BRITAIN ALWAYS FIRST

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 18 May 1925, Page 8

BRITAIN ALWAYS FIRST

ARMOUR-PIERCING SHELL

MORE POWER FOR NAVY

LONDON, May 3

Hadlield's, Ltd., the well-known Sheffield steel firm, have developed a new type of armour-piercing shell, of 16-inch calibre, for tlie British Navy, it represents a triumph of research, skill a lick knowledge. The shell has passed ■ the Governtests, which has been regarded as an impossible achievement for the past five years. The naval correspondent of the Daily News* says: “Hadfield’s shells herald an epoch-making development in gunnery.

•'Equipped with delay-action fuses, these shells will penetrate the magazines of battleships, thus preventing a repetition of the experience at the Battle of Jutland, when the German, ships escaped, in spite of sustaining repeated hits, owing to the British shells exploding harmlessly. “Tilt new British battleships, Nelson and Rodney, each of 35,000 tons norifiiil displacement, are being equipped with the new shells.” NEW ARMAMENTS RACE.

The Daily News, calling attention to the new armaments race, points out: “While the new sheds will increase Bri tish sea power, France has designed new battle - cruisers, of 10,000 tons, with a speed of 39 miles an hour, armed with 8-inch and 12-inch guns, having a range of 14 miles, which will be capable of catching and sinking the British, American and Japanese new 10,000-ton cruisers, while they themselves are immune from anything less than a battleship. “Japan’s four new cruisers,' of which the Furntaka, has been launched, will considerably reduce the fighting power of most of the British cruisers. It is now revealed that th- Furutaka is one of 7100 tons, capable of doing 33 knots an hour, and armed with 6-inch and 8inch guns. Although, she is 500 tons smaller than the British cruiser Enterprise. now being completed, she wjl 1 be able to oppose a broadside of 15001 b. against the latter’s 6001 b. “Janan is also designing four 10,000ton net's. carrying eight or ten 8-inch down two cruisers and several submarines, costing £1.000.000.”