The Submarine Torpedo Boat
Its Characteristics And Modern Development

86 THE SUBMARINE TORPEDO BOAT personnel and therefore the boat, is at once raised. The more comforts that can be provided for the men the longer they will be able to undergo the remaining hardships. Radius of Action The proper balance of all stores and supplies must be determined upon when designing a vessel for a certain desired radius of action. The lack of this care or thought in making up the design is evident in nearly every one of our submarines now in commission. Some of the boats have a maximum fuel tank capacity for a cruise of 4,500 miles and not enough lubricating oil to last 1,000 miles. In others a fresh water supply for only two or three days could be carried. Thus is seen the importance of properly balancing each item. Storage for provisions should be made to carry enough to last one and one-half times the maximum cruising radius. On boats of the larger type, intended for making long cruises, it will be found imprac- tical to carry a sufficient fresh water supply, so a small distilling apparatus will have to be installed. The required radius of action of the boat will of course depend upon the purpose for which she is intended. In a large cruiser type it should be at least thirty days and per- haps more, because the purpose of that type for this country would be to make an offensive attack upon a foreign coast, which for us in every case must be a long distance away from any base of supplies. The seagoing submarine must be capable of traveling 1,500 to 2,000 miles to make an attack, and of remaining for a time in foreign waters without having to depend upon the aid of a tender or other vessel and, if necessary, to return home without aid. She will of course replenish her stores from