NEW FIGHTING SHIPS

Evening Star, Issue 23745, 28 November 1940, Page 6

NEW FIGHTING SHIPS

“CORVETTES" REAPPEAR Seafaring men all over the world are watching with interest for the appearance of Canada’s “ corvettes,” soon to join in the chase of enemy submarines. Sixteen Canadian shipyards are now vigorously at work upon her 50,000,000doT naval shipbuilding _ programme. One hundred craft are being built over a period of two years and they include 26 minesweepers and 64 patrol vessels. For some of the latter, of the submarine chaser type, the old naval classification “ corvette ” has been revived.

The term was first used by the French for the 20-gun ships known as sloops to the British. During the Napoleonic wars the name was adopted by the British for a vessel without quarterdeck or poop which carried' her guns on one flush deck. It was revived when ironclads were introduced in 1860. All but a few of the largest of the new cruising ships were called “ corvettes,” a name which has long since disappeared in favour of “ cruiser.” The latest 11 corvettes ” are being built with record rapidity. In one Montreal yard, where 900 men are working at top speed, they are constructing four boats at a time on a slip where formerly the laying of two keels side by side was considered' a remarkable performance. These four ships will probably be launched simultaneously and their place'will be taken by ?our more, the essential part for the four new keels being already manufactured'.