The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER. 30, 1927. CRUISER STRENGTH.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER. 30, 1927. CRUISER STRENGTH.

A cable message published on Wednesday indicated that a London daily paper Jiad discovered something of a wonder shij) in the German new cruisers lately launched. As a matter of fact the naval journals published in England have been giving some facts about the ships for months past, so that there is not a new discovery. At the same time they are remarkable vessels, and it is recognised they create a new era .in warship building. According to the August “Navy” on March 26th. the new German cruiser “Konigsberg” was launched at the Imperial Dockyard, Wilhelmshaien, and from such accounts as have been available she promised to be a very remarkable vessel. Her displacement is 6,000 tons, that being the largest size allowed for any new German cruiser, under the Treaty of Versailles. Upon this moderate tonnage the Germans have devised a vessel of noteworthy military properties. AA’e may briefly summarise the salient features of her design in the following outline:—(l) She is to carry the remarkable battery' of nine 5.9 inch guns, accommodated in three triple turrets, and will be the first cruiser of any Navy to s make use of the triple 6-inch gun mount. (2) She "ill be the first warship to embody triple torpedo tubes, although triple, revolving, deck tor-pedo-tubes have been used by the British' and other Navies for ten years past. Twelve tubes (in four triples) will be used on the “Konigsberg.” (3) She will be the first German cruiser to burn oil fuel only. Six water-tube boilers and geared turbines, developing 65,000 s.li.p. are to give her the high speed of 32 knots. (4) AVhen cruising, steam turbines ,arc to be

shut down, and power will lie derived from Diesel engines. At an economical speed of 14.5 knots, it is estimated that the Diesel engines will give the remarkably high cruising range of 5.500 miles. (5) Both by armour and under-water sub-division, a very good measure of defence will he provided for the vitals of the vessel. From a technical point of view, the “Konigsberg” presents an astonishing combination of fighting power, steaming endurance nnd defensive properties, all accommodated upon and within a hull of modest dimensions. To achieve these results, recourse lias been made to all kinds of weight-saving expedients, such as, for example, the use of tho very highest grade of steel, and the employment of electric welding in place of rivetting. Costly ns these processes are, they havo resulted in the production of a hull of greaU lightness combined with very exceptional strength. The Konigsberg is to be placed in service towards the end of next year. Her complement will comprise 500 officers and men. Two further cruisers of the same powerful type are in hand, and a fourth is contemplated. The tonnage of the new ships. {Recording to the experts seem to afford

a happy medium in usefulness'’ which has created a very favourable impression. even in British naval-circles. The design i.s being approved generally. In the matter of size, one British opinion was that the new cruiser was the happy mean between the big 10,000-ton “Treaty” type and the rather inadequate light cruisers of 3,000 to 4,000 tons. Few classes of cruisers have ever served the British Navy so well as the “Towns’’ of about 5,250 tons. Built before the war the “Towns” served throughout the period of hostilities with great success, and in action, proved more than a match for their German opponents of equal rating. After the war, they were thought too valuable to be sent to the scrap-heap, and wore refitted From 1918 down to date, certain of the “Towns” have worked upon the Colonial stations, and proved themselves well fitted for overseas work. It has been thought that an improved “Town’’ class of about G,0()0 tons would well meet British cruiser needs in the way of trade defence, Colonial duty, and Fleet scouting. For another thing, it lias always been a difiientl matter to devise a satisfactory scheme of propulsion for cruisers. From a strategical point of view, tlies vessels must have a great cruising radius and a low consumption of fuel. For tactical purposes, they must attain a high rate of speed, in chase or retreat and during the emergencies of battle. To combine economy or fuel-consumption with a high-speed range lias been a puzzle that, hitherto, has only been inadequately solved. The Germans appear to have mastered the problem very well indeed, and in the “Konigsborg” they appear to have come far closer than any other Navy to the beau ideal of a cruiser, for the Diesel engines of the “TConigsberg” provide all the extended cruising range and low fuel consumption that is desired, while in action steam turbines will provide all the pace net-os-sa lv for high sored fighting. Taken nil round the “Konigsherg” type is a verv remarkable vo'sel and promises to b" something of a landmark in trie science of warship designing.