NEW BATTLESHIPS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 122, 15 February 1908, Page 12

NEW BATTLESHIPS.

FIRST KEEL-PLATE, OF THE ST. VINCENT LAID. On December 30 the construction of > tho liew battleship St. Vincent, the fifth,.vessol of tho Dreadnought, type, was begun at Portsmouth Dockyard, tho dato' being some woeks lator than originally arranged. Tho oerctnony or laying the : first keel-plate was, performed by Mrs. _Robinson, wifo of Vice-Admiral : C. G. Robinson,' Admiral-Superintendent : ,of. Portsmouth •Dockyard, in the .presence of comparatively few .onlookers, tboso present being principally heads of departments and' dockyard; officials, .with Mr. Marshall, Direc-. : tor.of Dockyards and Dockyard Work.' ■ The huge keel-plate, weighing over a:ton, and measuring 25ft. in length by 3ft. in width; was suspended over tho blocks at tho building slip, and, after it had been lowered into position,. Mrs. Robinson,' by , examining certain marks,; declared the' keel "well, aha truly laid." ' . , . ■ Vice-Admiral and Mrs. . Robinson were thanked for their presence,by Mr. J. Apsey, manager of tho constructive, department, who','' in a- brief speech, asked tho op&pera'tiohj of all concerned'in troducing what would bo a really good ship. ;,' ' 'Tho St. Vincent will bo an improved Dreadnought, and she will, have a displacement of 19,200 tons, as comparetl with, tho Dreadnought's 17,900 arid tho Bellerophori's 18,600. Tho St. Vincent's indicated liorsepowor will bo greater than that of cither'of tho of .tho; class already built, and . it : is understood ; that' a speed of 22 knots ! is aimed at. Her. armament, will bo similar to that of. the'.Dreadnought, but an alteration will bb made in tho after turrets. ThoSt. Vincent's two after turrets on the centre line' will be so arranged that, one can fire oxer .the;other, which, in the case of the; Dreadnought, cannot be'done. Themew ship is to ,bo ready for sea within, two years, and there ; will consequently be none of tho • rush' which marked the construction of the Dreadnought: ' ,T&o" official "'confirmation of- tho. order, from tho Admiralty to build tho battleship Rodney, of'tho St. Vincent class, has been received by Viokers, Sons, and Maxim, at Barrow. . The' vessol mil be an improved Dreadnought, ,will have displacement of 20,000 .tons; and will bo armed with .10 12-inch guns and guns' of smaller 'calibre. She is to bo delivered to ( the Admiralty, in two years. This will bo the fourth battleship built at Barrow -. for tho British Navy,..together, with a considerable number of first, second, and third class cruisers and numerous submarines.