Photo, Cribb, Southsea.]

THE BRITISH SUBMARINE “E.2.”

Displacement, 800 tons; Speed, 16·10 knots; Armament, 4 torpedo tubes and 2 q.-f. guns.

There are 17 vessels of this class, completed between 1912‒14.

Warfare has become so largely a matterof science that in order to arrive at anintelligent understanding of the navalsituation or of the military campaigns inthe Great European War, a knowledgeof the scientific factors contributing tovictory or defeat is essential. And inthis volume it has been my aim not onlyto review the actual fighting underseas,but also to present a compendium ofinformation relative to the submarinefleets and arms of the great Naval Powersengaged; which I venture to hope willprove of present interest on account ofthe prominent part played by the under-waterfighting ships and appliances, andof permanent historic value as being thefirst work to describe the vast preparationsand curious events leading to the new“Submarine Phase” in naval warfare.