H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND: Launch of Dominion's Gift.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 194, 16 August 1911, Page 8

H.M.S. NEW ZEALAND: Launch of Dominion's Gift.

The photo, gives a splendid idea of the huge bulk of the battleship cruiser New Zealand, which was launched on the Clyde on July 1. J-ike the Australia, now in course of construction, the New Zealand is an almost exact duplicate of the Indefatigable. She will be more powerful and faster than the Invincible elasrs. but not quite such a dangerous or so speedy a vessel as the giant cruisers of the Lion type. The Lions are nearly all 30-knot ships, with eight ]3.. r >in 50-calibrc guns in four turrets on the middle line., The Indefatigable* have eight 12in 50-ealibre guns in four turrets, only two of which are on the middle line. Their inner turrets are placed diagonally in the wings, s0 that the guns may be lired across the deck on the beam opposite to that on which they are placed. The New Zealand is 555 ft long, with 80ft beam, and'a draught of Her displacement is 15.750 tons, and the horse-power of her turbine engines (43.000) gives a designed speed of 25 knots. Her secondary armament is composed of l(j 4in gun-, her thickest side armour is Tin. and her complement of officers and men 900. As already reported, it was amid scenes of enthusiasm that the cruiser was launched by the Fairfield Shipbuilding Company at Glasgow on Saturday. July 1. As the huge vessel left the ways Lady Ward said: "I name you His Majesty's .-hip New Zealand. Cod protect her. May she never be called upon to engage in battle; but should it be otherwise. I pray that victory will be hers."