The Submarine Torpedo Boat
Its Characteristics And Modern Development

i 88 THE SUBMARINE TORPEDO BOAT leaving the submarine high and dry, and the vessel was ready to go on her way. The original purpose of the design was to build a vessel in which submarines built in France could be transported over seas to foreign countries for which they were built, and in cases where the trip would be too perilous or long for the submarines to make them- selves. The Fiat San Giorgio Co. in Italy, not long ago com- pleted a model tender and salvage ship combined, and which is in reality a dry dock vessel as well. The vessel in question is a good sized craft having a normal displace- ment of about three thousand tons, and has twin screws each being driven by a Diesel engine developing about fifteen hundred brake horse power. She is capable of a sustained maximum speed of fourteen knots per hour, and at an economical cruising speed of ten knots per hour has sufficient fuel tank capacity to give her a cruising radius of four thousand miles. This new craft is at once a supply ship, a repair ship, a dry dock, a salvage ship, and also provides adequate berth- ing and messing quarters for all the crews of the submarines comprising her particular flotilla. She is capable of lifting one of the submarines from great depths if at any time it becomes necessary, and transporting the injured vessel into port or to some beach where necessary repairs can be made. This vessel is well equipped with every means for supply- ing her charges with compressed air and for charging their storage batteries, and carries on board enough reserve accumulator cells to completely outfit two submarines in a few hours time. There is a well equipped machine shop and foundry on board with every facility for making all