JAPAN'S NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1542, 11 September 1912, Page 7

JAPAN'S NAVY.

( *■- - AN EXTENSIVE PROGRAMME. By Teleeraph—Press Association—Copyright Tokio, September ,9. Japan intends to build five superDreadnoughts and six powerful cruisers, the work to be spread over a period of six years. The vessels will be constructed locally. . Two super-Dreadnoughts will be built abroad. The greatest cruiser yet built was launched at Messrs. Vickers's naval construction works at Barrow on May 17 last. Tho Kongo's principal dimensions are:— Length, 701 ft.; breadth, 92ft.; draught, 27ft. 6in.; displacement, 27,500 tons; full coal capacity, 4000 tons; oil fuel capacity, 10JW tons; shaft horse-power, 70,000 tons. Her armament consists of eight Hin. guns,' an adoption for tho first time of such large guns (the Lion's only being 13.5). The eight 1-lin. guns are mounted in four barbettes, two forward and two aft, and can fire on either broadside. All are effective on both sides, and their radius of action is very extensive On the upper level deck on both sides are mounted batteries of 6in. guns, and these are of fifty calibres length. Japan has learned many lessons from the late war, and these are suggested in the remarkable- dosign of the Kongo. The protection is most adequate for a vessel of this description, indeed more weight lias been allocated to this than in most ships. The main broadsido armour is of special quality of steel, and is equal in thickness to that of any battle cruiser yet designed. The propelling machinery is of tho Parsons type, the boilers being of the watertube pattern.