SHIP OR 'PLANT?

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 78, 1 April 1936, Page 22

SHIP OR 'PLANT?

THE MODERN DEFENCES

AN AIRMAN'S ARGUMENT

WHERE A FLEET FAILS

Balanced power of defence is the new cliche, writes Captain Norman Macmillan in the "Daily Mail." "What is it? As a phrase it connotes safety in defence through possession of the correct number and types of naval ships; the correct number of. soldiers, guns, horses, tanks, and other mechanised land forces; and the correct number of aeroplanes. In reality it is a conundrum left for the Imperial Defence Committee to solve to meet all possible emergenoies. Take two factors only—guns and aeroplanes. . The gun is static defence against air attack, whether by land or sea. The gun cannot attack aircraft until aircraft first attack. Thus, between the air and other forces, initiative lies with the air. And, in the international sphere, we have sacrificed that initiative since 1918 by surrendering our supremacy in the air to become fifth Air Power in Europe, seventh in the world. What hinders our return to air equality, if not supremacy? Is it the inter-Service demand for a so- ; called balanced power of defence? . THE NAVY'S VIEW. Naval enthusiasts declare that battleships cannot be sunk by, bombs; or, alternatively (like a legal pleading), that they have ample power of defence to defeat air attack. Emphasis is placed upon gunfire for defence, little hope, shown in the fighting: aeroplanes of the aircraft carriers. This may evidence refusal to. believe in fighting aircraft; it may indicate belief that nothing can stop the bomber reaching its objective—for only then, as far as the ship is concerned, can guns be used. On the air side it is. argued that if the aircraft available today had existed during the Great War, not only ships but the principal United Kingdom ports and naval bases would have been subjected to disastrous air bombardment. Equally, it can be said that German ships could not have harboured safely at Kiel and Wilhelmshaverr. Harbours and dockyards provide excellent targets for air attacks. Thus both Grand Fleets would have been forced either to fight things out (assisted by their respective aircraft) or to withdraw still further from each other until.they were out of range of .raiding aircraft. In such circumstances, what is balanced defence? WIDER RANGE. The effective range of aircraft has greatly increased in ■ recent years; speed and carrying capacity have been augmented. From their operating stations modern aircraft can- patrol ever wider areas. In war over narrow areas —such as the English Channel and the North Sea, the whole of the United Kingdom, St. George's Channel, and the greater part.of Ireland— it is conceivable, that, aircraft may dominate the situation.; ■", - Even' if the' larger haval.'ships are so constructed;that they are able; to withstand the shock of normal air bombs, we cannot have enough ' big ships to protect the•' smaller convoy ships and merchantmen which are not immune from air attack. < ■ What of the wider spaces of the Empire? Mr. 6. Pirow, South Africa's Minister of Defence, said recently:— "There would be very few parts of Africa from which the Rand could not be bombed. .. .For the first time since the Battle of Trafalgar, South Africa faces, the possibility of attack irrespective of any help from Britain or the Dominions." '.-.'.■'", •'•: . Yet no one can deny the necessity for - a strong Navy . while we have Empire possessions and Empire trade routes separated by great ocean distances. The British Empire must be adequately equipped. with -the ■ most efficient naval ships to maintain a reasonable ; measure of security (by naval action as' envisaged by the Navy officer) for the passage of our merchantmen across the oceans against the naval forces of other Powers., PORTS NEEDED. , But operating ports for these ships .must exist outside effective .bombing range of each potential enemy. Care will be necessary in reaching a wise decision. One cannot conceive Britain entirely bereft of allies among the great world Powers.' Hence the position of such ports will depend upon ,our; territory and the territorial possessions of our;allies. ■ .. We cannot count upon the unmolested use of any Mediterranean or United Kingdom port. Our navy must have'full means of shore maintenance outside the confines of these two areas. The passage of Britain's food supply across the oceans may depend on that.' ' '"■'■ ■■-■• « On the other hand, aeroplanes must operate from'bases within striking distance1 of potential enemies. For Home defence these bases v lie at home Throughout the crucial stages of any war in Western Europe, our future safety must be guaranteed by air strength. ■ ' The Air • Force (aided by distant ships and defensive guns) must become the principal guardian of the safety of these islands, and protector of our food ships when nearing port. If it is strong enough it can prevent war, perhaps produce a peace complex among the nations; AIRCRAFT WANTED. Although, this argument seems logical and clear, many contend that the .Navy is still the predominating factor in our national safety. They base this claim upon refusal to admit the vulnerability of big ships to air attack. They say big ships are unsinkable, their armament able to ward off air attack. What proof has the public of this beyond bald, contentious statements? . My view is that the statements are not proven. The •Air Force has not yet possessed the type of aircraft able to wield the maximum effect against the surface ship and submarine. Such types do exist in other countries —four-miles-a-minute, multi-en-gined aeroplanes, able to carry a bomb load equivalent to three 15001b bombs. The type of aircraft needed for the air defence of Britain at the present time is one capable of a speed of 300 miles an hour, a radius of action of at least 1000 miles (which means a non-stop flying capacity of 2000 miles); and able to carry four 20001b bombs, or a large number of smaller bombs of equal total weight. The potentialities of such equipment are so great that the public ought to know beyond all doubt whether the Admiralty can produce today a ship able to withstand the onslaught of aircraft so equipped. Once and for all, let the financial equation of balanced power of defence between the Navy and the air be resolved, in fairness to both services and to the nation which they serve.