Food is cooked for the crew by electricity, and drinking water obtained from special tanks. Notwithstanding these arrangements, however, it is almost impossible for the crew to live on board for many weeks at a time, owing to the small free space in the interior and to the cramped deck; but as the size and radius of action of these boats increase, so also does the space available for exercise, and thus the habitability.
CHAPTER II
BRITISH SUBMARINES
The British Fleet at the moment when war was declared possessed 82 submarine torpedo-boats built and 22 building. Some of these were, however, stationed at the oversea naval bases. The composition and distribution of the submarine flotillas at the outbreak of hostilities were as follows:—
Submarines in Home Waters.
Patrol Flotillas.
1st Flotilla. Devonport.
Depôt ship: Onyx.
Submarines: A.8 and A.9.
2nd Flotilla. Portsmouth.
Depôt ship: Dolphin.