Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 92.djvu/578

 Dealing Death with Depth-Bombs

��How depth-bombs and new sea tactics are foiling the submarines

Bv Llovd E. Darlino-

��WHAT is the reason subi; arines have occupied less and less of the limelight recently? How does it happen that their ferocity has proven not so unconquerable as at first thought?

It's a good old American reason — pluck and inventive genius.

We should an- nounce at the begin- ning that the tactics of American de- stroyers operating in the submarine zone are just the opposite of what has been cur- rent practice. Every time our destroyers see a submarine, they head straight for it. The old idea was to circle around and take pot shots every time opportunity offered. The new idea works havoc with the plans of underwater plotters.

But suppose our destroyers do head straight for the sub- marines —how do they do any exterminating even then? Answer: Depth-bombs.

Let us pause for a

���Depth-bomb mentioned by E. F. Chandler. Water enters through holes, pushes dial or diaphragm. Spring, regulated by set-key, op- poses the pressure. At proper depth pressure causes explosion

��moment and consider how two American destroyers, the Fanning and the Nichol- son, recently disposed of a U-boat with depth-bombs. The incident, as vari- ously reported in the Associated Press despatches, was exciting. We may retell it as follows:

Wherein One Sub- marine Succumbs

"Periscope two points of? the star- board bow!" called a- lookout on the Fan- uing. Instantly an alarm to general head- quarters was sounded and the helm thrown' hard over. Signal flags were swung out, notifying the sister ship of the exact loca- tion of the enemy. At the same time the heliograph began its staccato flashing of orders for a combined attack.

The submarine sub- merged. Straight for the spot where last it was seen went the Fanning. Arriving, the commander re-

���Submarine sinking for the last time. Fanning's gun at left means business

��Crew of submarine surrendering to United States destroyers Fanning and Nicholson

��5G^2

�� �