WORLD'S BIGGEST WARSHIP.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 3778, 2 May 1919, Page 4

WORLD'S BIGGEST WARSHIP.

40 MILES AN HOUR.

Tho Navy will shortly bo reinforced by the largest fighting ship m the world, says a correspondent in tho Pall Mall Gazette. This is H.M.s Hood, which is now in an advanced state of completion, and will probably bo commissioned early in the year. Very few people have hitherto boon aware of her existence, and yet the Hood is a far more wonderful vessel than the "Hush, hush" ships which made such a sensation. She is just 894 ft in length, or only 7ft shorter than the Aquitania, tho largest British liner, and 104 ft longer' than the Mauretania. Her armament consists of eight 15in. guns, and sho ia'COii-. sidored to bo practically proof against torpedo attack, tho hull being fitted with a "blister," or outer cushion, against which torpedoes and mines will explode harmlessly.

Extraordinary stories are current as to the designed speed of this ship, but it is certain that her builders will be disappointed if she steams at less than 40 miles an hour on trial. Another battle cruiser of the same type, tho Anson, is building, and two more are understood to be on tho stocks. The Hood is much bigger and heavier than tho Renown, the Furious, or any of the other "Hush, hush" ships, and when completed sho will represent an investment of something like £3,320,----000. Naval opinion is somewhat divided in its view of the Admiralty's policy in building such ...enormous and costly vessels, many officers believing that the tactical value of high speed is not sufficient to the expense or the sacrifice of other fighting qualities it entails.