AUSTRALIA'S DESTROYERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 72, 28 March 1910, Page 7

AUSTRALIA'S DESTROYERS.

MEN OF NAVAL BRIGADE LEAVE FOR ENGLAND. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright* (Received March 28, 10 a.m\) ADELAIDE, This Day. Sixty-five men of the Australian Naval Brigade hav6 sailed to bring out the destroyers tor the Australian unit of the British fleet. The Parramatta, the first Australian destroyer (launched last month), which with ncr sisters has been designed and constructed under the superintendence of Professor J. H. Bile.s, is modification of the "River" class of destroyer, and has many improvements, introduced as a result of experience with the original boats of that class. The "River" class were provided with water-tube boilers and reciprocating engines, and their speed with all Bea-going weights on board was 25.5 knots. The Commonwealth destroyers are to be fitted with turbine machinery and water-tube boilers using oil fuel, the contract speed under Admiralty conditions being 26 knots. Moreover, as they are intended for' use over a larger area, their radius of action has been increased beyond that of the original type and they will carry enough oil to steam 2500 nautical miles. Instead of the four 12-pounders and two torpedo tubes, the -armaments of the "River" class, these boats will carry one 4in gun, threo 12-oounders, and three 18in torpedo tubes. The dimensions of the new destroyers also shew an increase, the length being 245 ft, breadth 24ft 3in, and displacement 700 tons. They are, therefore, 23ft longer, have 9in greater beam, and displaco 100 tons more than the British boats. In all structural details, the practice of the British Admiralty has been followed, and a forecastle is 'fitted. In one interesting detail (says the Times) the departure made in t)ie Dreadnought and later British shins ha* been followed, the officers being Berthed for ward under their charthouse and bridge in the forecastle, while the crew, 66 in number, will be accommodated, partly under the officers* cabin*, and partly Only lavo or these destroyers will be completed in England, the third, the Warrigo, being «.aken to pieces when built and shipped to Australia, where she will be reassembled and completed at the Government dockyard at Cockatoo Island.