Cinderellas of the fleet . most formidable weapon carriedby the Chasers. The Mark II depth bomb weighs in the neighborhoodof 300 pounds and is arranged that it may be set to explode at anyrequired depth merely by the adjustment of a dial on the terrible havoc wrought by the detonation of 250 pounds of feet or so beneath the surface of the sea, really must be seen—and felt and heard—to be appreciated. One of the photographsgives some idea of what happens. Originally these ash cans were carried in cradles at the stern ofthe vessel to be shoved overboard by hand when neede
Cinderellas of the fleet . most formidable weapon carriedby the Chasers. The Mark II depth bomb weighs in the neighborhoodof 300 pounds and is arranged that it may be set to explode at anyrequired depth merely by the adjustment of a dial on the terrible havoc wrought by the detonation of 250 pounds of feet or so beneath the surface of the sea, really must be seen—and felt and heard—to be appreciated. One of the photographsgives some idea of what happens. Originally these ash cans were carried in cradles at the stern ofthe vessel to be shoved overboard by hand when needed, but with theimprovement of the bomb it was found that only on the faster vesselswould such a method of launching be safe. Slower vessels were indanger of having their sterns blown off before they could reach a safedistance. The next step was the development of the howitzer forhurling the bombs clear of the ship and then the Y-gun, with whichpractically all the Chasers Avere equipped. 68 THE CIXDERELLAS OF THE FLEET. Plwtograph by Ensign Henry BonncU. The effect of 300 lbs. of T. N. T. showing why it was desirable to ring up full speed ahead before dropping an ash can over the stern. This bomb was set to explode at a depth of 100 ft. The Y-Gun If you will look at the deck view of a fully-equipped Chaser youwill notice a Y-shaped instrument installed somewhat aft of amid-ships, between the two trunks, its arms pointing over the sides at anangle of about 45 degrees. This is the Y-gun, or as we used to callit in the days of the censorship, the Siamese twins. With this guntwo bombs were hurled over the quarters simultaneously and althoughthe hand method of launching over the stern was still used on theChasers, it^is obvious that the Y-gun considerably increased the areaof destruction. It will be seen from the close-up portrait of the Y-gun and thesection of motion picture film taken at the instant of discharge, thatthe cans are held on the ends of plungers which fi
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookidcinderellaso, bookyear1920
