The Submarine Torpedo Boat
Its Characteristics And Modern Development

i66 THE SUBMARINE TORPEDO BOAT oncoming darkness of night the battle fleet draws off to some distance farther seaward, say what would be an eight hour steaming distance for a destroyer making the round trip, to prevent the possibility of being attacked by des- troyers which might find their way through the line of pickets. It has however, been found to be very difficult for the destroyers to find the darkened ships of the battle fleet at night even when their general position is known. The submarines would therefore, after eluding the enemy’s pickets, pass out and take a general position around that of the daytime position of the enemy’s battle fleet, sub- merge there and wait for its return at daybreak. The tactics for the coast defense work of the submarine are essentially the same as for harbor defense except that the operations are performed on a broader basis. Having received word that the enemy is approaching the coast, the submarines will proceed at their highest speed in column and “awash” with the purpose of inter- cepting his course. The submarines will be able to dis- tinguish the smoke and masts of the hostile fleet long before they themselves can be seen. Upon sighting the masts of the enemy the submarines will remain upon the surface long enough to determine his course and speed, and then the entire group will immediately submerge and proceed in a fan shaped formation in his general direction. I he speed to be maintained and the general instruc- tions to be followed would be given out by the flotilla commander before submerging. The substance of these instructions should be such as to enable the submarines to reach a position on either bow of the enemy’s column before being discovered, and thus subject him to a cross- fire and prevent any concerted maneuver on his part.