The Submarine Torpedo Boat
Its Characteristics And Modern Development

158 THE SUBMARINE TORPEDO BOAT flying the Dutch ensign was used as a decoy, enabling the German submarine to come up and discharge a tor- pedo at the cruiser when she was practically at rest. On the other hand, in their attacks upon the general ship- ping, the German submarines, unsuspected of being in waters so far away from their bases, were enabled to take up positions where previous reports indicated that the enemy’s ships would be found, and arriving there, would come to an “awash” condition and wait for the ships of the enemy to appear, and then submerging would lie in wait for the ship to approach within effective torpedo range, or else would direct their courses so as to cross that of the enemy. This method of attack will probably continue to be one of the main attributes of the offensive submarine in as much as it is one wherein the inherent qualities of this type of boat are particularly well suited. The part which the submarine will play in the actual tactical evolutions, however, will continue to grow and become of prime importance. The submarine will then have to be reckoned with, and safely, for the control of the seas must not be jeopardized by unnecessarily risking the loss of any capital ship. In the Dardanelles, the German U-51 after making a 2400 mile cruise from a base on the Belgian coast succeeded in sinking the Triumph and the Majestic. 1 he French cruiser Leon Gambetta and the Italian Guiseppe Garibaldi were sunk by Austrian submarines in the Mediterranean. The British E-11 and E-14 have also met with consid- erable success in the Dardanelles. 1 he E-11 after passing inside through 5 rows of mines sunk the 1urkish Messou- diyeh in the Sea of Marmoro. She also chased a supply