ERSATZ PREUSSEN

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 55, 8 March 1929, Page 9

ERSATZ PREUSSEN

GERMAN MYSTERY SHIP

FIRST COMPLETE DETAILS

AN IMMENSE RADIUS

The Ersatz Prcussen, as she is proi yisionally designated—it has been reLported that at her launching she will tbo named after tho late Admiral Schecr ' —is in many respects quite unique, ;writos Hector C. Bywntcr, naval corresIpondent of the "Daily Telegraph." /She is the first large man-of-war to be 'propelled exclusively by Diesel engines, •the first to have an electrically-welded hull, and the first to combine the speed and radius of a cruiser with the gunjpower and armour projection of a. 'battleship. I In accordance with the Versailles Treaty the displacement is restricted to 10,000 tons without counting fuel. The hull is of great length and moderate breadth,. and is modelled for high spoed. The draught is shallow, thus /enabling the vessel to Jiavigate with safety in coastal waters and also reducing the risk of torpedoes and mines. By the use of super-grade steel and • other metals of high quality, in place of ordinary ship's frames and plating, and by adopting electric welding inWfead of rivets, a total weight of 550 tons has been saved by the construction of tho hull. .; It has therefore been possible to provide very extensive protection. A 'stout belt of armour covers the side from stem to stern, there are two strong steel decks over the interior /spaces, and the system of anti-submar- j Sine and mine defence is claimed to be tho most effective that has yet been devised. '. THE DIESEL MOTORS. ', Tho ship will be driven at a maximum speed of 26 knots by twin sots of i Diesel motors, developing 50,000 horsepower. These engines, which are being built by the M.A.N. firm at Nuremberg, are of an entirely novel design, the secret of which has been 'closely guarded. In proportion to (their power they arc/ of extraordinary [lightness, one unit of horse-power being developed for every 17ilb of weight, [or less than one-sixth the ratio of (weight to power- that obtained in the Vb'est Diesel engines available a few frears ago. Moreover, tho new engines joccupy much less head-room than the frdiuary type, and nvo therefore well rotected by the strong armour belt «nd the double stocl decks. . Provision is made for carrying jjenough oil fuel to drive the ship 10,000 mautical miles at a speed of twenty (knots. " No other warship in existence Was such a large cruising radius at high kpeed. Travelling at lower speeds, She Ersatz - Preussen could probably (Bruise from' Germany to China on one load of fuel. : For her tonnage she mounts a most (formidable armament. Six llin guns Jof a new Krupp model, firing 6701b progectiles up to a. Tange of 30,000 yards, iaro mounted in two armoured triple turrets, placed forward and aflj respectively. These weapons, it is ofiflcially stated, arc "considerably superior in fire energy, range, and destructive effect to the llin guns of earlier iype." It is added that the Ersatz jPjreussen will be able to discharge j 'every mintue three times the weight of metal that an older battleship could jfivo. The turrets are so placed as to jjgive the guns an almost uninterrupted (are of fire on each broadside. RADIUS OF ACTION. , Eight 6in guns mounted behind Shields comprise the secondary armatoien't. Jp.uith.er, th vere-are several anti--aircraft guns and six torpedo tubes, ,-£he latter being placed at each-side of (the quarterdeck. . Owing fo their (height above the water, all these weaIpons, guns and torpedo tubes alike, 'could be used with full effect in bad •weather. As will be seen, the Ersatz Preussen is much more powerful than the ordinary ip,ooo-ton cruiser armed with Bin £uns; indeed, the German vessel might herself against a Dreadnought fin favourable circumstances. It is evident from her immense radiu3 of action that she has not been built solely •for service in the Baltic and the North .'Sea. Apart from her speed and cruising endurance, she is obviously capable of operating in any ocean, thanks to her strongly built hull and lofty freeboard, f In view of Germany's absence of Jfeyersea bases, the great cruising radius fo'f the ship is a strategical advantage »f the first importance. She is fast fenough to escape from any capital ship kgxecpt a battle-cruiser, and strong fenough to overpower any type of warf hip below the Droadnought standard. ,• The Ersatz Preussen was laid down lai; the Deutsche Werke, Kiel, in September. It is estimated that she will veost £4,000,000, this very high figure peing due to the special materials and' flnothods employed in her construction and to the superfine quality of the machinery, armament, and equipment. /.Three further ships of this type are projected.