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Show Underwater Freight Train An underwater freight train that makes it posslblo for a submarine torpedd boat to operate in hostile waters wa-ters for an Indefinite period, has been devised by Simon Lako, an American Am-erican inventor, who has designed and constructed submersible fighting craft for the navies of several ot the European powers. v Just how many qt theso novol supply sup-ply trains aro In use, nnd by what nations, na-tions, aro military secrets. It, has been pointed out by naval authorities that tho Gorman submarines which bavo been operating as commerco destroyers de-stroyers Tn tho territorial waters ott the British isles must have some moans ot replenishing their supplies ot fuel oil, fresh water, food, German Ger-man naval base. Few, It any, submarines sub-marines now In existence are known to havo a cruising radius of moro than GOO miles. German submarines operating In tho Irish sea and Oft the northwest coast of Scotland are' at least TOO miles frorm the neatest German port. Dy means of the submerged supply train, however, It is comparatively easy for a -fighting BUbmarlno to obtain ob-tain supplies at regular Intervals with almost completo secrecy, for tho transfer ot stores of all kinds tan bo made undor water. Tho only way tho enemy could detect what was, going go-ing on would bo by observation from nn aeroplane. Two, three, or moro, submcrslblo cars, cigar shaped, water tight, and fitted with buoyancy tanks Inside and wheels on tho lower s'do, mako up a Bubmnrlno freight train. Theso cars havo no propelling machinery nor! quarters for crows, but aro towed bo-' hind ti self propelling submarine, which mny also bo equipped for firing fir-ing torpedoes. Each of tho towed ears contain compartments for fuel o.l and fresh water, each with a hoso 'connection on tho outstdo of tho hull nnd a spaco for food supplies and nmmunltlon In water tight cases. This last named compartment has a door opening outward out-ward on Uio bottom of tho circular hull near the keel. Transferring supplies from tho towed tow-ed cars to the towing craft or to an independent fighting submarine Is done on tho bottom of tho sea, In shallow wator, Arrlvod at tho rendezvous, which may be almost under the guns of tho enemy's coast fortifications' and still bo unsuspected, tho submerged freight train comes to a halt on the bottom in fifteen or twenty feet ot water.. Under the bow of the towing vessel is a door, opening downward, leading Into tho sea from a compartment compart-ment that Is cut ott from the rest ot tho craft's Interior by air tjght bulkheads. bulk-heads. This diving lock Is another feature dovoloped by Mr. Lako and used on nearly all his submarines. In shallow water It Is not difficult to ma'ntaln, inside ot this lock, either from compressed air tanks or by direct action ot a pump, an air pressure- that will balanco tho external water pressure and keep tho lnsldo dry even with the door wide open. Tho diving compartment, In fact, Is practically a traveling diving boll. It Is large enough to hold two men, one to aid tho diver, the 'dther In diving armor, bolng free to walk along tho sea bottom and unload tho towboats. Oil and water aro transferred lo the waiting submarine 'through pipes. To get at tho stores ln the air t'ght compartment, the diver csens the door from outside. Air pressure front tho pumps ot tho towing vessel keeps the water out, and tho Interior Is H lighted by electricity, conveyed from I the storage battery of the main craft. I Food ln tins, cartridges tor rifles and I machine guns, even torpedoes, may I e transferred In this way from one H vessel to another without so much as U a ripple on the surface indicating to H an observer on shore or on a hostile ship that anything unusual Is goings-on. goings-on. Popular Mechanics Magazine. v |
