NEW BRITISH NAVY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 85, 7 October 1938, Page 9

NEW BRITISH NAVY

FAR-REACHING CHANGES

Far-reaching changes in the distri* bution of British and Dominion naval forces are foreshadowed, wrote Hector Bywater in the "Daily Telegraph and Morning Post" recently. As the immense building programme now in hand approaches maturity the Home and Mediterranean Fleets, the Reserve Fleet, and the squadrons serving on, foreign stations will all be reorganised.

The initial step in this direction has already been taken by allocating the Ist Tribal Flotilla of 1850-ton destroyers to the Mediterranean Fleet. Before the end of the - year the 2nd Tribal Flotilla will probably have joined the Home Fleet.

During the next eighteen months the Navy will be reinforced by • 16 new submarines, whose ultimate destination is still confidential. It is* surmised, however, that new underwater flotillas will be formed for service in home and foreign waters.

Between now and the end of 1941 the following new ships will pass into service:—■

Seven battleships—five of 35,000 tons with 14in guns, and two of 40,000 ton 3 with 16in guns. \ Twenty-four cruisers from 10,000 to 5450 tons.

Six aircraft carriers, averaging 22,800 tons, each accommodating about 70 aircraft. , Forty destroyers of 1850 to 1690 tons. Twenty-one submarines, mostly of ocean-going type.

Sixteen escort vessels and mine-sweepex-s the majority .equipped as anti-aircraft convoy ships.

If is understood that the distribution, of this, new fleet, whose aggregate tonnage is equal to half that o? the total British Navy in 1935, has already been determined, though the plan will naturally be subject to modification to conform with prevailing political conditions. , . r

TWO FLEETS REINFORCED. What is certain is that the Home and Mediterranean battle fleets, at present composed of modernised capital ships built during the war, will be stiffened by the addition of fast wings of modern high-speed battleships, heavily armoured and mounting guns of the maximum range. The formation of a battle fleet for the Far East, I gather, is still under consideration. Should such ft fleet be deemed necessary its components will be provided for in the 1939 Estimates, which are expected to include not fewer than three battleships of 40,000 tons. ■ On the other hand, the concentration of the United States battle fleet —the most powerful and homogeneous naval force in existence under one command—is considered in some quarters to be an adequate guaran- , tee for the maintenance of the balance of power in the Far East, par- • ticularly as the United States is steadily developing its overseas bases m the Pacific. . . Meanwhile the opening of the new giant graving dock at Singapore and! the impending completion of the new fortified base there have made It feasible to dispatch British battleships to the Far East should their pres«nce bo the current buildin^programme is finised a large number of cruisers and destroyers-and Perhaps several battieships-npw.m commasion will be placed in reserve. Their Places will be taken by/vessels of the most modem construction. jNew cruiser squadrons and new destroyer flotillas will *•,**** _?£ main fleets next year, andl in^thejjetr future the Navy's strength in aircraft will be increased fourfold.