And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Wednesday, February 16, 2022
This is French sub named Surcouf. It was the largest submarine for it’s time, and was created to take advantage of a loophole which limited armament on battleships, but not subs.
Can you imagine someone coming to you and telling you that you can not install armament in to your battleship because the other team might lose. It is just not fair? And now you know how government works, in its entirety.
I believe there was something of a SALT treaty just before WW1, due to a naval arms race pissing contest tween European sea powers and Japan, IIRC. Haven't got the book close by, so can't name or date it. History buffs, help me out here.
Limited, as the story says, gun size or quantity among other things.
One of the weird things about French and Italian subs of the period was that they carried two different sizes (different diameters) of torpedoes. Some were carried in external launch tubes outside the pressure hull. They had some odd designs.
That brings up so many questions. I was a dirt sailor but I know how salt water works on bare machined parts. -Did they have to bore brush the barrel before firing? -How did they evacuate water from the barrels? -Were the transverse gears brass or steel coated in layers of grease? -How did the top weight affect seaworthyness?
Tampions (tompions in the Royal Navy) are used to plug the barrels. Same root word as tampon. Surface ships use them, too, but much lighter construction
I don't think they ever intended it to submerge. It was a submarine in name only. Sole purpose was to call it a submarine and install the biggest guns available as there was no limit on a sub. Probably capped the barrels and sailed on!
I think the battleship treaty was between major nations after WWI. Something like 1925. This submarine was possibly built after all the I's were dotted and the T's crossed on those battleship treaties.............
Both the USS Saratoga and Lexington air craft carriers were converted battlecruisers. The Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 limited the number of capital ships that the UK, US, Japan, France, and Italy could maintain.
How do you limit armament on a battleship? Isn't that the idea to be the biggest bad ass.
ReplyDeleteSurcouf was also revolutionary for featuring two forward speeds, and eight in reverse, along with a self-unfurling white ensign.
ReplyDeleteSelf-scuttles upon positive sonar ping.
DeleteThis sounds suspiciously like a project planned by someone who didn't know what the heck they were doing but had a lot of clout.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking as a former submariner, there is no way I would've gone to sea on that boat.
ReplyDeleteIron coffin
DeleteCan you imagine someone coming to you and telling you that you can not install armament in to your battleship because the other team might lose. It is just not fair? And now you know how government works, in its entirety.
ReplyDeleteI believe there was something of a SALT treaty just before WW1, due to a naval arms race pissing contest tween European sea powers and Japan, IIRC. Haven't got the book close by, so can't name or date it. History buffs, help me out here.
DeleteLimited, as the story says, gun size or quantity among other things.
Washington Naval Treaty 1922
DeleteApparently, this was not an early April Fool's joke, and this foul contraption actually existed:
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_submarine_Surcouf
One of the weird things about French and Italian subs of the period was that they carried two different sizes (different diameters) of torpedoes. Some were carried in external launch tubes outside the pressure hull. They had some odd designs.
DeleteThat brings up so many questions.
ReplyDeleteI was a dirt sailor but I know how salt water works on bare machined parts.
-Did they have to bore brush the barrel before firing?
-How did they evacuate water from the barrels?
-Were the transverse gears brass or steel coated in layers of grease?
-How did the top weight affect seaworthyness?
Tampions (tompions in the Royal Navy) are used to plug the barrels. Same root word as tampon. Surface ships use them, too, but much lighter construction
DeleteWater pressure is water pressure. If it's not completely watertight, there'll be water in the breach.
DeleteDid it ever submerge? If so, did it ever surface?
ReplyDeleteI don't think they ever intended it to submerge. It was a submarine in name only. Sole purpose was to call it a submarine and install the biggest guns available as there was no limit on a sub. Probably capped the barrels and sailed on!
ReplyDeleteRated depth was 80 ft.
DeleteI think the battleship treaty was between major nations after WWI. Something like 1925. This submarine was possibly built after all the I's were dotted and the T's crossed on those battleship treaties.............
ReplyDeleteSpace is limited on a submarine, I wonder where they kept the ammunition.
ReplyDeleteBoth the USS Saratoga and Lexington air craft carriers were converted battlecruisers. The Washington Naval Treaty of 1922 limited the number of capital ships that the UK, US, Japan, France, and Italy could maintain.
ReplyDelete