At this time of reorganization in our service, taking place extensively in some branches, not so perceptibly in others, the following study of the organization and administration of the torpedo branch of the German Navy may be not without interest to our service at large, as it was last March to the submarine flotilla, for Whom, at the instance of Commander Stirling, it was first written. It is drawn up from official and semi-official publications, such as Organization and Administration of the Imperial Navy, by Lieutenant Commander Ferber; the Navy Register, Organic Regulations for the Active Military Personnel of the Imperial Navy, the Naval Pocket Book, the Naval Gazette, the Naval Estimates, Nauticus and several books by Count Reventlow. There is a great deal of information obtainable of the details of organization, administration and training of the German Navy, by study of the many publications on sale. This description relates to the organization and its development up to the spring of 1914.
A notable early success of Admiral von Tirpitz in the field of organization was accomplished in the torpedo branch of the German Navy. Notwithstanding the indifference, not to say passive opposition, of the then Naval Secretary who had little appreciation of the true function of a naval force, the efforts of Tirpitz, then Only a captain, prevailed, and the torpedo service was established on a doctrine of instant readiness, initial offensive, and attack always in considerable numbers. From that time dates the present efficient system.
One principal characteristic of the German service is that the torpedo branch develops entirely separate from the general service, up to the point where it is ready for its function as a regular constituent of the fleet. Then it comes directly into the fleet like other types. The idea is that if it has to share with other types the facilities for training, maintenance, repair and improvement, and most of all, the professional, interest of those in authority, the torpedo branch will not receive the undivided attention which full development' requires. The system perfected by von Tirpitz aimed to combine the maximum benefits of specialized growth with those of co-ordinated employment. Immediate and continued improvement have shown its success.
In all but commissioned personnel, the torpedo branch is as much separated from the other naval branches as cavalry from infantry in the army. The separation begins with the administrative head and continues throughout down to the yearly intake o recruits. The torpedo branch is termed the "Inspection of Torpedo Affairs." Its head is a flag officer, latterly a rear admiral. His designation is "Inspector," a title indicating military control as well as direction of matters peculiar to the specialty. The duty of the Torpedo Inspection is, in general terms, to maintain the efficiency of the torpedo arm and torpedo vessels for war, and to co-operate in the further development of the torpedo.
In technical, experimental and non-military administrative affairs, the Torpedo Inspection deals directly with the Navy Office in Berlin, which is headquarters for all such matters. In military administration, the Torpedo Inspection, in common with the inspections of other branches (gunnery, personnel depot, education coast artillery, mines and obstructions, munitions' depots) and other naval personnel not in the active fleet, is under the superior authority of the chiefs of the two great naval stations, of the Baltic and of the North Sea, between which the navy is halved— as if we had one comprehensive naval administration on the Atlantic coast seated at New York, and a similar one on the Pacific with seat at San Francisco, the two co-ordinated by al admiralty at Washington. These great chiefs take final action in disciplinary matters, without reference to the Secretary of the Navy. The Secretary has no occasion to intervene. Over regulations and procedure he has general control, through their formulation in the Navy Office; but responsibility for discipline is placed with the officers in military command, whose experience, rank, accountability and authority are commensurate. These chiefs and the commander-in-chief of the fleet as well, answer for their charges directly to the Emperor.
Briefly, the Inspector of Torpedo Affairs stands in nearly the same relation to the torpedo branch as the Secretary does to the German Navy as a whole. In relative degree, the Inspector, like the Secretary, has a comprehensive cognizance and responsibility, with the aim of ultimate maximum efficiency in use. Yet, in order that he may devote his energy to the specialty in its appropriate military relations, the Inspector, like the Secretary, is left untrammelled by every-day details. Discipline, subsistence, clothing, housing, recruiting and routine and elementary training and maintenance of the torpedo branch do not differ essentially from the same requirements elsewhere in the navy. Hence, they can be and are assigned to regular administrative authorities charged with those duties and none other.
It may be noted in passing that, in studying the German administrative system, one becomes more and more impressed with the directness of arrangement, whereby every official, military or civil, has duties befitting his proper caliber. No one is burdened with details that can be better, more accountably, executed by another in closer touch with the point of action. In an article on "Military History and the Science of Business Administration," Professor Edward D. Jones, says: "For the lodging of any administrative function, and the resting of the corresponding responsibility, there must be a certain ideal point in the administrative hierarchy of any organization. This point is -where the Problem of keeping touch with the specific details of the agencies of the action controlled is approximately equal in difficulty to the problem of keeping in touch with the general plan of which that action is a part. To move a function from this point towards headquarters is to lose touch with specific conditions; to move it closer to the agencies of performance is to lose touch with the general plan." The appropriateness of location of the "ideal Points" throughout the German organization shows great sagacity as well as the mark of experience.
THE TORPEDO HEADQUARTERS
The seat of the Torpedo Inspection is at Kiel. The Inspector has for his immediate staff:
Chief of staff ……. A captain
Adjutants……. 3 lieutenant Commanders and Lieutenants
Assistants……. 2 lieutenants
Inspecting engineer…….Naval engineer (rank of lieutenant commander).
At disposition……. 2 naval engineers
Torpedo experts……. 2 torpedo engineers (commander and lieutenant).
1 – torpedoist lieutenant (ex-warrant officer with rank of lieutenant).
Inspecting medical officer……. A medical director
Inspecting pay officer……. A paymaster
Director of ship construction……. A naval constructor (rank of commander).
4 more naval constructors and assistant constructors…
Director of machinery construction……. A constructing naval engineer 1 (rank of captain)
2 constructing naval engineers
In charge of torpedo laboratory……. A civilian professor with assimilated rank of captain
For acceptance trials of new torpedo-2 lieutenants boats……. 2 naval operating engineers.
As thus constituted, the torpedo Inspector and his staff may be regarded as a branch of the Navy Office, for the administration of the torpedo branch in financial, technical and other matters peculiar to the specialty. How completely affairs are left to the Torpedo
1 Constructing marine engineers and ship (hull) constructors are graduated from a four-year course at Charlottenburg (Berlin) Technical High School or other similar institute of equal standing. The course is the same for both for the first two years; then the specializing begins. The course for the machinery constructor is by far the more difficult of the two and frequently students take five years instead of four to accomplish it. Constructing engineers do not go to sea. The operating engineers, called marine engineers, form a separate corps. They are not concerned with design, construction, or navy yard work, for all which the constructing engineers are responsible; but one is at each yard in charge of the machinery of ships ready for commissioning, i.e., not under repair.
Inspection and the full extent to which the Secretary has divested himself of concern are shown by the fact that the Navy Office, of which the Secretary is the head, touches torpedo affairs at only two points. In the Dockyard Department of the Navy Office (which is equivalent to our Bureaus of Steam Engineering, Construction and Repair and Yards and Docks, combined under a common head), there are:
A division for torpedo affairs and radiotelegraphy: 1 captain, 2 lieutenant commanders, 1 lieutenant, 1 engineer, 1 physicist.
A desk for the administration of funds allotted to new construction of torpedo-boats and submarines: 1 naval intendant, a civilian, with assimilated rank of commander, who has also a similar desk in the construction department, in connection with funds for other new construction.
These two functions in the Navy Office in Berlin are in fact less in control over the Torpedo Inspection in Kiel than they are its own representatives, its friends at court, to see that torpedo interests are duly appreciated and fostered in the general naval administration. They are no more than the indispensable connecting links between the comprehensive administration and its executive agency for the torpedo specialty.
It is noteworthy, incidentally, that the German bureau corresponding nearly to our Bureau of Ordnance, although it has the more comprehensive name of "Weapon (or Arms) Department," has nothing to do with torpedoes or mines, but has cognizance only of guns, small arms and ammunition.
In fine, the Torpedo Inspection is like a Navy Department for the torpedo service, and bears to the real Navy Department a relation like that which the Navy Department bears to the general Government.
From the foregoing it follows that the Torpedo Inspection is relieved of all normal functions which can be better performed on the spot by others of equal military experience and wisdom, and is left free to devote itself to matters to which no other body can attend with equal ability. Nor can any other body interfere or work counter. The Torpedo Inspection can therefore wholly devote itself, to, and be responsible for, the following:
(a) Organization of torpedo-boats, half-flotillas and flotillas.
(b) Regulations for the torpedo branch.
(c) Training regulations and standards.
(d) Training of torpedo flotillas, military, nautical and tactical, from the beginning up to readiness for acting with the fleet in war.
(e) Design, construction, trial and acceptance of torpedo-boats.
(f) Supply and maintenance of the stock of torpedoes.
(g) Improvement and development of the torpedo, including experimentation.
(h) Proving of the torpedo installations of ships.
(i) Training and supply of the torpedo personnel of ships.
(j) All training of officers and men for torpedo duties.
(k) Radiotelegraphy. The vessels used for torpedo experiment, training and trial are used similarly for radiotelegraphy.
THE TORPEDO DIVISIONS
The German organization corresponding to our destroyer division is the half-flotilla. It consists of five seagoing torpedo-boats, one of them the "Leader Boat," which carries, besides her own captain, a lieutenant or lieutenant commander as the half-flotilla chief. Boats are built in groups of six usually, often four and sometimes all six to one builder, so that all of the group may be alike, besides saving cost. Only three builders compete—Schichau at Elbing, near Danzig, whose boats bear the designation "S," as S-176; the Vulcan works at Stettin, "V” and Germania (Krupp's) ship yard at Kiel, "G." This forever carrying their initial is not without influence on the builders.
Two half-flotillas combined, together with an eleventh boat like the rest, as "Flotilla Ship," make a .torpedo-boat flotilla. The chiefs of these are lieutenant commanders. The flotilla is the largest regular tactical organization, but the half-flotilla is equally complete as a tactical unit.
For administration, training and maintenance the half-flotillas are grouped in torpedo divisions, the I, II, III to VI (first, second third to sixth) half-flotillas forming the I (first) torpedo division, based at Kiel, the VII to XIV half-flotillas forming the II torpedo division, based on Wilhelmshaven. The torpedo division is an administrative unit, not a tactical organization. It is a permanent shore station organization, forming a personnel depot for supplying the entire crews of torpedo-boats and the men for torpedo duties of other ships. It has barracks, boats for training, and reserve half-flotilla organizations from which to form the active half-flotillas. The torpedo division has a military organization like a .regiment, as follows:
- TORPEDO DIVISION
Commandant 2 …….A captain
Adjutant A lieutenant……. A lieutenant
Court martial officer……. A lieutenant
Division engineer……. A naval engineer (rank of lieutenant)
Division medical office……. A medical inspector
Division pay officer……. A paymaster
Gunnery instructors……. 4 lieutenants
The division is made up of battalions:
I. BATTALION II. BATTALION III. BATTALION
Each battalion furnishes the officers and men for the complements of two half-flotillas, respectively, making:
I. TORPEDO-BOAT FLOTILLA II. TORPEDO-BOAT III. TORPEDO-BOAT
FLOTILLA FLOTILLA
Each torpedo battalion is composed of two companies:
- BATTALION
1st Company 2d Company
Each company furnishes the complements of five boats forming, respectively, when not active:
I. HALF-FLOTILLA II. HALF-FLOTILLA
Together, these two active half-flotillas and an eleventh boat, half its crew taken from each company, form the I torpedo-boat flotilla.
2 With us, "commandant" implies a shore, semi- or non-military command, but in Germany and elsewhere on the continent it denotes a strictly military command, corresponding to our "commanding officer." Thus, a vessel, a fortification, a battalion, each has a "commandant."
The other, battalions are similar:
- BATTALION
In barrack's ……3d company 4th company.
In reserve status ……. III. Reserve half-flotilla IV. Reserve half-flotilla
Active ……. III. Half-flotilla. IV. Half-flotilla.
These two half-flotillas form the
II TORPEDO-BOAT FLOTILLA
- BATTALION
In barracks ……. 5th company 6th company.
In reserve……. V. Reserve half-flotilla. VI. Reserve half-flotilla.
Active……. V. Half-flotilla. VI. Half-flotilla.
These two half-flotillas form the
II TORPEDO-BOAT FLOTILLA
The II Torpedo Division is similarly made up to man the IV, V, VI and VII torpedo-boat flotillas. The presence of four flotillas here, against three in the I division, is explained by an increase in the standing naval force.
Each company, besides manning the corresponding half-flotilla, retains at the barracks stems, of the company and of the reserve half-flotilla organizations, as nuclei with which further crews can be readily organized and trained.
In the companies, or shore organizations, military training is given, with small arms, physical exercises, and general service instruction, as basis for the development of training afloat. The latter is done by part crews on board the two school torpedo-boats and the boats of the reserve half-flotilla. Each reserve half-flotilla keeps one boat with full complement, but with double the regular number of line officers, for instructors. Crews get their training as a whole when the reserve half-flotillas are "activated" into full commission as half-flotillas.
The following diagram indicates the distribution of duties in a battalion or flotilla, showing the duties while on shore, while afloat in the reserve status, and when in full commission:
- FLOTILLA
Chief of flotilla……. Lieutenant commander
Flag lieutenant …….Lieutenant (commands the flotilla ship, when a torpedo-boat.)
Flotilla engineer……. Naval engineer, rank of lieutenant (j.g.)
Flotilla pay officer …….. Paymaster with rank of ensign.
Flotilla ship, a torpedo-boat, like the rest.
Commandant……. Lieutenant (flotilla flag lieutenant)
First officer……. Lieutenant (j. g.)
In training the half-flotillas, scout cruisers are much used as flotilla ship,
I.HALF-FLOTILLA II. HALF-FLOTILLA
Half-flotilla chief……. Lieutenant Lieutenant
These do not command the leader boats.
Half-flotilla engineer……. Naval engineer, rank Same
of lieutenant (j. g.).
Half-flotilla paymaster Paymaster (ensign) Same
Leader boat
Commandant……. Lieutenant Lieutenant
First officer…… Lieutenant (j. g.)
Added for war or mobilization …….Lieutenant (j. g.) Lieutenant (j. g.)
Four other boats Same as leader boat Same as leader boat
In the II and V flotillas, which in 1914 were the so-called Maneuver Flotillas," each boat carried the full complement, a lieutenant and two junior lieutenants. The maneuver flotillas operate with the fleet more than do the "Reserve" and the " School" flotillas, which, in 1914, were the I and IV, and the III and VI, respectively. The "School Flotillas," being in their first year of training, carry two officers below the captain in each boat, and the officers are younger, usually an ensign in place Of a second junior lieutenant. In other respects, the organizations or the school and maneuver flotillas agree with that given of the I flotilla.
The crew ratings on board a torpedo-boat are: torpedo ordinary seaman, seaman, boatswain's mate, chief boatswain's mate, torpedo quartermaster (or navigating boatswain) and torpedo chief quartermaster. The last two are warrant grades. Below deck are torpedo firemen, upper firemen, torpedo machinist's mates (second class), machinist's mates (first class), and torpedo chief machinist's mates, torpedo machinists and chief machinists, these last two also being warrant grades. In barracks the companies have two more ratings, corresponding to police sergeant of warrant status.
It came about that in 1914 the I torpedo-boat flotilla was in its third year of training, which gave to it the designation of "Reserve Flotilla." In 1913, the III flotilla was the reserve flotilla. The reserve flotilla personnel are fully trained, having had at least two consecutive years instruction and experience. Normally, these boats are fully commissioned only for about eight weeks, from mid-July until after the autumn Maneuvers in September. The rest of their year is mainly stand-by and, for specialists, keeping their hand in, using the school torpedo-boats. Prior to 1912, the fleet law did not require full crews ready for all boats, SO that part of the reserve flotilla crews could be furloughed for a large part of the year. This arrangement spared expense and gave the men opportunity for some temporary civil employment.
The organization of the II battalion (comprising the 3d and 4th companies—III and IV reserve half-flotillas—III and IV half-flotillas, forming the II torpedo-boat flotilla), is similar, to the foregoing, except that there are no school torpedo-boats attached. Consequently, more officers are on duty as company officers. This means that the II torpedo-boat flotilla, in 1914, being in its second year of training and therefore designated the "Maneuver" flotilla (which will be explained later), is for more and longer periods in full commission during the year, and is more frequently with the fleet. Hence, its periods in reserve are Shorter, and during them its men are actually in barracks, not furloughed in large numbers and for lengthy periods, as used to be done with the reserve flotilla personnel. Similarly, the organization of the III battalion conforms to that of the II battalion, II torpedo-boat flotilla. For 1914, in the II torpedo division, at Wilhelmshaven, there is a fourth battalion and torpedo-boat flotilla, numbered VII (the other II torpedo division flotillas are numbered IV, V and VI). This was a step to increase the standing organization gradually, as will be later explained.
The standing organization prior to 1912 kept personnel always on hand sufficient for half the torpedo-boats to be in full cornmission. For about two months each summer, enough furloughed men were called in to complete the crews for all boats. The amendment of 1912 to the fleet law prescribed the keeping on hand, in the boats or barracks, of full crews for all boats, at that time six flotillas. The result of this system of organization, with a large personnel reserve back of it, is that at the outbreak of the present war, the whole torpedo-boat force was immediately in full commission, and in a few days the company stems in the torpedo division barracks were filled up again by ex-torpedo-boat reservists, soon able to man the forty-odd boats not already assigned to the first seven flotillas. Early in 1914 there were 130 torpedo-boats serviceable, of later date than 1899, of tonnage from 400 to 700, and speed from 26 to 32.5 knots. Out of these, II flotillas could be formed, or four additional to those of the standing organization. Besides these larger boats, there were fifty-odd smaller, older boats, of from 150 to 350 tons and 20 to 23 knots, serviceable as mine-searchers, school torpedo-boats and tenders.
TORPEDO-BOAT PERSONNEL
The enlisted personnel of the German torpedo service are the pick of the men assigned to the navy. The laws governing military service prescribe that the seafaring population (seamen, fishermen, seagoing ship carpenters, sail makers, cooks and waiters), the "half-seafaring " population (men that have worked three months at sea in any capacity, and fishermen by calling but of less than a year so employed), and other suitable people of the country (mainly harbor, river and inland water boatmen, longshoremen, firemen, machinists, mechanics), shall be liable for service in the navy. Besides these, volunteers come from all over the Empire to become engineers, warrant and petty officers. In addition, men are sometimes transferred, in petty officer ratings, from the general service to the torpedo service, but there is no transfer back the other way. Once in the torpedo service, a man stays there unless he becomes disqualified, in which case he is passed into the reserve, the "substitute reserve," or out altogether. The men wear an identifying mark on the cap, in addition to the ordinary cap ribbons. It is a favorite service, enjoying considerable distinction.
The commissioned officers, comprising line, engineer, medical and pay officers, belong to the general service. It is almost invariable that a line officer must serve in a big ship or scout cruiser between two periods of torpedo-boat service. The personnel authorities are very particular to maintain a proper balance in an officer's training, so that there may be no excessive development in a specialty, at the expense of sufficient experience of the general service, which all specialties serve.
On the other hand, the efficiency of officers' duty in the torpedo service is insured by always requiring previous service in a lower Position before appointing an officer to a higher responsibility. Line officers begin as ensigns or junior lieutenants, in subordinate Positions in the boats. Usually none come to command until after two tours in subordinate capacities. In the majority of cases, the Captain of a torpedo-boat has before been an executive of a boat. Similarly, "Half-Flotilla Chiefs" are selected from those who have made a cruise as boat captains; and the flotilla chiefs, lieutenant commanders, are picked from the half-flotilla chiefs.
Warrant officers play a considerable role on board torpedo-boats. Among these are "torpedo quartermasters,'" ranking with warrant and chief warrant officers, and having the navigational qualifications of a mate in the merchant service. Normally, there are enough line officers and warrant officers below the captain of a boat to maintain a regular watch in four.
Two specialties, in effect, are recognized as distinct among line officers in connection with torpedoes—torpedo-boating and torpedo duty in ships. Officers specializing in the one do not as a rule take duty in the other, the work being entirely different and attracting different natures. Torpedo-boating is liked because of the comparative independence, opportunity and various activities which it gives, appealing to the sporting instinct; while ship's torpedo duty attracts the more technically inclined, offering inducements like those of the gunnery specialty, though in less degree. Torpedo-boat officers, in common with all, take the torpedo training course as midshipmen. Every torpedo-boat captain has taken a further course and done torpedo firing, to gain and maintain his "T," and the junior lieutenant subordinates also, with rare exceptions, have the “T" qualification.
The warrant and petty officers in the torpedo-boats are torpedo Specialists. They have the station of "tube master," and maintain their qualifications as jealously as the pointer of a heavy gull the tube masters are also the gun captain pointers of the torpedo boat's battery.
TORPEDO-BOAT FLOTILLA TRAINING
The training routine in the torpedo service covers three years corresponding to the normal term of required military service most recruits enter October 1 and are first put through a preliminary six weeks of general military training. This training corresponds to that of our naval training stations, but is more thorough and accomplishes as much in six weeks as ours does four months. At the beginning they are handled in squads o eight. For its first year of the three-year cycle a flotilla is designated "school" flotilla. Officers as well as most of the men an then new to the boats, some of them being new to the torpedo service altogether.
The officers' training also is elementary in torpedo-boat work for this the school torpedo-boats serve under the "reserve” half-flotillas. As soon as the new torpedo-boat captain has his boat in hand, an experienced boat of one of the other flotillas goes out with him to train the new boat to maneuver in a pair. Next the half-flotilla chief takes all his five and trains them to work together.
Training with the fleet begins late in November running into December. The boats have opportunity for night work against vessels outside. In the early spring, the school flotillas and an "maneuver" flotillas (which were "school" flotillas the yea' before) are taken out as a body by the admiral Inspector of Torpedo Affairs, for training in company with a special squadron which is formed of the torpedo training and experiment ships the gunnery school ships, and the reserve stem ships, altogether four or five large vessels and three or four scout cruisers. This part of the training covers about three weeks. It includes a great deal of night work, the aim being to train the boats to search for the heavy force and attack it in numbers. In the early summer this kind of training is continued and carried farther with the high sea fleet itself, during a two or three weeks' maneuver period. In July, the school flotilla takes a coastwise cruise; and in the autumn, from mid-August, for about three weeks, takes part, with all other available naval force, in the fleet autumn maneuvers.
After one year as school flotilla, the designation is changed to maneuver flotilla." This second year the boats are not placed in full commission immediately after October 1, but the exercise necessary to maintain the efficiency of the specialists is had on board the one boat of the half-flotilla which is in full commission, or in a school torpedo-boat, or by taking a boat in reserve itself O1 t in a reserve commission status. The essential difference is mainly fiscal, there being allowances and extra pay, and the crew's subsistence allowance being greater when a vessel is in full commission, which do not apply to a vessel in reserve or otherwise in a qualified condition of commission. In November and December and all through the winter, after the Christmas holidays, the Maneuver flotillas in full commission practice with and against the squadrons of the fleet, and with the full fleet, battleships and cruisers, when the commander-in-chief takes them out.
When in full commission, the maneuver flotillas are under the commander-in-chief, as constituent parts of the fleet. These, and also other flotillas, joined to the fleet for longer or shorter Periods, are for the time being detached from any control by the Torpedo Inspection. The fleet admiral, however, has no concern with their interior details. He deals with them as instruments furnished ready for his use, fully trained as far as training can be carried apart from the full fleet. So with all the flotillas, when they are not with his flag, he does not concern himself with them, nor is he responsible, as they belong to another. They pass from the fleet directly back to the control of the Torpedo Inspection, which is more thoroughly familiar with their requirements than the commander-in-chief could possibly be, more interested, and not concerned with any other branch.
As already mentioned, the maneuver and school flotillas exercise with the special squadron in the early spring, and again with the fleet in the early summer. Like the school flotillas, the maneuver flotilla also takes a summer cruise and participates in the autumn maneuvers.
At the end of the second year, the maneuver flotilla becomes the "reserve flotilla" for the third year. Specialists have the school torpedo-boats available to keep their hands in—firing torpedoes and guns to maintain their tube master and gunleader qualifications. The reserve boats are sometimes "activated" in the early spring for practice, but usually they remain in reserve until two or three weeks before the autumn maneuvers begin. In the latter part of July, they are put in commission for the necessary shakedown periods, so that in the autumn maneuvers they, as well as the school and maneuver flotillas, may be well in hand.
Shortage of officers a few years ago made it necessary to take for these boats, for the summer, officers who had paramount duty elsewhere during the rest of the year, as at the Naval Academy and War College. Some of these officers were captains of boats. As far as boat captains are concerned, this practice no longer continues, but some of the officers have other duties to occupy them during the reserve periods of their boats, though there was very little of this by May, 1914.
The training cycle is completed with the end of the third year, and these boats are turned over to begin again as the next school flotilla. Seamen and stokers are paid off, but since all petty officers must be men of extended enlistments, there remains a considerable nucleus with which to begin the next three-year period—school, maneuver, reserve.
This three-year cycle has shown itself well adapted for increasing the number of torpedo vessels, as far as concerns organization. Prior to 1906 there were only three flotillas in the German Navy altogether, each torpedo division having one school, one maneuver and one reserve, half-flotilla. The half-flotillas from the first division at Kiel combined with those of the second division at Wilhelmshaven to make one flotilla each—school, maneuver and reserve. In the autumn of 1906, each division organized two school half-flotillas instead of one, so that a year later, in 1907, there were two maneuver flotillas instead of one. The same could have been done the next year, but was postponed another year, probably for lack of sufficient boats and of disposable funds, there being other large increases in the navy budget at that time. But in 1908 and 1910 similar increases were made' so that in five years the torpedo-boat force doubled. A similar increase began in 1913, which accounts for there being in 1914 seven flotillas instead of six. The second torpedo division had two school flotillas instead of one, and in ordinary course would have had two maneuver flotillas in 1915.
A very notable factor in the efficiency of the German torpedo training is the great proportion of it that is done at night. Very few torpedoes are fired by day, but at night a great many. A flotilla may average 1500 torpedo runs in a year. The loss of a torpedo is rare and is a serious mishap, difficult for an officer to explain away. There can be no question of the exceptionally reliable state of material preparedness, or of the devoted, confident spirit among- officers and men and the cordiality of their mutual confidence and esteem.
TORPEDO SERVICE MATERIAL
The complete control which the Torpedo Inspection has over the design building and acceptance trials of torpedo-boats has given results very satisfactory to the torpedo service. The Navy Office has nothing to do with questions of design, except in so far as the Secretary has cognizance of all technical matters. The Torpedo Inspection has its own hull and machinery constructors for designing, building inspection and service tests. Thoughtful development is evident from the absence of radical departures or changes. They have refrained from going to a large destroyer type, evidently believing that, for operations in the North SO their smaller type is more efficient. With the choice all in their own hands, they must have what they most want. Confirmation of this conclusion comes from outside. In 1913 the English Naval and Military Record published some comment on the German torpedo service, in which the seaworthy qualities of the torpedo-boats were highly praised.
As to general upkeep, the efficiency of material in the torpedo service is due to its necessities being fully appreciated and adequately provided for. In Kiel and at Wilhelmshaven, the great naval bases, the dockyard contains a "Torpedo Resort," which is practically a complete dockyard for torpedo vessels within the great dockyard. The head of the resort is a commander, with 3 lieutenants as assistant, and a staff of three torpedo engineers, eight torpedoist lieutenants, three naval constructors and three machinery constructors. The plant of the torpedo resort contain boiler shop, machine shop, rolling and bending shed, foundry smithy, ship fitter's shop, pattern, joiner, coppersmith, plumber and paint shops and complete store-houses for the full outfit .0 a torpedo-boat besides cranes, floating docks and berthing slips for torpedo vessels. The new torpedo resort, recently completed at Wilhelmshaven, covers an area larger than the Pensacola navy Yard, and employs 3000 workmen. At Kiel it is not so large, but is no less complete. The idea of having this separate establishment is that torpedo work is sure to suffer if it is mixed with work for big ships; therefore, the torpedo work is done apart, in a place and by people intended for that work and that alone, so that it is possible for a torpedo vessel needing repairs, or going into commission, to receive the prompt, competent and undivided attention of a thoroughly equipped, technical establishment of adequate capacity. By this arrangement not only satisfactory upkeep can be assured, but also repairs or replacements of damaged vessels accomplished in a minimum of time. It has been a common occurrence for a boat damaged by collision in maneuvers to be repaired and sent back again within 24 hours or less. And with the reserve boats at hand, all their equipment arranged conveniently ,s and orderly in storehouses adjacent to the berthing slips, a boat too damaged for immediate repair can, in still less time, be re- Placed altogether. The commander director of the torpedo a resort, having an adequate, competent and experienced staff and authority to decide in the matter, need usually lose no time in referring for decision to the director of the larger parent dockyard, whose attention must comprehend also other affairs.
For the torpedo supply, the Inspection has a factory at Friedrichsort, near Kiel, under a captain as director, with a lieutenant commander as assistant and a staff of 21 torpedo engineers and II torpedoists, having rank of from ensign up to lieutenant commander. The personnel of this factory are men trained from the beginning under the Torpedo Inspection, sworn to secrecy at the outset. Here are manufactured all the torpedoes used by the navy and some parts also of the mines. The establishment has a trial range of about 4000 yards, with retriever boats, and a very complete equipment.
In connection with torpedo supply, improvement and development, testing ships' installations and training of ships' torpedo crews, there is a "Torpedo Trial Detachment," or board, with a captain as president, one lieutenant commander, and four lieutenants as members, six junior lieutenants as assistants, three torpedo engineers and a physicist. These officers, with others necessary, constitute also the complement of an armored cruiser which is regularly assigned as the torpedo experiment ship. In addition, two scout cruisers are regularly assigned, to try out torpedoes and help train ships' torpedo men. These three vessels do not belong to the fleet, but are otherwise in regular commission and keep in readiness for their designated duty upon mobilization. In the spring they form part of the special squadron organized under the torpedo inspection admiral, to train the torpedo-boat flotillas.
SHIPS' TORPEDO CREWS
For vessels carrying underwater torpedo-tubes—battleships' battle cruisers, and scouts, the Torpedo Trial Board, with experienced torpedo men, conduct the full series of trials of torpedo installation and outfit of torpedoes, either in the case of a new ship or of renovation or material alteration of the torpedo installation. When the installation has stood the tests and been accepted. it is turned over to the ship's torpedo section, which has been trained and furnished by the I or II torpedo division, according to whether the ship belongs to the Kiel or the Wilhelmshaven dockyard. This method, whereby every installation is first tested by the best service experts and then turned over to a crew trained under the same guidance, goes far to eliminate uncertainty, in case of subsequent inefficient performance, as to whether the fault were of personnel or of material. It offers the best prospect for reliable efficiency, surely.
For training officers and men for torpedo duty on board ships, an old battleship is used as torpedo training ship, where midshipmen, officers and torpedo petty officers take courses to fit than for torpedo duties. To be a ship's torpedo officer, a six weeks’ course as midshipman and a subsequent higher course, are necessary, giving the "T" qualification against an officer's name. If not employed with torpedoes and successful in a torpedo firing course, this qualification lapses after two years, unless renewed by a review course in the torpedo training ship.
Battleships and large cruisers carry a lieutenant (senior grade usually) as torpedo officer, and an ensign as assistant torpedo officer. In the normal Case, the torpedo officer will have been an assistant torpedo officer previously. Scout cruisers carry a junior lieutenant as torpedo officer. Each of the vessels carries a warrant or chief warrant "Torpedo Machinist."
THE SUBMARINE BRANCH
The submarine service was first organized as a sub-division ( the torpedo inspection, but has now become a separate " Inspection of Submarine Affairs," with seat at Kiel, and the following organization, which, as can be seen, runs along similar lines 1 those of the parent inspection. The following is taken from the Navy List of May, 1914:
INSPECTION OF SUBMARINE AFFAIRS
Inspector ……. A captain
Adjutants ……. 3 lieutenants
Inspecting engineer ……. A naval engineer (lieutenant)
Inspecting medical officer ……. A medical inspector
Inspecting pay officer ……. A paymaster
Naval constructors ……. Four
Machinery constructors ……. Four
At disposition ……. 5 lieutenants and ensigns
2 naval engineers
BOARD FOR TRIAL AND ACCEPTANCE OF SUBMARINES
A lieutenant
A naval engineer
2 navigating boatswains
4 machinists (warrant)
SUBMARINE BATTALION
Commandant ……. A lieutenant commander
Adjutant ……. A lieutenant
Furnishes the flotillas and their stem organizations
SUBMARINE FLOTILLAS
In the spring of 1914 the Navy List showed two.
FLOTILLA CHIEFS
2 lieutenant commanders, each having as flag lieutenant or aid, a lieutenant
LEADER-BOAT COMMANDANTS, WHO ARE ALSO HALF-FLOTILLA CHIEFS
4 lieutenants
SUBMARINE-BOAT COMMANDANTS
20 lieutenants
12 lieutenants (j. g.)
OTHER SUBMARINE-BOAT OFFICERS
28 lieutenants (j. g.) and ensigns
37 naval engineers
2 medical officers
4 Pay officers
WARRANT AND CHIEF WARRANT OFFICERS
The Navy Register bears, on lists expressly designated for submarine duty, the following:
Duty "elsewhere" was with the Submarine-Boat Acceptance Commission, except for one machinist, who was with the I artificer personnel depot.
FLOTILLA SHIP OF I SUBMARINE FLOTILLA
Hamburg
Scout cruiser, 1903, 3250 tons, 23 knots on trial, ten 4-inch guns 1 lieutenant commander, 6 lieutenants, 1 engineer, 1 doctor, 1 paymaster.
FLOTILLA SHIP OF II SUBMARINE FLOTILLA
Stettin
Scout cruiser, 1907, 3470 tons, 25 knots on trial, ten 4-inch guns lieutenant commander, 7 lieutenants, r engineer, I doctor, 1 paymaster.
Special Type ship Vulcan, Submarine-Boat School
Commandant, a lieutenant commander, who is also the head of the submarine-boat school; 2 lieutenants, I engineer, I doctor, I paymaster.
This ship is a double-hull type, with two heavy hoisting purchases over the well between. The berthing space is ample for the accommodation of submarine crews under training, four at a time.
Few particulars concerning submarine-boats are accessible. Early in 1914, 27 were ready for service. From the outset a long continuous run, of 300 up to 700 miles, unaccompanied, was a prerequisite to acceptance. Their training program is not known, but there are indications that it follows that of the torpedo-boat flotillas. A great part of the year, only one flotilla ship was in full commission. The second was activated in the summer, for participation in the autumn maneuvers.