the mines being liberated by a special device under water at the open end. All types of submarines are now driven by Diesel or gasoline engines when trav- eling on the surface, but rely on electric motors when submerged. The current