BRITISH NAVY ESTIMATES

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21363, 6 March 1941, Page 7

BRITISH NAVY ESTIMATES

ITALIAN FLEET COOPED UP EFFECT OF COLLAPSE OF FRANCE M’TL) OF STRENGTH MEET U-BOAT MENACE (Official Wireless) (Received March 6, 11.42 a.m.) RUGBY, March 5 Mi A. V. Alexander, First Ijjrd of the Admiralty, in intioducing the Navy Estimates in the House of Commons, said:— Although documents to he laid before the House contain only tokens, the Fleet is no token fleet of phantom ships. Biitish commitments necessitate a certain absolute strength in vaiious classes of ships essential to the full exercise of sea power. I hese absolute needs have been greatly magnified bv the collapse of France, which has altered fundamentally the whole fabric of British strategy. In brief, the collapse of France robbed Britain of the help of the second naval power in Europe and gave Geimany a new naval ally in Italy, who geographically is well placed across the Mediterranean. In addition Germany gained ports and bases from which submarine journeys to the Atlantic were more than halved and which allowed German aircraft to prey upon convoys far out at sea. “ This new threat, which loomed up almost overnight, first occurred when the Navy had just completed the task of evacuating 100,000 troops from Norway and France in circumstances which it was not designed to meet and which no prudent naval commander would choose to undertake. Hea\y losses ha.d been expected and were indeed considerable, especially in damage to destroyers. Ihe Navy, therefore, was seriously depleted at the \ery moment when the whole problem bad become more complex and more difficult with the exit of France from the war and the entry of Italy into it. By what seemed to me in those dark days very slow degrees, but which, looking back, appear as a swinging stride, we immeasurably improved our position. 1 hanks to a great effort by men in the workshops and repair yards, damaged ships were put hack into service. The Italian fleet has been not only cooped up in the Mediterranean by forces initially much inferior, but has been neutralised in waters which Italy specially claimed as her own.”

British Superiority “In every encounter the British superiority, both in fighting and morale, has been so marked that the Italian Navy now scarcely ventures to dispute the waters round their own bases. The British Navy, during the past six months, has suffered losses, especially in light forces, but these have not been excessive considering the magnitude of the task performed. “In spite of this and thfc necessary returns for refitting the number of ships in most classes, especially destroyers, now at sea or instantly ready for sea, is greater than at any time since the war began. “In addition the benefits of the large programmes of building put in hand on the outbreak of the war and immediately after are beginning to be felt, and these alone will make up a formidable force judged by almost any other Power’s standards. “Som<* delay in the programme has been experienced because the events following the collapse of France inevitably held up new construction. With the efforts which the shipyards have been making, however, and with no fewer than 154 new factories or extensions to existing works completed or put in hand, we are in a far better position than I would have dared to expect in view of the adverse situation nine months ago. Our long-term programmes of construction are maturing and a high output ol' short-term construction has been reached.” Fleet Air Arm’s Achievement Speaking of the Fleet Air Arm, Mr Alexander said the exploit of Taranto would never fade from British memory, and he gave a “catalogue of victims” which had fallen to this arm since the war began. “They have destroyed one enemy battleship, one enemy cruiser, three destroyers, four submarines, four other naval vessels, and 15 transport or supply ships. They have also damaged at least two enemy battleships, two cruisers, four destroyers, four miscellaneous craft and 20 transport or supply ships.” Of the relentless war carried out by British submarines, Mr Alexander said they had no hope of meeting an enemy fleet at sea nor streams cl his merchant traffic and e. en obtain a bare chance of coming within striking distance of enemy craft, liiey must press in close to his coasts, accepting the hazards of minefields and thickly - patrolled, confined waters. In spite of this the submarines had had the satisfaction of destroying something like 100 enemy warships and supply ships. Mr Alexander paid a special tribute to the work ol Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham’s force and detailed the varied tasks, which he likened to the “business ol a veritable world transport agency.” Greatest Of All Tasks Turning to what he described as the “greatest of all tasks laid upon the Navy,” the protection of trade routes. Mr Alexander said that since Germany had had tlie French bases this was much more intense and widespread. Up to May. 1940, the average British, Allied and neutral losses had been 40.000 tons weekly. For the next seven months the looses averaged about 90,000 tons weekly. During the last 11 weeks the average had been about 51.000 tons. “I do not attribute the reduction entirely to the various measures we have taken to improve the situation, counting these as at least one certain reason contributing to other possibilities. Don't let uj forget that we must expect the enemy to make

heavier attacks and we may receive grievous blows.” Counter-measures against aerial attack on convoys are being developed. Intensive minelaying is dealt with incessantly and without the devoted services of the minesweepers the efforts of the convoys and escorts would be brought to nought. Menace Of Raiders Mr Alexander spoke of the menace of surface raiders. "We are exercising all the ingenuity within the limits of our resources to frustrate this form of attack, ’ he said. “As those resources grow so will the raiders’ opportunities become fewer. During the past few months our ships have gained contact with a number of raiders. Sometimes the action has been broken off by the enemy but he did not get away without suffering damage.” “In fact, not every raider met has lived to raid another day, although I am not going to say an> thing in public. “There have been one or two occasions when a raider encountered a convoy with inferior protection and inflicted relatively heavy loss, though nothing like up to the claims of the enemy. To see these episodes in the right perspective it must be remembered that for every convoy thus attacked scores come through without molestation, and great armies indeed, with very large equipment, have been successfully shepherded by the Navy to the Middle East without the loss of a single ship. Attacks on U-boats “The Admiralty has never relaxed in its constant attack on U-boats. By the expansion of the reconnaissance forces of the Coastal Command U-boat commanders will find the watch from above more difficult to avoid. Escorts are increasing and providing greater protection for convoys, and to these advantages will be added all improvements in antisubmarine tactics which experience and experiment have suggested. “Let me say, although it is not our policy to make regular statements as to U-boat sinkings, that we continue to inflict loss upon the enemy submarine flotillas. The defence weapons provided for merchant ships are being increased and improved, especially in regard to anti-aircraft armament, and the resolute use of guns has often preserved them from danger. “In December there were three cases when merchantmen fought duels with submarines and had the best of the encounter, while up Lo the present 27 aeroplanes which were attempting to bomb merchantmen nave been brought down by Iheir fire, and fifteen others, probably been destroyed.” Losses Replaced Regarding merchant .'inking and replacements, Mr Alexander said: By new construction, chartering and capture more than two-thiids of the British tonnage i- >’ has been replaced. Moreover, we nave abundant chartering of ships of Stales overrun by the enemy, some of which had previously been used in the wide oceans. A great deal of sal-' vage ha- been done, and up to December 31 over 1.000,000 tons has been salved.” Mr Alexander revealed that the United State.- destroyers, “which in our hour of greatest need they nanded over to us. were in seuv.ee and some already have delivered attack* against enemy submai u-.ea.”