FORMIDABLE NAVY PLANNED

Chronicle (Levin), 9 March 1948, Page 5

FORMIDABLE NAVY PLANNED

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Britain Jo Returii Capital Ships To Service , i . - .

CanvrtQht)

Received Tuesday, 10.15 a.m. " LONDON., March 8. Britain is to put back into commission a number of capital ships recently placed in reserve. " The Financial Secretary to the Admiralty, Mr. John Dugdale, * announced in the House of Commons today that ■ the Navy, by December, would have in copimission four J battleships, three fleet-carriers, five light fleet-carriers, 17 cruisers, 34 submarines, 52 destroyers and 43 frigates. (At present there „are no battleships at all on the operational strength) .

Mr. Dugdale said that the Navy, by December, would still have fewer battleships than before the war, but the number of ships in other classes would equal the average of pre-war years. "It will indeed be a formidable fleet, second only in size to that of the United States." Mr. Dugdale, who was speaking on the Navy Estimates, added that the Government attached the greatest importance to the maintenance of a strong reserve fleet. The Navy had 12 carriers, 10 destroyers and a number of smaller vessels under constriiction. Seven destroyers and seven submarines were complete-d, and joined the Home Fleet in 1947. The newest earrier now being built, the Ark Royal, would have a displacement of 36,800 tons. A substantial part of the Navy's £9,000,000 research pr'ogramme was now being devoted to an examina-

'tion into the effects of the atom bomb on wajfare, disclosed Mr. Dugdale. The Admiralty was also investigating new methods of submarine propulsion, which, if. successful and led to the production of high speed submarines, woul'd call for. a reconsideration of the tactical employment of submarines in future war. The successful development o'f the gas turbine would open a new era for the Navy and merchant shipping. Referring to the Dominion's •naval forces, Mr. Dugdale said: "A great and growing body of ships and men have joined us to form a bulwark of strength to the British Commonwealth." Mr. Churchill, who followed Mr. Dugdal$, accuse'd the Government of disparaging naval strength at a time of increasing danger, and of letting the country down to a "depth of inefficiency never before plumbed."