MONSTER WEAPONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1648, 15 January 1913, Page 7

MONSTER WEAPONS.

BATTLESHIPS TO CARRY: 16.25-INCH - GUNS. , By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright London, January 13. It is roported that four battleships of the current programme will carry eight 16.25 in. guns,'instead of ten 13.5 in. • OIL-FUEL BATTLESHIPS. .- \ ',\ (Eeb; January H, 11.45 p.m.) , '; London, January 14. The current naval programme includes 25-knot battleships burning oil'fuel. THE PROGRESS IN DREADNOUGHTS. In an' article on the progress in British battleship design, published at the time of the launch of the.lron Duke in October last; "The Times" said:— ' " "This vessel is the 19th battleship of the Dreadnought'class to be. put afloat for this country, and.the sixth built at this yard, since the Dreadnought, herself took the water.oh February 10,.1908.. Each of these six vessels maTks ft stage in the development»of British Dreadnoughts, while the battleship of this'-year's prowhich is to be laid down.onthe slips vacated by the Iron Duke, will cmbody yet another step, in progress. All students of naval affairs will have' noted this progressive, development, 'duo to the march of improvement,- in.> science; and manufacture, the lessons of recent experience, and a zealous to'find, the best possible solution of a difficult problem. ' ; .', ."./ ■■■''! • ■'. ~;'•''.'' , '■',' "Although embodying the same principles! in design, the Iron' Duke exhibits in many, of tho elements of efficiency quite as great, an advance upon the original 'Dreadnought, with, 1 only: soven years-be-tween them, as the.'JKini'.'Edward'.'V'lL/ of J902,. does over tho Royal, Sovereign of '1889. What has happened in the British sorvice-has also happened; although not always- to the same degree, ,m : foreign navies, and, the tirao lias come when the .hard-and-fast-distinction..between Dreadnoughts and pre-Dreadnoughts seems to need some qualificatiorr. The development iri'.British, ships, is mbst -marked in-re-gard, to gun-power,' and it'may be rioted that; when all the British battleships of the -IMI programroo . are. completed in March; 1914; we shall have 12 battleships armed;iwitK the'l3.sin. gun; while' Germany at the same dabo will riot have bno ship: ready with a heavier gun than a lSin.". L ''. •■;. ..■•; .;'■"■ ,-.,-,-,: 'V.-.'-'--. ' There have been ;reports t iri circulation that five German battleships now building or .complete carry the Win. pin an three the.lsm.vSo experienced an authority as Sir William White'believes that i the maximum in big guns has been reached, and that we shall swing back to the 12m. Tho question of weight and space, says tho"Daily News,"-'is' a most serious consideration. The heavier grin 'exacts a heavier barbette, and,all the fittings arid equipments, including ammunition hoists, must bo 'heavier.' Spaco on deck and. below is also a consideration of great moment. As io range, tho existing guns (the News , adds) are perfectly capablb of making efficient practice at 10,000 yards, which is, perhaps; a maximum. At'ls.ooo ■ f a L d , 3 $' °r nearly all, the hull of a battleship, as seen from the gun-position, is , below the horizon, and a roll or a heavy wave-will, obscure it ; altogether, lhe Americans say their new guns will 15 'J lO^5 of hard-faced armour ■at-. 10,000 yards, and tho tables of the of U inches: give a perforation of hardened Kriipp nickel steel' of over 22 inches nt 9000 yards. ■; - v