THE EYES OF THE SUBMARINE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4008, 14 August 1915, Page 5

THE EYES OF THE SUBMARINE.

Of all the equipment of submarine vessels the most important- is the periscope, ’a simple device that serves as the eyes of the craft when it- is i limning submerged. ' - (in the latest Mibuiersibles two ot these instruments are used, one ueine fixed to give a- view straight- ahead and the. other being so mounted Unuit (-an be turned to fare any direction (says the “Popular Mechanic-- Maguzinc’ 5 ). Although, serving such a vital part in the operation of a submarine, the periscope is exceedingly simp e ' construction. , . , e ' Tim light outers tne hood ot tn-o periscope horizontally. It then passes through a prismatic lens t.mt_ deflects it. downward at right angles into tievertical shaft of the pen.cope. A - tibo bottom of the.shaft is a second lens that again turns the rays o'. !»»£* to a horizontal direction. Hus is tin simplest form of the periscope. ‘Usually there are additional lenses for magnifying the view. Ait or passing through the bottom lens the image is ""either thrown on a- screen or is viewed through a telescope by the otlicer in. command. , / • The one disadvantage in the periscope is that it roves only a miiteU view in the one direction m which it happens to be facing. Attempts have, been made to develop a panorama periscope that used a 1 fish-eye leas and gives a view of the entire horizon, hut this device lias not yet been _ developed 'sufficiently to come . mto general use. "When the suhmaiine is submerged only the tops of the p-ri-scopes are visible above tliei imiUu • TlLO.se are difficult to_seo and still more difficult to hit, and this account for the apparent ease with which a submarine can steal lip within inng-'’ of a battleshin and fire its. torpedo without being discovered.