NEWS OF THE WORLD.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 77, 2 April 1910, Page 9

NEWS OF THE WORLD.

DREADNOUGHT POWER. GERMAN AND BRITISH FIGHTING \ STRENGTH COMPARED. Great enthusiasm marked the departure from Barrow of the Dreadnought type battleship Vanguard for Devonpoit on 12th February. She is of 19,250 tons, and has an indicated horse-power of 24,- j 500. Her twenty-four hours' acceptance ] trial and other final tests were carried I out on the way to Plymouth. The vessel, which was built by the Vickers Company at their Barrow yard, establishes a record for warship building. Her keel was laid in April, 1908, she was launched nt the end of February, 1909, and by the end of October she was ready for her trials. These were satisfactorily passed in November, and by the 27th of that month she was back in Barrow to take in stores. Thus, observe« the London Chronicle, in a little over nineteen months she was built and passed her trials, and in twen-ty-two tnonths she had. been turned out from keel to completion. Her speed was practically a knot over contract, and this was obtained under normal conditions. The opinion has been expressed -that if tho contractors "took all out of her" she would accomplish two more knots. Tho Vanguard's two sister ships, St. 'Vincent and Collingwood, will, in a few weeks, follow into commission. The total number of Dreadnoughts then in commission will be ten — Dreadnought, Temerairo, Bellerophon, Superb, Invincible, Inflexible, Indomitable, Vanguard, St. Vincent, and Collingwood. Germany has completed, or is now completing, four Dreadnoughts — Westfalen, Nassau, Posen, and Rheinland and the following is a comparison between the Vanguard and the German vessels :—: — Vakguard. Nassau. Length... 500 ft ... 451 ft Beam ... 84ft ... 89ft Draught 27ft ... 26|ft Displacement 19,250 tons ... 18,204 tons Horsepower... 24,500 ... 20,000 (turbines) ... (reciprocating) Speed ... 22knots ... 20.5 knots Although the Nassau carries twelve big guns, they are so mounted that only eight can be discharged from the broadside, which is no more than is possible with the Vanguard or her predecessors. The large beam of the German vessel is necessary owing to the Bhallowness of some of the entrances to the Baltic Sea. The coal-carrying capacity is, if at all different, slightly in favour of the German ship.