American Cruiser Type Submarine 1-2-3

[kriegerfaust]

Preliminary design plan for a Cruiser Submarine (Type # 1 Unprotected). The Chief of the Bureau of Construction and Repair requested in early October 1920 that his staff develop a set of comparative studies for ships of this type, apparently reflecting his desire to anticipate a possible need for large submarine scouts. The vessel was intended to carry heavy guns and scout aircraft, and be able to submerge to great depths. Type # 1 emphasized gun armament and speed and had no protection and large aircraft storage tubes topside that the Bureau considered a risk to survival if flooded. The concept was not pursued. This plan provided eight 8-inch guns, diesel machinery, and a surface speed of 14 knots in a ship 400 feet long on the waterline, 46 feet in beam, and with a normal surface displacement of 10,000 tons. The original document was ink on linen (black on white). The original plan is in the 1911-1925 Spring Styles Book. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

Preliminary design plan for a Cruiser Submarine (Type # 2 Armored). The Chief of the Bureau of Construction and Repair requested in early October 1920 that his staff develop a set of comparative studies for ships of this type, apparently reflecting his desire to anticipate a possible need for large submarine scouts for transoceanic operations. Type # 2 incorporated 474 tons of armor protection but a bureau design report considered it very vulnerable to torpedo attack because it lacked the side protection system in Type # 3 (see Photo # S-584-165). The concept was not pursued. This plan provided eight 8-inch guns, diesel machinery, and a surface speed of 15.5 knots in a ship 490 feet long on the waterline, 60 feet in beam, and with a normal surface displacement of 13,500 tons. The original document was ink on linen (black on white). The original plan is in the 1911-1925 Spring Styles Book. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

. October 23, 1920 Preliminary design plan for a Cruiser Submarine (Type # 3 Protected against Torpedoes and Gunfire). The Chief of the Bureau of Construction and Repair requested in early October 1920 that his staff develop a set of comparative studies for ships of this type, apparently reflecting his desire to anticipate a possible need for large submarine scouts for transoceanic operations. Compared to the other three designs considered, a contemporary Bureau report considered Type # 3 superior for having a better balance of capabilities, being deficient only in speed. The concept was not pursued, however. This plan provided four 8-inch guns, diesel machinery, and a surface speed of 11.75 knots in a ship 425 feet long on the waterline, 60 feet in beam, and with a normal surface displacement of 13,500 tons. The original document was ink on linen (black on white). The original plan is in the 1911-1925 Spring Styles Book. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

[pepe_trueno]

 

still less infuriating than homing torpedoes

[Jakob Knight]

The problem with such designs, as the French discovered, was that sealing gun turrets was a virtual nightmare.  Most naval turrets use their own weight to stay on the ship and have no seal around the rotation ring (none that would survive the first rotation), while elevation joints also have to be sealed but not frozen in place.  The bore of deck guns had to be sealed, which meant needing crew to run out onto the deck to unplug/plug them every time the Sub made a transition.  And this was in addition to the issues with armor bouancy, stability, and the fact the Sub did -not- ever want to get into a situation where it used those guns.

 

All in all, traditional Subs did much the same jobs better, and that's why they continued to be pursued while such 'scout battleships' never really seem to work out.

 

 

[Wolfswetpaws]

Thanks for sharing a time-capsule of that era, @kriegerfaust.