THIRD LAUNCHED?

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 10, 12 January 1940, Page 7

THIRD LAUNCHED?

NAZI BATTLESHIPS. Danish Newspaperman's Assumption. WORK ON U-BOATS FORCED. (Received noon.) COPENHAGEN, January 11. Tlie Berlin correspondent of the "Berlingske Tidende" assumes fi'oin (jrahd-Adinii'al Kaeilef's address to workers at the naval yards at Kiel and Wilhelinshaven that Germany's third big warship lias been launched. She is the sister ship to the Bismarck and the Til-pitz.

The correspondent add* I hat it is evident that work on U-boats is being forced at 10 yards.

The Bismarck, the Tirpitz and the third vessel, the name of Which has not yet been announced, are members of what is known as the Bismarck class. When completed, they will each be of 35,000 tons, armed with eight loin guns. Work on a fourth vessel of the same type was to have been begun last year. As far as can be gathered from the scanty information available, these vessels will be bigger than any British Warships afloat at present, with the exception of the 42,000-ton Hood, while their armament will be similar. Britain has building, according to the latest authoritative publication, five battleships of 30,000 tons, and four of 40,000 tons, in addition, of course, to numerous smaller surface craft and submarines. Two of the. 35,000-ton ships are completiii" under the 1030-37 estimates, three are building under the 1937-38 estimates, while two of the 40.000-toliiier.s are building under the 1038-39 estimates and two Under the 103D-40 estimates.