ATLANTIC AIR BASE

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 115, 16 May 1936, Page 13

ATLANTIC AIR BASE

NEW VESSEL FOR LUFTHANSA

Since the spring of 1934 the German Airways Company Lufthansa has carried on an aerial postal : service between Germany and South America, with punctuality and smoothness of working which have brought testimonials from many, countries. Nearly all countries avail themselves of this rapid postal connection between Europe and South America, by means of which South America can now be reached more quickly ■ from Europe than can North America, reports the "Berlin Weekly." Up till now the Lufthansa had two ships, the Westfalen-and the.Schwabenland, which were stationed in the ocean and were used at first by the aeroplanes as landing stations, ■ now as •catapult send-offs. After a thorough overhauling the. Schwabenland is to be, given a trial in the North Atlantic service. This will ■ necessitate a new aerial base for the- South Atlantic. A new ship with a catapult-send-off, the first ship of this type- for the postal service in the South Atlantic, has been launched at Kiel. In contrast to its predecessors the new ship, which has been christened Ostmark, is only 2000 tons although it is 74 metres long, and is especially constructed as a "catapult" ship. Its entire construction has been especially designed for service on the African coast. The lfirgest space on the f oredeck is occupied by the "catapult," which was designed by the Heinkel-Werke . and built by the Howaldts-Werke. In the stern is a large crane for lifting the aeroplanes on board. The ship has tw0.900 h.p. Diesel motors, and a speed of 15 knots.