U.S. DREADNOUGHTS FOR ATOM WARFARE

Chronicle (Levin), 19 June 1946, Page 8

U.S. DREADNOUGHTS FOR ATOM WARFARE

— : — : NEW VESSEL IIEDESIGNED The U.S. Navy will build no more conventional fiattleships, , but w-ill coneentrate pn such ships of the future as ^experimentai- dreadnoughts, designed for atomic warfare, says a Sydney Sun special from New York. The only battleship under construction, the 45,000-ton Kentucky, has been radically redesigned discloses ViceAdmiral Edward Cochrane, chief of the Navy's Bureau of Ships,- It will be an experimental "supership," without the customary 16-inch guns. The "Chicago Tribune" says the Kentucky wili be empioyed as- a launching platform for massed rockets and guided missiles, as Well as atomic weapons. These armambnts will replace the nine 16-inch guns that would ,have made the oattleship one of the most power-' ful during World War II. The modified Kentucky will mark the turning point in warship design, reflecting lessons learned dur-' ing the war and new problems raised by atomic warfare, says the "Tribune." Construction of the 70 per cent. , completed Kentucky was suspend- j ed, penaing results of the forth- J coming atomic bomb ,tests at t Bikini Atoll, and further researcri ; in ship design. The "United States News" says ! that despite all its knowledge and j experience and the expendiiure of j time and money the U.S. can make j only about 50 atomic bombs a year, j each costing about 10,000,000 dol- i A London message quotes the | "Daily Express" as stating that the I Roval Navy's front-lipe capital strgngth will shortly be reduced to five battleships and six aircraftcarriers. Such battleships as, the Nelson, Rodney and* Renown are too slow and too lightly armoured, The Admiralty has cancelled orders for four more 18,000-ton carriers, estimated to cost £30,000,000. Construction of the 18,0(J0-ton light carriers Albion, Bulwark, Centaur and Hermes is proceeding slowly, pending new secret developments in atomic weapons, guided missiles ahd jet planes. The 33,000-ton Ark Royal and Eagle are also building.