WASP CRUISERS

Evening Star, Issue 20917, 7 October 1931, Page 12

WASP CRUISERS

SEA RAIDERS AT A MILLION EACH Europe has developed,' in utmost secrecy, a deadly now naval arm, highpowered destruction steaming at 42 knots, in the form of light-weight cruisers, built for the dual role of battle fleet scouts and trade route patrol ships and raiders. Franco, Italy, and Britain are concentrating all their expert attention upon this new arm. Eaeli of these tiny sea raiders costs about £1,000,000, and, being cheap and of comparatively little tonnage, they can bo produced in numbers to cover the seas around tho important seaports In proportion they are cheaper than any other cruisers, costing about half as much as tho sturdy 10.000-ton cruisers. Each navy staff is working out its own design, keeping its efforts as secret us possible. Under tho Navy estimates for tins vear Britain is building three light cruisers. Two of the Leandcr class of 7,000 tons, armed with eight G-iiidi cams, but the third vessel is the “hush-hush” cruiser of 5,000 tons, predecessor of a groat fleet of tiny wasp cruisers, each carrying six o-iucli gnus. . Those new British wasps will cost £1,01X1,000 each. They are expected to lie very last, turbine driven. Admiral Sirianni, in a recent speech in tho Italian Chamber, gave I'mropo all tho information they have of the new Italian light cruisers. _ Duo of these warships, already put into ; seivice was designed to speed at 37 Knot..