ATLANTIC SUPREMACY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1041, 4 August 1930, Page 14

ATLANTIC SUPREMACY

GERMANY WILL HOLD RECORD FOR FOUR YEARS BRITAIN’S PLANS Germany’s possession of the speed supremacy of the Atlantic is likely to remain with her for at least four years. By that time the record she win probably hare achieved will be still harder to eclipse, because once the machinery of the Europa and the Bremen has been run in, and is moving with that sweetness and interdependence which is the joy of an engineer, these vessels will probably still further reduce their trans-Atlantic timing —particularly in view of the summer season, which is obviously more favourable to speedy passages than the winter. Not until 1934, at the earliest, can the new Cunarder, which may restore to Britain the blue riband of the Atlantic, be completed. Some hopes rest on the projected White Star motor-ship which is to be a sister to the Britannic; but if she is to be built for speed, a longer interval must elapse before she is launched than is allotted for the construction of the Cunarder. As a well-informed Belfast correspondent points out in the columns of the London “Observer,” the question of what machinery shall be installed in the new super-liner has not been settled. Although it is believed she will have the electric drive, no indication has been given whether it wlil be Diesel-electric or turbo-electric. Probably the White Star Line will wait until the data of value are secured from the performances of the Britannic herself, for she is held to represent the highest development to date of the double-acting four-cycle engines. Belfast, however, which hopes to secure the contract for the building of the new White Star liner, prefers the Diesel, and is prepared to install Diesel machinery up to 100,000 indicated horse-power. Britannic's Capabilities The Britannic, the designs for which are not based on speed as a primary consideration, will not attain the velocity of the Mauretania—still less that of the German vessels. Her motive power will be supplied by two 10-cylinder Harland B. and W. double-acting motors, enabling a speed of 19 knots to be attained. Harland and Wolff, Ltd., are building at Belfast a quadruple screw motor-liner for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company, which, although 10,000 tons smaller, will develop 2,000 horse-power more than the Britannic. Even this vessel’s speed will not approach that of the German liners. It is sometimes overlooked that a single extra knot in speed means tremendous additional cost in construction. Shipbuilders could build vessels with a speed of 30 knots—if they were paid for it. Few shipping firms, however, are prepared to incur the huge expenditure necessary. It is doubtful, therefore, j whether the only two companies j capable of restoring transatlantic j speed honours to Britain —the Cunard and the White Star—are prepared to j take up the gage which Germany has thrown down. Motor Engines Lord Kylsant, however, may spring a surprise by authorising the con- ; struction of a vessel which will ac- ' complish the run from Southampton to New York in the shortest time on record. He has great faith in the Diesel engine and has introduced it into nearly all the companies he controls, with remarkable success. The Britannic’s tonnage (27,000 gross) is 7,000 in excess of any vessel thus far equipped with motor engines. Her length will be 6SO feet, her breadth 82 feet, and her depth nearly 44 feet. She will accommodate 1.500 passengers and will be Britain's largest motor-ship. She was launched In August last year. Her rivets number 3.000,000 and weigh 650 tons. She has 13 miles of piping and four miles of ventilating trunks, with 20 miles of electric wiring. Her stern weighs 31 tons, and her rudder 36 tons. Her electric supply would suffice for a town of 30,000 people. This power is employed for illuminating, baking, cooking, cleaning silver, peeling potatoes, making ice and ice cream, and for printing. In one day her twin engines will consume SO tons of fuel oil, and turn each propeller 140,000 times. To keep them from becoming overheated. 13,000 tons of fresh water will be circulated through the jackets and cylinder covers, while 16.000 tons of sea water pass through the lubricating oilcooler, fresh water cooler, and exhaust manifold before being discharged overboard. The heat given out by the exhaust gas is passed through boilers, and generates sufficient steam at 1001 b pressure for the ship's use. Obedient Leviathans Despite its size, each engine, with its 185-ton crankshaft and correspondingly large equipment, can be manoeuvred easily with compressed air. and be reversed in nine seconds. What size these engines are may be gauged from the fact that 12 of the biggest motor-cars built could be parked op the floor space occupied by each bedplate. By removing an exhaust or inlet valve, an engineer can enter the cylinder bodily for inspection. Except the air compressor for feeding the cylinders with fuel oil. which is run by a motor-engine, all the auxiliary machinery is electrically driven. The Britannic is the third of her : name, and her sister-ship, which is in \ the early stages of construction at I Belfast, has not yet been christened. | The first Britannic, of 5,000 tons, ■ was built in Belfast 56 years ago. The second, 48.158 tons, was sunk in the Mediterranean during the war. The third is the most remarkable vessel of the three, and it is probable that her sister-ship may eclipse all her predecessors.