THE ROYAL NAVY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 267, 1 April 1911, Page 8

THE ROYAL NAVY

AN INTERESTING SUMMARY. TWENTY DREADNOUGHTS IN LESS THAN A YEAR HENCE. With the commissioning of the Neptune at Portsmouth and the completion of the trials of the Indefatigable at Devonport, the two Dreadnoughts ot the 1908 programme—one a battleship and the other a battle-cruiser—are (stated the Daily Chronicle of 16th January) ready for His Majesty's service. They complete a round dozen of warships of the biggest class. The ships of the formidable programme of 1900 are making rapid progress. These otc exclusive of two vessels of the latter class which are building for the Governments of Australia and New Zealand. The following is a statement of the condition of each:— COLOSSUS, battleship, 20,250 tons, building at Messrs Scott's yard, Greenock, launched April last, to begin her trials about May, and down for completion not later than July. HERCULES, sister ship, building by Messrs Palmer, Jarrow, launched in May, to follow the Colossus in her trials, and to be completed about the same time.

ORION, battleship, 22,880 tons, launched at Portsmouth 20th August, shortly to be ready for trials, and to be completed in November. LION, battle-cruiser, 26,300 tons, launched at Devonport 6th August, to be ready for trials in the late summer, and to be completed in November, 1911. The following are the so-called "contingent ' ships of the same programme, for which orders were placed later— PRINCESS ROYAL, battle-cruiser, sister of the Lion, expected to be launched in April and to be completed about March, 1012. ffi^rdiu b o att,e9hip(odonci -)- THUNDERER, ditto. The last-named was launched by the lhames Ironworks Company on Ist February, m a light condition, and will bo completed under the new floating crane and at the berth at Dagenham. The two others will be launched in the spring by Messrs Armstrong, at Elswick, and Messrs Boardinore, at Glascow, and all three are to be completed apt later than March, 1012, at wh ch date 20 Dreadnoughts in all sho", d o „ commLssion or ready for service In addition to these are the two bat-Ic-cnusers which are building for The Dominion Government.