NEW NAVAL DESIGNS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11827, 7 January 1933, Page 7

NEW NAVAL DESIGNS

O DD-L0 OKING VESSELS

FAST ITALIAN CRUISERS

LONDON, Dec.. 21

The ‘‘world’s ugliest battle'sliips,” now being built by Japan are depicted ixi Jane’s Fighting Ships for 1932. The Autago will have a very odd apearance, her huge low fore funnel being sloped back in. order to be kept clear of the pagoda-like bridge work. The Soviet dreadnougli Marat is also a queer design, with the fore funnel raised and the upper section tilted aft, looking as if is had boon broken. The Italians, concentrating on speed have produced cruisers that, will reach 42.04 knots, exceeding the. pace ol" Britain’s latest destroyors. The Italian flotilla leader De Alosta attained 4-1 knots, compared with 40 knots oi the British ship Codfington, of the same clas’s. Japan prefers to concentrate on heavier armaments, and her new Gin. gun cruisers will bo far better gunned than the European equivalents. Britain’s cruisers of the Aret.husn. class, winch aro now removed trom the “Hush-hush’’ list ana will carry six fiin guns and six torpedo tubes, have been designed as maids-of-all-work and will be capable of scouting for the battle fleet, guarding convoys and acting' as sentinels on Empire trade routes.