NEW WEAPONS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 110, 11 May 1943, Page 2

NEW WEAPONS

CONFIDENCE FOR FUTURE

ANTI-SUBMARINE DEVICES (Q.C.) SAN FRANCISCO, April 14. At the United States naval proving grounds at Dahlgren in Virginia, along the Potomac River, men already have fired the opening guns of to-morrow's battles. The shape of things to come is discernible at the test batteries and laboratories. Among reporters who have just concluded the first war-time inspection of the naval proving ground by outsiders, the new war contrivances created a notable confidence for the future. These are some of the things learned: New anti-submarine weapons for the Battle of . the Atlantic. ;

"There are weapons under development and some in use which are far advanced over the depth charge," said Rear-Admiral W. H. P. Blandy, commenting guardedly on one demonstration. Supplementing rather than replacing the depth charge, these weapons are expected to deliver some crushing blows against U-boats. Better and better anti-aircraft guns and ammunition are increasing the range of usefulness of battleships and other surface craft by radically reducing the effectiveness of aerial attack on them.

Reporters saw an aircraft gasoline tank roar into flame when hit by a 20mm. shell filled with high explosive powder. Together this and other AA-gun types can curtain a battleship with 100 times more steel than shipboard AA-guns put up a year ago. Rear-Admiral Blandy said Japanese planes could never do to Uncle Sam's ships what American planes have done and will continue to do to theirs. There are more deadly bombs for use against armoured ships. One was displayed after being shot from a cannon through a 6in slab of armour plate. It was intact. Then it'was detonated on the ground. -It ripped the earth and scattered metal splinters all oyer the landscape. One could imagine what it would have done deep in the hull of a Japanese ship. Stronger armour plate was also displayed. Plate is a ship's final defence against bomb or shell, and testing and experimenting with it are one of the longstanding projects here.