HEAVILY-ARMED SHIP.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1116, 2 May 1911, Page 5

HEAVILY-ARMED SHIP.

TWELVE 13.5-INCH GUNS. By Telesrapb—Press Afeociation—Copyrleht London, April 30. Tho Princess Royal, a super-Dread-nought cruiser, was launched at Barrow-in-Furness. Sho is a vessel of 2G.3G0 tons, and will havo a speed of 28 knots. She will carry twelve 13jiu, guns. Her cost will be <£2,002,000. BETTER SHIPS FOR LESS MONEY. One of tho remarkablo facts disclosed by the new Navy Estimates, which is peculiarly welcome as a proof of tho high efficiency of the construction department at tho Admiralty and the skill of our shipbuilders (writes the "Daily Mail") is Hie extraordinary 'low cost ol' the new British super-Dreadnoughts. The first of the::e new ships was H.M.S. Orion, laid down in 1009. Wo learn from the Estimates of 1911-12 that her cost will bo onl t v J;1,7G9,000, without guns and ammunition. Yet the original Dreadnought co;t in tho same state no less than ,£I,GSO,OCO. Thus for an additional J:9o,ftoo. the nation obtains a hull displacing about 23,000 tons, in place of one displacing 17,900 tons, and protected on tho most vital parts by armour 12in. thick in place of llin, steel. The Orion is not only cheaper, but also much cheaper, than any ship_vst produced of modern design, hi Tact, her cost per pound weight of metal filed from the heavy guns is about half (hat, of tho Lord Nelsons. . A few figures will show how sonic famous British typfs compare with each other and with tho Argentine super-Dreadnoughts, now being built in the United States:— Cost of Cost per Name. bull, lb. of engines, awl "Weight Ship. armour.. Broadsid?. of „ . , Broadside. British. £ lb. ,£ Majestic 916,000 4,000 229 Lord Nelson 1,490.000 5,300 2SI Dreadnought 1 ,<so,ooo G,SOO 217 Orion 1,769,000 12,500 Ml Argentine. Moreno 1,990,000 10,800 184 This table brings out many interesting facts clearly. It shows the prodigious supmority of tho Orion class to the Dreadnought; it shows the crushing advantage which tho Orion possesses as against the battleships of the pre-Dread-nought day. It further proves that tho Lord Nelsons, .which we sometimes hear praised, are very costly ships when -tested by their oflensive power. It demonstrates that British designers have produced a new type in its. own way every whit as remarkable as the famous Dreadnought.