LIFE IN A SUBMARINE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2659, 15 November 1909, Page 2

LIFE IN A SUBMARINE.

A PEEP BELOW.

HOAV OFFICERS AND MEN SPEND THE TIME.

Out of the different types of vessels which go to make a modern fleet (writes “R.C.” in a London paper), those which undoubtedly excite the keenest interest of the public at large are the submarines. This, partly, because it is forbidden to visit them, but chiefly because submarines arc the latest type of vessel. And then there is so much unusual romance and weird possibilities. so many mysterious powers, attached to the conception of those little ralmou-shnped craft, in the mind of the unsophisticated onlooker. How do they look inside, what docs it feel like to be closed up in one, how .deep do they plunge, how many men live on board, and, above all, wlin.t kind of life do those men lead ? Such are the eager questions which everyone asks when in presence of this latest and most deadly form of naval weapon. Before taking the reader down in one of these submarines and introducing to him its mysteries, which needless to say do not qiiite respond to the fanciful and almost fantastic idea the average person forms about them, a few preliminary details may be of use. ’ THE COMPLEMENT. A submarine is manned by a crew of sixteen—two officers and fourteen men. All are volunteers from the fleet. The fourteen men comprise: 2 artificers, to look after the engines, 1 stoker-petty-officer, 3 “stokers,” 1 coxswain (first-class petty-officer) 3 electricians —or torpedo men, 3 seamen and 1 leading .seaman.

Every man who volunteers for service in a submarine must submit to- a special medical examination, much attention being paid to tbe heart and lungs. Tlie life on board one of those little vessels is not. as many people think, particularly dangerous. But it is so entirely different from that which is led in the •other types of ships that, after having served two years or so in a submarine, the men arc taken away from them and sent on board a cruiser or battleship, so that they may keep in touch with tbe ordinary service. Let it also be -understood that the -active service in submarines is limited to a period of three weeks—-on end — during the summer, and ono week during the winter. The rest of the year the, officers and men live in what is called a “parent”—or “mother” — ship, but 'they “exercise” the boat three or four times a week, ... generally from 9 a.in. to 3 p.m., going through various evolutions, such as diving and “attacking,” and .also torpedo-firing. Let us go down through the hatchway of the little conning tower. A few rungs of ladder and we reach the main deck, the only deck, in fact, of the submarine, inside the “fish,” in the hull. “““'CLOSE ATMOSPHERE. W The first impression is one of licat. The air is close and heavy, and, as a seaman expressed it “Ain’t it thick, sir!” and he added, “It soon makes you feel sleepy, but they keep us so busy in here that we get over the drowsiness.” How small! The highest standing (?) room is 6ft 6in. high, and towards botli ends the roof gradually declines and the floor becomes narrower. The hull tapers away to a point, so much so, indeed, that as one j>roceeds one must crawl on all fours.

There are no portholes.: The.-hatch-way of the conning tower is the only aperture, but when this is closed—while the vessel is under water —electric lumps illumine the small space. There aro ventilators, of course, but when the submarine dives they are shut off with a cap. There aro no partitions on this unique deck; the life on board a submarine is essentially “in common;” the officers and men are always together. ■ Tho manner in which .a multitude of objects are crammed in together’in the narrow space—various sets of machinery, pipes, torpedoes, hammocks, cooking apparatus, and so forth — -is. almost miraculous! THE DAILY ROUND. “How do you spend the day?” X asked the coxswain. “As a rule we turn out at 6.30. At 7.45 comes breakfast. The two officers have the use of a wooden table 3ft by 2ft., and two folding camp stools. The cooking is done in an electric oven, and we are careful not to use anything that may have a strong or disagreeable smell; no onions are used in a submarine, and very little fish. The fumes of the gasoline engine are bad enough.. “Our breakfast is generally made of tea, bread and butter, bacon and eggs. The men sit on the iloor as well as-they can. The bill of fare of dinner is generally beef and potatoes, and we get our grog—three-quarters of water and onequarter of rum—like all other seamen. “At four we have tea, and we take supper usually at eight. At 10.30 wo turn in. As regards work, well, there is quite enough to do keeping the place in order, cleaning the torpedoes, and everything else. There is no smoking below, but when wo are on the surface we smoke on tlio bridge.” “How are orders given?” 1 asked. “In words—the place is small enough. There is no such thing as ‘piping’ in a submarine.” I ventured to ask the coxswain a few questions about punishments, but lie. turned on me somewhat abruptly, and retorted: “AVe never need any. we are picked men!” But an officer gaily informed me that when there were any infractions of the rules, which hardly ever happened, the culprit paid the penalty when on board the mothership. i then inquired about the noise, the speed, the dangers, and comforts of a submarine. Contrary to tbe prevalent notion there is not much noise inside those little vessels when they are submerged, nothing but tlie buzzing of the motor. DIVING DEPTHS AND SPEEDS. The greatest depth to which submarines go does not exceed thirty feet, but as a rule they travel fifteen feet below the water. The speed averages twelve or thirteen knots on the surface and eight knots below. [The British submarine D 1 in her trials made an under-water speed of 12 knots.] The air is quite “breathable” fog four hours, but in the case of emergency, thanks to special devices, the crew can remain seventy hours closed up in a .submarine without danger tc their lives. “How do you like the life?” I as heel rny friend the coxswain. “AA’o all love it. It is so quiet, so interesting, and then there is not so much discipline as there is in a battleship. “This does not ’mean that ihe-e is less order among us. On the contrary ; but living as we do, in common, in a small space, the l discipline has no need of being so stern. ‘We are like one family, officers and men partaking almost of the -ame food, breathing tbe same air, leading the same dangers. “But there is no danger to speak of in submarines. They are the safest things afloat providing everyone d< es his duty. They are buoyant enough; they cannot get down unless we want them to. “By the- way, tbe white mice we used to have to warn us of impending clangers have entirely been done «way with.” “AVliat do you use, then?” “Oh, there is no need for us to me anything,” he said. ‘'AVe can small any escape of petrol, and then we know that an explosion is possible, and we do what is necessary. IN -ROUGH AVEATHER. “When the weather is fair there is naturally very little rolling. Submarines aro steady and extremely seaworthy. It is the officers of the bridge who have the worst time of it. Of course in a very rough sea we arc shaken about a bit, and in such a narrow space we are bound to bump against something or other! But in such circumstances we stretch ‘steadying lines’ every few feet across the boat and bold on to them.” “Isn’t your life rather depressing?” “Not at all. AA'hat an idea!” and tbe coxswain laughed. “Wc are the clieerist crowd in the Navy,” said the officer. . “There, are no mouldy people in submarines. Besides, everyone knows that the supply of volunteers for service in submarines exceeds the demand.” Tlie officer sang the praises of bis men. His opinion and the attitude of the submarine men reminded me of Lord Charles Berosford’s words concerning the charisteristies of British seamen- “ Splendid courage in critical moments, readiness of resource, individuality, a loyal sense of duty, combined with a Chivalrous idea of honour and a cheery demeanour under al] circumstances.”'