‘POCKET BATTLESHIP.’

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 67, 29 December 1928, Page 6

‘POCKET BATTLESHIP.’

GERMAN MYSTERY VESSEL. GREAT EXPECTATIONS HELD. (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, December 28. A complete description from official sources of the German mystery ship, so-called the “Pocket Battleship,”' is now first published in the “Daily Telegraph” which says that the new 10,000 ton ship laid down at Kiel vail be the most remarkable warship afloat. “No other,” the “Telegraph” says, “will have such a large cruising radius at a high speed. She will carry enough oil fuel to drive the ship 10,000 nautical miles at a speed of 20 knots, and could probably, at a lower speed, cruise from Germany to China on one load of fuel. The Ersatz Preussen, as she is provisionally designated, though probably she will be named eventually after Von ©cheer, will be driven at a speed of 26 knots by twin sets of Diesel motors developing 50,000 horse-power.’ ’ The estimated cost of the warship is £4,000,000 due to the superfine quality throughout. The construction of three similar ships will follow. The engines are built at Nurenburg on a novel design concerning which the Strictest secrecy is observed. It is known that a feature is their extraordinary lightness. They weigh 550 tons. The construction of the hull is being carried out with tb© use of super-grade steel and the adoption of electric welding instead of rivets. The most formidable equipment includes six 11-inch guns firing 670pound projectiles, with a range of 30.000 yards. It is evident that the warship is not being built for service only in the Baltic and North Sea, Her great cruising radius, in Germany’s absence of overseas bases, constitutes an important strategical advantage, because she will be fast enough to escape any capital ship except a battlecruiser, and will be strong enough to overpower any type of warship below Dreadnought standard. Australian Press Association.