ROYAL NAVY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 January 1943, Page 4

ROYAL NAVY

STRONGER THAN EVER IN SPITE OF WAR LOSSES. INCREASES IN BIG & SMALL SHIPS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 11. “The Royal Navy is stronger than ever,” says the “Sunday Express” naval correspondent, commenting on a statement by Goebbels that the Royal Navy is “already a torso.” The correspondent states that losses in practically every category of fighting ship have either been replaced or exceeded by new vessels. The Navy began the war with fifteen capital ships—battleships and battlecruisers —the designs of all of which, excepting the Nelson and Rodney, dated from the last war and even earlier. Lossqs total five, but replacements comprise five of the King George V class, only one of which has been sunk. Britain started with seven aircraft-carriers, of which only the Ark Royal was up to date. We have lost five, including the Ark Royal, but have commissioned the Illustrious, Victorious, Formidable and Indomitable, of 23,000 tons, all of which, are of greater value than the five which were sunk. We are also using a number of auxiliary carriers. Cruiser losses total 25 of the initial 64, of which six were small, being built from 1916 to 1918, but at least eight and possibly four more, of the 8,000-ton Mauritius class and nine of the Dido class have been built. Destroyer losses total 92, but in addition to 16 of the Lightning class, 14 of the Javelin class and 20 of the Hunt class building oi' completing at the outbreak of war, there are also published the names of an additional 60 new Hunts and also 32 of the Onslow, Pakenham, Queenborough and Rotherham groups, some of which have been delivered. Six destroyers which were being built for Brazil have been acquired, while the Royal Australian and Royal Canadian navies have fourteen Tribals between them. Including fifty American destroyers, the correspondent estimates the present total of destroyers at hardly less than 280 and possibly 300. Submarines at the outbreak of war totalled sixty and losses total 44, including 17 not in service in September, .1939. Particulars of additions are not. available, but there are probably ovei- fifty new submarines. Corvettes, mine-sweepers, sloops, trawlers and coastal motor craft of every description have been built in hundreds.