US1293140A - Apparatus for destroying submarines. - Google Patents

Description

A. McDOUGALL.

' APPARATUS FOR DESTROYING SUBMARINES.

APPLICATKON FILED APR.25.19H- 1,293,140.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

ALEXANDER MODOUGALL, 0F DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

APPARATUS FOR DESTROYING SUBMARINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

Application filed April 25, 1917. Serial No. 164,432.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER MCDOU- GALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Destroying Submarines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. 7

This invention consists of an improved apparatus for use in naval warfare and relates particularly to the art of combating and destroying submarine vessels.

This application is in some respects an improvement upon my correlated application upon similar improvements respecting the same art, executed by me on the 17th day of April, 1917, and now filed in the Patent Office, Ser. No. 163333.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel and effective apparatus for attacking submarine vessels.

Another object is to provide a novel and more efficient form of attacking device for such use and whereby the destruction of the submarine when engaged, is assured.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the further description of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a convenient and practical method of utilization of my improved torpedo and which may assist in the better comprehension of the utility of the device, though the method forms no part of my present invention.

Figure l is a side elevation of a sailing vessel illustrating the preferred form of lure and mother-ship for submarine trawlers.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of same illustrating one arrangement of the stowing of the trawlers upon the mother-ship.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the trawlers which form of boat is now becoming well known in naval warfare and heretofore used only as scout boats or submarine chasers.

Fig. 4c is a diagrammatic view illustrating the method of attacking a submarine vessel.

Fig. 5 is a. front end elevation of the improved form of submarine torpedo, and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of same.

1 represents a vessel rigged as a sailing ship and which may actually be such a ship or a steam or other vessel disguised to represent same, the object of which is to form as attractive and noticeable a vessel as possible, the same to be navigated in waters frequented by submarines or where the same may be suspected.

Upon the deck 2 of this vessel and in reasonable seclusion behind the bulwarks thereof, I propose to carry a plurality of small self-propelled boats 3, which I will herein term trawlers. These boats are preferably similar to such boats now known as submarine chasers or scout boats and for the purpose here intended would preferably be propelled by internal combustion engines, and each carry one or more small caliber guns as is the custom.

In addition, these boats would each be equipped with a winding drum 4, outrigger 5, trawling line 6 and torpedo 7, substantially as described in my former application above referred to.

I would suggest and have illustrated the use of about six of such trawlers approximately thirty to fortyfeet long and weighing complete, about two tons, carried upon a mother-ship of from two to three hundred feet in length and of which many are at present available.

In addition to the trawlers, any number of life-boats may also be carried to provide against anticipated contingencies. A suitable number of guns would also be carried in seclusion by the mother-ship to ward off attack by the submarines and cause them to submerge as quickly as possible upon unsuspected attack by the mother-ship, for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

It is well known in the art that a small craft such as these trawlers may be handled to and from such vessels by suitable tackle and equipment therefor, which are common to experienced navigators. When properly located, a vessel thus equipped would unquestionably draw the unsuspected attention and approach of a hostile submarine. When the submarine has approached within the proper zone for action, determined by the defensive vessel, the guns upon the latter will be brought quickly as possible into action, which from experience is known to cause an attacking submarine to submerge immediately. Simultaneously with such action of the guns upon the vessel, active operations will be exercised in launching all of th trawler-s with their navigators on board and these quickly becomeengaged in scouring the 'zone in; and about which the submarine was last sighted,- they each trawl-- ing astern one of the torpedoes 7 with which each trawler is equipped.

These small vessels are known to bevery;

fast and can readily attain a speed of miles or over perhour; thus a considerable territory can be quickly covered by a numdestroyed, thecrew will have unusual fa 15.

' struction result countered.

ber of these vessels, and almost certain deto' any submarine thus en If the mother-ship becomes damaged or cilities for rescue in having available a large number of life-boats andjalso the aid of the'trawlers,otherwise the latter may again be taken on board and furtheraction en- Insuch anencounter, a submarine would doubtlessly quickly sink to as great depth as possible and'to care for such a condition, I have provided a specially designed torpedo 7, which embodies my present invention, it being substantially cylindrical in form and elongated-but preferably having the forward end 8 inclined downwardly from the upper side thereof and-terminating in a rather blunt ortruncated nose 9.

The center of'gravity of the torpedo is maintainedby an air space 10, formed'in l the upper portion of the body of the torpedo and which is graduated'in extent from nothing at theintersection of the inclined'pon' tion 8 with the top horizontal wall of the body portion, to its greatest depth in the tail of the torpedo. This space or chamber is only sufficient to keep the torpedo rightside' up and establish its equilibrium and may be made in some'other form if preferred. However, it being greater near the ward the tail of the torpedo and the inclined fiat fin 11. Such adequate provision be- (20151 05 :of am patent may be obtained for comes essential due to thehigh speed of the trawlers and-the great depth'of trawling required as before described.

I propose to connect the trawling lme 6 some distance back fromthe forward end assist in Y of thetorpedo asrat l2 to furth er its successful diving.

In theforward end of the torpedo'I install 7 a plurality of striking rods 13 to insure detonation 'by contact with the object engaged. q

-Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is: f

1; A trawling stantially cylindricalbody portion, a downwardly inclined forward end, and buoyant means within the torpedo for maintaining same when submerged, with the incline of the forward end upon the uppermost side thereof. I r V 2. The combination with a trawling tor- ;pedo of the-character described, having. 'means for maintaining its equllibrlum of an inclined fin attached to the under side of the forward end thereof to causethe same to dive when being water. 7 v

3. Thecombination with a trawling torpedo of the character described, having means for establishing its center of gravity of aforwardly and "downwardly inclined fin fixed .to the underside ofthe forward end thereof to CitUSGdfi to. dive whenbeing drawn through the water. r

4. A trawling torpedo of-the character described, having itsfforward body portion so formed as-to cause it to. dive when being drawn through the water. V

5. In combination a trawling torpedo of the character described having its forward end so formed as to cause it to dive when torpedo comprising a sub-V drawn through the being drawn through the water and buoyant means within the torpedo. for assisting in the diving. action thereof, substantially as described. 7 V V Y '6. The combination with a trawling torpedo having its forward end so shaped as to cause'itto dive when drawn through the water, of means: within the torpedo for keeping it right s'ide up and maintaining the tail on a levelabove the nose thereof;

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presenceof two witnesses.

ALEXANDER MQDQUGALL. Witnesses: f j

s H. S.MAOGREGOR,

S. Gno. STEVENS.

five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. g 1

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