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DR NIKOLA TESLA ON DETECTING AND COMBATTING SUBMARINES DR NIKOLA TESLA ON microphones to locate a ship and even _ traveling in fleet formation; the location DETECTING AND COMBATTING torpedo it by the range thus found, without and presence of the enemy submarine can SUBMARINES e]ver showing his periscope above water. be radiographed to the other vessels by the "Many years ago, while serving inthe —_ one doing the magnetic surveying and, by In 1917, H. Winfield Secor, associate capacity of chief electrician for an electric means of nets in some cases, or gun-fire editor of The Electrical Experimenter plant situated on the river Seine in France,I__ and the use of hydro-aeroplanes sent aloft magazine, was fortunate enough to had occasion to require for certain testing from the ships, the enemy under water obtain an exclusive interview with the purposes an extremely sensitive stands a mighty good chance of being world-famous electrical inventor Dr galvanometer. In those days the quartz _ either bombed’, shelled or netted. Nikola Tesla. It was published in the fiber was an unknown quantity—and I, by "However, a means would soon be found August issue of the magazine under the becoming specially adept, managed to __ of nullifying this magnetic detector of the title "Tesla's Views on Electricity and the produce an extremely fine cocoon fiber for submerged undersea war-craft. They might War". The interview is now available, the galvanometer suspension. Further, the make the 'U-boat' hulls of some non- courtesy of Larry Brian Radka of Einhorn —_galvanometer proved very sensitive for the magnetic metal, such as copper, brass, or Press, at http://einhornpress.com ocation in which it was to be used, soa aluminum. It is a good rule to always keep /inventor.aspx special cement base was sunk in the ground in mind that for practically every good —Editor and, by using a lead sub-base suspended on invention of such a kind as this, there has springs, all mechanical shock and vibration always been invented an opposite, and ikola Tesla, one of the greatest of _ effects were finally gotten rid of. equally efficient, counteracting invention." Nine electrical engineers and "As a matter of actual personal "How about this new electric ray method recipient of the seventh "Edison" experience," said Dr Tesla, "it became a __ of locating submarines?" I ventured to ask. medal, has evolved several unique and far- fact that the small iron-hull steam mail- "Yes, yes, 1am coming to that," the reaching ideas which if developed and _ packets [ships] plying up and down the master electrician parried. "Now suppose practically applied should help to partially, river Seine at a distance if not totally, solve the much discussed of three miles would RCT: tea 16 Core submarine menace and to provide a means_ distinctly affect the whereby the enemy's powder and shell —_galvanometer!" @eFlectri cal | magazines may be exploded at a distance "How could this be ] of several miles. applied to the submarine There have been numerous stories problem?" I asked. xperimenter bruited about by more or less irresponsible "Well, for one thing," UX aa LECTHIOAL NEES ELLIS TRATED self-styled experts that certain American _ the scientist replied, "I inventors, including Dr Tesla, had invented believe the magnetic among other things an electric ray to method of locating or destroy or detect a submarine under water _ indicating the presence of at a considerable distance. [Dr] Teslavery an iron or steel mass courteously granted the writer an interview might prove very and some of his ideas on electricity's practical in locating a possible role in helping to end the great hidden submarine. And it world-war are herein given: is of course of paramount "The all-absorbing topic of daily importance that we do conversation at the present time is of find a means of course the 'U-boat'."| Therefore,I made accurately locating the that subject my opening shot. sub-sea fighters when "Well," said Dr Tesla, "I have several they are submerged, so distinct ideas regarding the subjugation of that we can, with this the submarine. But lest we forget, letus information, be ready to not underestimate the efficiency of the close in on them when means available for carrying on submarine they attempt to come to warfare. We may use microphones to _ the surface. Especially is detect the submarine, but on the other hand this important when the submarine commander may employ several vessels are traveling in fleet formation; the location and presence of the enemy submarine can be radiographed to the other vessels by the one doing the magnetic surveying and, by means of nets in some cases, or gun-fire and the use of hydro-aeroplanes sent aloft from the ships, the enemy under water stands a mighty good chance of being either 'bombed', shelled or netted. "However, a means would soon be found of nullifying this magnetic detector of the submerged undersea war-craft. They might make the 'U-boat' hulls of some non- magnetic metal, such as copper, brass, or aluminum. It is a good rule to always keep in mind that for practically every good invention of such a kind as this, there has always been invented an opposite, and equally efficient, counteracting invention." "How about this new electric ray method of locating submarines?" I ventured to ask. "Yes, yes, 1am coming to that," the master electrician parried. "Now suppose — Editor ikola Tesla, one of the greatest of Nine electrical engineers and recipient of the seventh "Edison" medal, has evolved several unique and far- reaching ideas which if developed and practically applied should help to partially, if not totally, solve the much discussed submarine menace and to provide a means whereby the enemy's powder and shell magazines may be exploded at a distance of several miles. There have been numerous stories bruited about by more or less irresponsible self-styled experts that certain American inventors, including Dr Tesla, had invented among other things an electric ray to destroy or detect a submarine under water at a considerable distance. [Dr] Tesla very courteously granted the writer an interview and some of his ideas on electricity's possible role in helping to end the great world-war are herein given: "The all-absorbing topic of daily conversation at the present time is of course the 'U-boat'." Therefore, I made that subject my opening shot. "Well," said Dr Tesla, "I have several distinct ideas regarding the subjugation of the submarine. But lest we forget, let us not underestimate the efficiency of the means available for carrying on submarine warfare. We may use microphones to detect the submarine, but on the other hand the submarine commander may employ are NEXUS * 49 FEBRUARY — MARCH 2008 www.nexusmagazine.com