SOVIET FLEET OF SUBMARINES

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26396, 14 April 1951, Page 7

SOVIET FLEET OF SUBMARINES

TOTAL PUT AT 360 LONDON, April 12. Replying in the House of Lords to Conservative criticism of Britain’s naval defence preparations, the First Lord of the Admiralty (Viscount Hall) said he did not disagree with the suggestion that Russia had 360 submarines and he knew the fleet included a new class which could operate at great distances arid for long periods. The numbers of this type, however, were not very large. Russia also had a medium submarine known as tha SHCH, an effective and dangerous class of about 600 tons, and a coastal type of about 200 tons. She also possessed some former German battery types. Hie Admiralty did not know of a submarine yet which had a submerged speed of 20 knots or more. Replying to questions about British merchant navy equipment. Viscount Hall assured the House that sufficient dual-purpose gins were now available and distributed throughout the country to equip every merchant ship if war came.

“All the ships built since 1947 have been strengthened to carry guns, and the Admiralty hopes to strengthen the remainder," he said. Lord Teynhanr said that the Opposition realised the intensive research being done and that one or two prototype instruments had been produced to meet the greatly increased scale of underwater attack, but there was a danger that the comnletion of ships would be delaved until the scientists had perfected the instruments to their satisfaction. He urged the Government to complete, at the earlier possible moment, three cruisers, which, he said, had been on the stocks for many years waiting until new fire control instruments and guided missile weapons had been perfected. “The whole building programme must be accelerated,” he said.