BRITISH DESTROYERS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 155, 29 March 1937, Page 9

BRITISH DESTROYERS

Construction Expedited

(Received March 28, 6.30 pan. 1

London, March 27.

The Admiralty has placed orders for its 1936-37 programme for 16 .1 type destroyers to be built simultaneously. It is many years since such a contract has been made. An indication of how the construction is being exjiedited is afforded by the fact that although the financial year does not begin until April 1, 15 vessels on the 1937 programme already are ordered, whereas formerly contracts were not placed until toward the end of the financial year in which the ships were authorised. The new destroyers, each costing £380.000, will be of 1650 tons, whereas lite older destroyers were of either 1340 or 1850 tons. A British official wireless message from Rugby states that subject to the settlement of certain points of details the Admiralty has decided to entrust the construction of two destroyers to each of the following firms: Hawthorn. Calie and Company, of Ilebburn-on-Tyue: John Brown, of the Clydebank; William Henny and Brothers, of Dumbarton; the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company. of Govan; Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson, of Wallsend-on-Tyne (the machinery by the Wallsend Slipway and Engineering Company) ; Thornycroft, of Southampton; Samuel White, of Cowes; and Narrow and Company, of Scotstoun.