THE BATTLESHIP OF TOMORROW.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3381, 9 January 1920, Page 6

THE BATTLESHIP OF TOMORROW.

_’l‘he battleship of to-morrow will be submersible, according to Hr Charles Domville-Fife, who in “Submarine and Sea Power.” has written a very interesting account of the development of the submarine, its increasing use in naval operations, and the chances which its evolution has produced" in the application of naval strategy and tactics, the national life of maritime nations, and the old theories of sea power. ' Ttypnty years ago the futbniarine was a. baby. In those twenty years it has grown to 14 times its originalsize, even without taking into consid= eration the Very latest types, which run up to 2000 tons. It has increased its surface speed from 9 to 20’knots, and its submerged Speed from 4 knots to 10. Its surface range of action has grown from 500 to 8000 knots at econ-. omical speed, and its range while submerged from 100 to 600 knots. Whereas the older boats were armed with one bow tube and three torpedoes, lmodern vessels have a combination of how, stern, and broadside tubes, ‘numbering from four to eight, and lcarry 14 or more torpedoes. All moderately large modern submarines carry ‘one 01‘ two four or five-inch-‘quick-firers, besides one or two small. high.

angle anti—aircraft‘ guns, and the armament of the large 2000 ton: _.vesselswhich are building will probably, it is stated, include heavy naval guns of ‘a. calibre up. to. 12 inches_ There are besides the mine-laying tubes», But the submarine is specialising fast intu [submersible -cruisers, -surbmarine mineglayers, submarine torpedo boats-, and depot or cargo submarines, with. a. carrying capacity of several hunched tons, as well as the ‘coming submarine battleship. Moreover, by far the greats er part of these developments has‘ taken place within a very much shorter period than the 20 years mentioned. "