“POCKET” BATTLESHIP

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 200, 21 May 1931, Page 9

“POCKET” BATTLESHIP

Vessel Launched at Kiel SOME AMAZING FEATURES Berlin, May 19. Scenes of pageantry reminiscent of Imperial Prussia were enacted at noon at Kiel. In the presence of the entire German fleet, President von Hindenburg launched the pocket battleship Deutschland, hitherto known as the Ersatz Preussen. It was almost the sole topic in Berlin that the ship’s revolutionary superiority gives a new definition to “Deutschland über Alles.” A notable feature of the pageant was the presence of 10,000 white-dressed school children, in addition to a thousand war veterans.

The veil of secrecy as to the battleship has been lifted. It is claimed that her six 11-ineh guns will range 7J miles in excess of the old type of guns, and also fire thrice as fast. Her light draught is 19 feet, plus a secret antimine apparatus which enables her to pass over minefields and almost defy submarines. An extraordinary mishap resulted in the premature launching of the Deutschland, and crowds are speculating Whether It was an ill-owen. While the Chancellor. Dr. Bruening was speaking of Germany’s pacific aims workmen removed too many of the wedges which kept the hull in position and the ship suddenly glided down the slipway into the water. This vessel is not a choice, but a combination. wrote n naval expert recently in describing the renamed Ersatz Preussen. She is at the same time a small, motor-driven dreadnought and a “Treat,v-Cruiser-DestroyOr.” She defies all present methods of shiprating. being n little faster than the fastest of modern battleships. and a little more wctikly-nrniefl than tiny battle-cruiser. (In view of the revelation regarding the rnte of gunfire tills statement may not bo altogether correct from the point of view of actual results.) The principal particulars of the “pocket” battleship arc:— Displacement: 10,000 tons.. Hull : Weight economised by the use of high-grade steels, light castings, mid the substitution of electrically-welded seams instead of rivets. By these means 550 tons have been saved. Dimensions: Length, about 604 tout; beam about 66 feet. Armament : In addition to the guns mentioned in eatdo is n secondary armament of eight 5.9-inch guns. There arc four anti-aircraft gnus of possibly 4.1 inches, ' twin mounted. Six torpedo tulies <>f unknown size arc on two triple revolving mounts on the quarter-deck. The gun turrets arc heavily armoured, and two strong steel decks give protection from aerial attack.