U.S.A. NAVY

Grey River Argus, 18 March 1941, Page 10

U.S.A. NAVY

New Cruisers TO CHASE RAIDERS, WASHINGTON, March 14. The United States House of Representatives approved the 3,446,000-000 dollar Naval Supply Bill for 1942, which provides for the bU'-.d ng of a two-ccean navy. • The Bill contains provision for a new type of battle-cruiser, reputed to be designed for dealing with commerce raiders or for making coastal raids. They are to cost 43,000,000 dollars each. It is believed that they will mount 14-inch guns, have a speed of 32 knots, and carry no heavy armour. The contracts are already placed. Mr James Scrugham, Chairman of the Naval Appropriations Sub-Com-mittee, urging the approval of the huge naval programme, told the House of Representatives that the United States faced certain attacks by hungry Axis hordes from Europe and Asia, unless gigantic defence armaments were created swiftly, regardless of the aid given to Britain.

He added: “The war has now substantially reached a deadlock, but the ultimate decision will rest on sea power, aided by air mastery. It is useless to pretend that England’s fight has nothing to do with us. ft has everything to do with us. Hitler has probably reached his maximum strength, and his success or failure largely hinges on what the United States Congress does in the next few months. The United States must strongly aid the hard-pressed British ”

Details of Ships MODERN TYPES. The cruiser, Brooklyn, was launched in November, 1936. The Savannah, a sister ship of the Brooklyn, was launched in May, 1937. The destroyers are also of the latest class, the Mahan class. The Brooklyn, which has a displacement of 9,700 tons, was ordered for the United States Navy under the emergency programme of 1933. Later eight of the class were built, the last pair being ordered in 193536. The Savannah’s displacement is 9,475 tons. These light cruisers cost 17,000,000 dollars each. They have a length of 600 feet, beam of 61 ft. 6 in., and mean 'draught of 19 ft. 9 in. Their complements are 865. They have a five-inch armoured belt and three-inch plating, and their speed is 33 knots. They are armed with 15 six-inch guns, 8 fiveinch anti-aircraft guns, four thr.eepounders, five one-pounders and three machine-guns. A completely new departure was made in the Brooklyn class for carrying aeroplanes. Included in the hull right aft are hangars for eight machines. These hangars account for a very wide flat counter, and high freeboard aft. which is also used to give the after guns a higher command. Two catapults are mounted as far outboard as possible and a revolving crane is placed at the extreme stern of both cruisers.

The building of the destroyers, Cummings (1,465 tons) and Shaw (1500 tons), was begun under the 1933 programme, and the Tucker and the Case were ordered a little later. Desti overs of their class cost between 3,400,000 and 3,750,000 dollars. They carry five Sin. _ guns., four machine-guns and 12 21in. torpedo tubes set in banks of four. Having a radius of 6,000 miles, thev are 334 feet long, with a beam of 35 feet and draw nearly 10 feet.