NAVAL BUILDING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19988, 13 July 1939, Page 7

NAVAL BUILDING

DELAY IN BRITAIN PRODUCTION OF ARMOURAXIS POWERS' FLEETS LONDON, July 6. The slow rate 'at which Britain's battleship-building programme is progressing is indicated by the announcement that the 35.000-ton battleship Lion was laid down at the Vickers Armstrong's yard yesterday, although she was authorised ‘in March, 1938. Although Parliament authorised the building of nine battleships, only six are at present actually being built. It is understood on good l authority that the delay is not due to lack of accommodation for the building of hulls, but to the slow production of special armour for the new battleships, which can be made by only a tc-w manufacturers throughout the world Battleship Strengths The slow irate at iyhich Britain is laying down capital ships inevitably postpones the time when the proposed new battle (leet will be able to make its power felt. Italy, Germany and Japan are believed" to be together actually building 11 or 12 35,000-ton ships, and Britain and France together, nine. Britain has actually launched two, Germany two, Italy two, France one, and the United States nil. Every Japanese naval shipyard is occupied to its full capacity with work on new warships, including capital ships, but it is very difficult to ascertain the categories arid numbers of ships under construction. New German Cruisers Information regarding Germany’s existing or .projected construction is much more accurate, the full programme to April 28, being known to the British Admiralty. Germany, until the denunciation of the London Naval Treaty, faithfully observed the clause regarding the passing on of information. If, by the denunciation, she intends 1 to -exceed the 8000-ton cruisers with 6.1 in. guns, Britain will invoke the escalator clause and lay down 10,000ton vessels, with Bin. guns, which type she is anxious to avoid resuming because of the cost. Britain prefers smaller cruisers, of which She is building large numbers. Germany’s capacity of normal construction is somewhat limited by the number of slips, but she is producing large quantities of high-efficiency naval guns, the steel tor which received a fairly high priority over other armament, steel. Russian Navy’s Additions The naval correspondent of the Amsterdam newspaper, Algemeen Handelsblad. gives details o£ additions to the Russian Navy. Two 8000-ton cruisers have six 7.2 in. guns, six torpedo tubes, two or three aeroplanes and a speed of 35 knots. There are nine new high-speed 2800-ton flotilla leaders and 130 motor torpedo boats. The submarines include 60 in the 900 to 1200-ton class, 45 of 600 tons and 40 of 200 tons. Thirty 'submarines, a number of large aircraft-carriers and one battleship are being constructed.