AGAIN SUPREME

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 391, 24 March 1937, Page 3

AGAIN SUPREME

THE BRITISH NAVY. “Mistress of the Seas.” London, February 27. A French statesman the other day breathed thanks? that Britain was again Mistress of the Seas. Had she been Mistress- of the Seas 12 months ago, he said, the shame of Abyssinia would never have been chronicled and Italian admirals and politicians would not have been in a position to 3a y—as they did—that they had scattered the British Navy like a flock of wild ducks.

Two additions for the Navy are the patrol vessel Sheldrake, launched at the yard of Messrs Thornycrofi and Company,. Limited; Southampton, and the destroyer Hex, launched at the yard of Messrs John Brown and Company, Limited, Clydebank. The’Sheldrake is one of five jnsters' originally classed as' * : sloops,” of the coastal type, but to be known as patrol vessels.

The Sheldrake has a completed displacement. of 585 tons, engines of 3600 h.p.. ® speed of 20 knots —a big increase on the conventional 16-knot sloop l —and an armament of one 4in gun and four three-pounders. She has stowage for 160 tons 1 of oil. When completed the Sheldrake will represent a cost of about £lOO,OOO.

The Ilex is of the Intrepid type" of destroyer—'all 354 knotters, plus a little bit up their sleeves for a big push. The Ilex will have a completed tonnage of 1350. The armament is' fairly heavy for her displacement—four 4.7 in guns and eight 21in torpedo tubes.

Two months from now the first of the class will be completed for her acceptance trials. The pushing on of these small warships is essential, tor in these and in cruisers the Navy is lamentably behind its requirements.