SUPER-WARSHIPS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 646, 25 October 1909, Page 7

SUPER-WARSHIPS.

, GERMANY'S RECORD. THREE LAUNCHED IN SIXTY DAYS. THE THUIUNGIA. (By Tclceraph-Prcss Association-Copyright.) Berlin, October 22. In a few days the German super-Dreadnought Thuringia will bo launched, making tho third battleship of this class launched in sixty days. " ■ ' COSTLY CHILEAN PROGRAMME. Valparaiso, October 22. Chile has decided to built a 20,000-ton- battleship, two ocean destroyers, and several- submarines, expending in all four millions sterling. • • ■:■•.•.•• THE THREE-GUN .TURRET. COMPABISON OF Tilß BRITISH AND . , GERMAN TYPES. Dreadnoughts, on either side of the North: Sea, may bo divided into three' classes: (1) The original Dreadnought: (2) improved Dreadnoughts (including several, types); (3) suporDreadnoughts. In Germany the Poseh, twelrc 11-inch guns, may be taken to stand for No. 2, while- the Thuringia, twelve 12-inch guns, is i super-Dreadnought. The Rival Armaments. The Thuringia is one of a group of five now building; the Siogfreid is. another of the same group. It is said that these German- 'SuperDreadnoughts will be fitted with turbine en-' gines, will each displace between 20,000 and 24,000 tons and will carry twelve 12-inch, ; twelve G-inch, and sixteen or more 20-pounder gu'ue. . (According to Mr. Jane,- howover, tho anti-torpedo armament will be not twelve 0inch f[uns, but twenty. 4.1-inch.) Against thorn will bo pitted Britain's four "extra" warships, the laying-down of which is being liastehed,. and which will represent Britain's super T Dreadnoughts. While Germany is advancing from 11-inch to 12-inch guns, Britain is proceeding from 12-inch t0'13.5-inch . Summarising the advance made in the British super-Dreadnoughts, as compared with -. their: •' predecessors, an English paper states: "In ■ stead of ten 12-inch guns firing 8501b. shells and weighing 58 tons, they will bo armed with ten 13.5-inch guns, firing shells of 1250 or 13001b., and weighing 85 tons; all the guns being able' to fins on either beam." The tonnage is placed at 25,000 or 26,000. ', - Mighty Broadsides: ' . The following comparative table of the big. gun power of the British and the German ' ■super-Dreadnoughts is interesting: —.'. -■■-;■■'■ ' :-Total . : ". ' weight Broadside. . of shells. British ... Ten 13.5-inch Cj-ton guns 13,0001b. German ... Twelve 12-inch 51-ton guns U,7Gotb. Tho following diagrams show (according to Mr. Jane) the different. styles of turret ai:'angoment adopted:— ■ , .

British super-Dreadnought—Broadside of Ten ■'.'.•-'. .13.5.Guns. -

German super-Dreadnought—Broadside of : ! : Twelve 12-inch Gun.< .., Tho outstanding fcaturojs'of course the German thrjje-guh turret. In no "previous ship have so liiany 12-inch guiis been put into" one turret. The English criticism is,that.tho fire .will be slower. It" is further argued that the •■one'advantage of the threkgun turret is'that it enables twelve 12-ineh J guns to'fire'on either broadside, or 50 per cent. more, than the drigindl Dreadriough could bTiDg to bear. . .The German I'oseri,'which, though still build-: iiig, is.to be eclipsed-.-by these.later' type's, will: . ..mount twelve ty-iheh guns' of .high porter, so disp.osod tlidt (en can firu oil either broadside, or two'rhoro heavy gups than the original British. Dreadnought. The following table sums up the big-gun power of tho : Posen'and the' original! Dreadnought:— .' " ! ■"'. ! . v : : ■: !,.'- Total ; ■.:■...■-.■. .-.-•.. .-. ... : ..', lycight Broadside.'. .. of shellsPoseri ' Ten 11-inch 49-ton guns.'/'.G,OOOIb. Dreadnought Eight 12-iucli 58-ton gups.-. B,Boolb. The following diagrams show.. (according to str. Jane) the styles of-turret ;nrrnngement- ti .thofosen n'nd tho original Dreadnought:— !.

German Posen—Broadside of Ten li-inch' Guns.

Original Dreadnought—Broadside' of Eight I 12-incU- Guns. ' :