NAVAL SURPRISE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 85, 10 April 1926, Page 7

NAVAL SURPRISE

JAPAN'S SECRET CRUISERS

INGENIOUS DISPOSITION OF GUNS

BETTER VALUE FOR \ MONEY THAN BRITISH.

(^United Press Association—Copyright.) \ (Sydney Sun Cable.)

; (Received 10th April, 10 a.m.) ■ :- J LONDON, 9th April. P The "Daily News" naval corresponident says that Japan by building four secret cruisers has sprung a surprise on the naval world. Even Japanese officers in Britain were unaware of the construction. The vessels will be named Furutaka, Kako, Kinugasa, and !Aoba.

"Although they are much smaller and 'cheaper than the '10,000-ton vessels provided for by the Washington Troaty," -he says, "they are, nevertheless, extremely formidable fighting ships. The secret of their design has been well kept. The Furutaka has been completed and is revealed as a vessel of 7100 ttons, which is 2900 tons smaller than ■the British County class. The new 'Japanese vessels are of 33 knots speed, and. carry six 8-inch guns, 12-pounder anti-aircraft guns, and 12 torpedo tubes. "It is in the disposition of their heavy artillery that the Japanese designers have shown marked ingenuity. Contrary to the text-book plans showing the Furutaka's six big guns mounted in turrets, three on the foredeck and ; three astern, the second of each group is super-imposed for the purpose of obtaining end-on fire. Thus all will .be able to fire on the broadside and two, possibly three, fire directly ahead or astern. ; .

"This distribution minimises the risk of a few lucky shots silencing a whole battery. Guns mounted singly can de^ velop more rapid fire than in pairs. These ships represent better value for the money than thaslarger, more vulnerable, and more expensive 10,000 tonners, which Britain and other nations are now building."

According to Brassey's Naval Annual, the Furntaka, which waß built at Ngasaki, is 580 ft long, 50ft 9in broad, with a development of 7100 tons, and a speed of 33 knots. There are no further particulars.