VULNERABILITY OF CAPITAL SHIPS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 166, 9 April 1921, Page 7

VULNERABILITY OF CAPITAL SHIPS

The sinking of the ex-German battleship Baden between the Dean Cail and Dean Elbow buoys marked the climax of a series of interesting experiments carried out by the naval auhori.es to test the resistance of the most up-to-date armoured protection of the capital ship to the shattering force of the modern projectile, states the London ’ Morning Post.” p ,v The Baden, which was one ot the latest of Germany’s pre-war programme approximating to the British superDreadnought class, was one of the surrendered vessels scuttled at Scapa . . She was subsequently salved and taken round to Portsmouth last Ju y, when she underwent preparations for the sei is of experiments by the Gunnery and loipedo Schools. The Baden was.towed to a spot, some distance from the Spit Port where the first, tests were carried out by exports from the Nava Gunnery Schools, forty rounds being find into the battleship at close range At intervals between the rounc:ls office s from Whale Island visited the battleship to note the effect of the shots. Tests were also carried out will, hi h explosive charges in her gun turrets which differ from those or British vainhins in that they arc acetylene-welded ‘-1. The tests, which have boon conducted under conditions of the strictest secrocj, also included "torpedo and aerial attacks. and the Baden irniv lies Ix-nea th the waves. It is understood that she is to be raised for a further series of experiments