WARSHIP COLLAPSES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11110, 6 May 1911, Page 5

WARSHIP COLLAPSES.

ACCIDENT IN DRY DOCK. By Tclcerach—Press Association-Oopyris'at (Roc. May 5, 10.-15 p.m.) London, May 5. The battleship-cruiser Invincible mot with an unfortunate accident, when being docked at Portsmouth on Tuesday for a complete overhaul. When the vessel's full weight rested on the wooden blocks of the dry dock her keel frames, strengthening her double- bottom, suddenly buckled and collapsed. Tho ship's weight bent out the frames like a bow, bulging them at either side. The Invincible was floated and examined, and serious injuries were, disclosed. ' The Invincible is a cruiser-battleship, and was built at Elswick and launched in the spring of 1907. Her dimensions are: Displacement, 17,250 tons; horsepower, 41,000; speed, 25 knots. The main armament consists of eight 12-inch guns. Her cost was about £[, 770,000. There have been several similar accidents to armoured vessels while in dry dock. Tho great weight of the armour Belt places a tremendous strain in the under portions of the vessels which they are resting on terra firma. The Japanese battleship Ashi met with a mishap much the same as that now recorded on being docked before her departure from England, where sho was built in 1899.