LAUNCHING OF H.M.S. NELSON

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 102, 27 October 1925, Page 4

LAUNCHING OF H.M.S. NELSON

FIRST LORD ON NAVAL

STRENGTH

OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, Bth September. The Nelson, which will be the most powerful battleship in the world, was launched by Dame Caroline Bridgeman, wife of the First Lord of liie Admiralty, at the yard of Messrs. Armstrong, Whitworth and Co., Walker-on-Tyne.

A special train brought a large contingent of distinguished visitors from London to witness the launching, while the neighbourhood of the slipways and the Tynesido hills was crowded with workmen and thousands of well-wishers waiting to cheer the huge grey bulk of the hull as it sped down the slipways to tho muddy waters of the Tyne, to where 12 .tugs waited to guide the battleship to the fitting-out wharf. Newcastle has familiarly christened her the mystery ship, because the Admiralty are more than usually reticent about the new features incorporated in her design.

There was, perhaps, an added interest in the proceedings for the North Country, as she is tho first British capital, ship to. leave this yard for some years— ■ the first to be launched of tho two new capital ships sanctioned in 1922 after tho Washington Treaty; the other is tho Rodney, building at Cammell Laird's yard at Birkenheud—and the last capital ships allowable under that agreement until 1931. The launching of her on to the narrow waters of the river was a perfect operation.; When tho prayer of supplication "for all who in this ship now commit their lives untu tho peril of the deep" hud been sung, and the vicar of Walker, tho Rev. N. G. Honnsfield, had concluded tho religious ceremony, Dame Caroline Bridgeman, . who was accompanied by the First Lord of the Admiralty, the Duke and 'Duchess of Northumberland, Lord Percy, Sir Eustace Tennyson d'Tyncourt, and others, stepped forward on the platform boneath the towering bow of the vessel. She raised the flowerbedecked bottle, which, by' the way, ■ held Imperial wine from the colonies, and not ordinary champagne, and dashing it to pieces against the bow, formally christened this latest contribution to Empire defence in clear and wellheard tones H.M.S. Nelson. The last shores wore knocked away, and Dame Caroline Bridgeman then pulled the lever which allowed the vessel to slide away in a perfect line at gathering speed until, once afloat, tho check cables on heavy drags of iron ashore brought her up amid cheers and much blowing of tug whistles. GUNS MUST BE ONLY 16-iNCH The Nelson is due to be commissioned in 1927. When her sister ship, the Rodney, is also commissioned, four of our oldest battleships, the King George V., the Centurion, and the Ajax, each with a normal displacement of 23,000 tons, and the Thunderer, 22,500 tons, must bo scrapped under the terms of the Wash, ington Treaty. Like the Rodney, the Nelson was laid down in December, 1922, under the 1922-23 programme. Her length is 702 ft on the water line, beam 106 ft, and mean draft 30ff. By the Washington Treaty 1 the displacement of these vessels is limited to 35,000 tons—although it is almost certain Ihut but for that Treaty the tonnage would have been far greater, even 50.000 tons—and the guns must not bo larger than 16-inch. There is somo reason to believe that the Nelson's 16----iuch guns will bo mounted three in a turret instead of two in a turret ns htis been the practice. GREAT SECRECY Great secrecy is being observed officially with regard to details o£ the Nelson. With respect to armour to afford protection against both plunging lire and aircraft bombs, as the vessel will naturally embody the lessons of tho war, it may ho taken Unit the deck protection will be heavier than in tho pre-Jutland ships. It is asserted also that she will carry more aircraft than has hitherto been usual in the case of a battleship. The cost is expected to exceed that of the battle cruiser Hood, which is at present our biggest warship, and which with normal displacement of 41,iilX) tons and 'displacement of 44.600 tons with a full load, will obviously renisiin bigger even than- the Nelson. The Hood cost about £6,000.000. and it is believed that the Nelson will involve an outlay of about seven millions, that she will have a complement of about 1.400, and that she will cost about £400,000 per amun" to keep up. GUARANTEE OF PEACE The First Lord of tho Admiralty, in proposing the health of Sir G. Armstrong Whitworth and Company, emphasised that there was no new competition in armaments or act of aggression in the launching of (lie Nelson. 150t.1i this and the sister ».'iip, the Rodney, wei-o being built wMer the terms and within the limitations of the WashI ington Convention, and whin they were complete not two, but four, other ships would have to ho scrapped. "But so long as (here wore armaments in the world." Mr. Bridge-man continued, "and wo are ;;u island nation <iml the centre of the Empire, which is spread over this world, so long must we remember never to let our strength at sea go down. We must look upon the Nelson and all ships of her kind as. 1 believe, most people do. as a. guarantee for the peace, and security of the world, a menace to evil-doers, but a security to all lovers ot peace." 35, Fleet Street,