THE BATTLESHIP

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 19, 17 October 1919, Page 8

THE BATTLESHIP

STILL RULES IHE SEA

LORD JELLICOE'S OPINION

"THE STRONGEST ENGINE OF WAR"

"The introduction of a large number of scientific devices and the rapid advances in efficiency made by so many weapons during the recent wax renders, it particularly desirable to investigate carefully tho present value of the capital ship, and to consider what the probabilities are of its value being maintained in the future," says Lord Jelliooe ui his report oil naval defences, '"lho evolution in tlie past fifty years of the capuni or line-of-)>attle ship of the present day is the result of the struggle winch lias Ijoeji in progress between (a) tho gun and tho fillip, (b) the torpedo ar.d the shin, (c) the mino and the ship, and, mora recently, (dl aircratt and the ship. "Tho advent of explosive shell and the increasing power of. guns led to tho introduction of steel ships with armour and armoured decks. Tho advent of the torpedo led to the successive introduction of (1) torpedo nets, (2) greater internal watertight subdivision, (3) internal torpedo bulkheads, (4) external bulges. Tho. advent of the mine led to tho introduction of paravanes. Tho advent of. aircraft has recently formed an additional rsason for the thickening of armoured decks, the carrying of protecting aircraft by ships, and the fitting of high-angle guns in ships. "Jn each case enthusiastic supporter! of tho new devices have pronounced the speedy disappearance of tho line of battleship; but instead, tho line of battleshin has in each case been altered, and means found to counter the latest danger to its existence. It is natural to ask—"Why has such trouble been taken to preserve the existence of the costly line of battleship ?' The answer is not far to seek. Millions of tons of cargo, and. in time of war. of men and stores also, are carried in snips, and until some other means of carrying these millions of tons over, or under the ocean have actually materialised it is imperative for tho British Empire to retain the command of the surface of the sea.

"The capital ship is tho strongest form of engine of war which exists for operating on the seas. Its external bulges, which, were invented during the lats war. render it immune to torpedo attack until hit (in the case of tho newest typo now building) by a largo number of torpedoes, thus minimising the effect of t.hn hits obtained by torpedoes fired by surface craft, submarines, or torpedocarrying aircraft. "Tho capital 6|iip is also usually protected against torpedo attack by escorting destroyers, and in future will ba assisted bv various scientific devices, recently invented, which will enable it to carry out defensive or offensive tactical mnneouvres against submarines. _ Paravanes. which were invented during tha lato war. form an efficient protection against moored mines of tlio present 3 "Thick armoured decks protect the vitals of the capital ship from bomW dropped by aircraft, which, when dropped from the low heights necessary to givo much probability of hitting, have but low striking velocities And therefore only small penetrative cffect. High-anglo guna help to keep attacking aircraft at neights trom which hitting by dropped boiub3 is / iniprobablo. The aircraft carried on board, or in an attendant vessel, serve to protect tho capital ship against euemy airships and aeroplanes, Tha secondary anti-torpedo craft guns can establish 'barrages'' of-bursting high-ex-plosive shell to protect the ship against attack by small fast surface craft loaded with explosives and controlled from an independent position. Armour and armoured decks protect tho ship against attack by enemy's gunfire. High speed and great gun power enable the,capital ship to bring vessels of less speed, power, or protection successfully to action. "Tho country whoso fast capital ships and their complementary units are not contained or held by similar enemy a ships can, with these vessels', sweep tha enemy's vessels and sca-borno trade olf the seas. The flying and the submarine enthusiasts of to-day are following in .tlio footsteps of tho explosive shell, tho torpedo, and the mine enthusiasts who preceded them; whilst thoso who recognise the necessity for tho capital ship are devising, successfully, means to counter each Fresli menaco to its existence. It behoves us, therefore, to be cautious in accepting the opinion of specialists in any particular arm in this matter, which is so vitally important to the Empire. "In view of the above-quoted brief history of the gradual evolution of tho great capital ship of tho present day m warding oil tho perils which successively threatened its existence, and in view ot the tremendous rolo played by the capital ship, tho wise course to pursue is t# continue to build capital ships until, if ever, it is shown that some other weapon has been found which permanently renders them inefficient. "Tho effective life of a capital ship is, perhaps, fifteen years, and the tinio to build about two years. There is at present no apparent prospect of tho submarine or the aircraft defeating the capital sliip in the next seventeen years. It is therefore, sound and imperative to continue to build capital snips such a condition of affairs exists."