BRITISH NAVAL ESTIMATES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26059, 11 March 1950, Page 7

BRITISH NAVAL ESTIMATES

£3,750,000 INCREASE ON LAST YEAR MORE FOR RESEARCH AND PRODUCTION (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, March 9. Britain is to devote millions of pounds more in the coming year to modernising her naval fighting equipment and developing counter-measures against high-speed aircraft, high-speed missiles and submarine warfare. The Naval Estimates, published today, showed that production and research would cost nearly £73,000,000 — £10,000,000 more than in 1949-50. The total estimate for the entire naval service was raised by £3,750,000 to £193,000,000 for 1950-51. Jet-propelled aircraft are expected to be added to Britain’s naval aircraftcarrier units in the coming year. For “the greater under-water threat of the future fast submarines capable of meeting the enemy on terms at least of equality,” were needed, said an Admiralty statement issued with the estimates. There must also be increased ranges of under-water detection, new “aheadthrown” weapons, and “homing” torpedoes. The statement added: “The greater part of our scientific effort is directed to counter-measures against various forms of high-speed attack which may be expected in the future. These include attacks by high-speed jet aircraft, by high-speed missiles, and by submarines with under-water speed, submerged endurance, and capacity for deep diving greater than anything we have faced in the past.” Research would be continued in protective measures for men against harmful radiations released by atomic weapons, said the statement. It was proposed to make administrative economies in shore establishments without affecting the seagoing fleets, and to spend more money on material and equipment for the fleet. Manpower Needs Provision was made for a maximum strength of 143,000 for the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and ancillary services. The strength would be progressively reduced during the year to 127,500, in comparison with 144.500 at April, 1949. The statement added that as a result of these measures the net provision for production and research had been increased to £72,930,000, compared with £62,670,000 in the 1949-50 estimates. The increase was largely for production services. “A small programme of new construction, limited to minor types of warships, is proposed. The provision for this is £12,907,000, compared with £10,880,000 in the original estimates for 1949. The bulk of the expenditure will be on ships approved in earlier programmes on which work is already proceeding.” The statement showed that Britain’s active fleet was headed by a fleet carrier and four light fleet carriers, with 14 cruisers. 34 destroyers, and 32 submarines. Four war-time battleships and three fleet carriers were held in reserve, together with a large number of smaller shins. The Admiralty pointed out that the special naval measures taken to meet the crisis in the Far East had increased the British Navy’s financial commitments. ' “The closure of certain ports and territorial waters by the Chinese Nationalists has imposed an onerous task on vessels of the Far Eastern fleet,” it said. “Recognition of the Central People’s Government of China has not brought any respite to the British warships on patrol, which must be ready to afford assistance to merchant ships in that area.”