Off Hatteras

Off the North Carolina coast, about 20 miles from Cape Hatteras, the old warships Virginia and New Jersey were sent to the bottom in target practice by Army aviators. The object of the practice was to determine the comparative effectiveness of various bombs from various altitudes (TIME, Aug. 13). Inasmuch as the battleships were obsolete, unable to defend themselves, and had their water-tight compartments dismantled, they were easy game for the aviators. Yet the tests seemed to show the importance of command of the air, and the accuracy and comparative effectiveness of varying methods of bombing.

The first ship to suffer was the New Jersey. The attack began at 8.52 a.m. Flying at 10,000 feet, a group of aeroplanes dropped 600-lb. bombs. Later from 6,000 feet, several 2,000-lb. bombs were loosed. Most of the bombs hit alongside as was intended, for the deck armor was considered impermeable to the bombs dropped.

Seven Martin bombers at an altitude of 3,000 feet attacked the Virginia with 1,100-lb. bombs. Eleven missiles were dropped. All except two fell within 300 feet of the ship. One, the fourth, made a direct hit, sweeping away the basket mast and all three funnels. Within half an hour from the time the first bomb was dropped the Virginia turned turtle and went down, stern first. It was then apparent that severe damage had been done within the hull.

At 3.30 p.m. the coup de grace was administered to the New Jersey, which still remained afloat. Three 2,000-lb. bombs from 3,000-ft. altitude effectively disposed of her. One of them made a direct hit. Within six minutes she sank by the stern and the demonstration was finished.

Brigadier General Mitchell, assistant chief of the Army Air Service, directed the attackers from an observation plane.

For the first time smoke screens laid by aeroplanes were used in the attack. Twice screens were laid down, 600 feet high and a mile long. The largest bombs used in the attack weighed 2,000 lbs. The Army has a bomb twice the size, which is being manufactured. General Patrick announced that a new photographic or telescopic sight is also being perfected which should materially increase the accuracy of air bombing. The deadliest warefare is yet to come.