The Submarine Torpedo Boat
Its Characteristics And Modern Development

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT 137 submarine to these extreme proportions would not neces- sarily give an added efficiency to these craft, for there is a proper balance of all the military factors entering into it which must be maintained. What if any advantage would accrue from this extreme departure is a question of serious doubt. Much has also been said about sub- marines of torpedo boat speed, and while this is a quality which is highly desirable from a military point of view, it is one that is impossible of accomplishment, for the destroyer has even now a speed of thirty to thirty-five knots and has not the limitations of weights imposed upon it that the submarine must necessarily have. Although the submarine is well out of the experimental stage at the present time, there remain a great many dis- concerting problems to be solved before anything like perfection is reached. It is greatly to be feared that to jump from the gradual development in size which has so far been exercised to boats of 2000 tons or more displace- ment will only serve to accentuate the present inherent and unsolved difficulties, the proper solution of these things will eventually be found, but a rational system of development must be followed in order to effect this end. Many of our boats are now capable of making a cruise of about 4500 miles. It would seem that very little increase would be needed in this factor for some time to come at any rate. More than this we need speed and especially submerged speed. Lacking in this respect, the effectiveness of the submarine as an offensive instru- ment of warfare has been prominently brought out in the present European war. Without it the submarine must remain a passive means of defense, depending upon her invisibility and the chance that an enemy may, unaware