WARSHIP SPEEDS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1930, Page 6

WARSHIP SPEEDS

CONTINENTAL IDEAS

LONDON, April 10

A rel.iti; cly innocuous form of naval competition is indicated liv reports from Italy that a new "light cruiser’’ Nicholoso da Recco, has exceeded oil trials a speed of forty-one knots. This ship is not a light cruiser but a flotilla leader of only 1(530 tons, and before the speed can lie accepted as a ‘Term'd” more particulars will be required about the conditions of the trial. British warships arc- put through trials with 'full complement- of stores and so forth, on hoard. Even so, it may lie recalled that a British destroyer nchiev c-d a speed of forty knots more than twenty years ago. There are many other factors besides speed in estimating the real efficiencc ‘of a warship as latest comparable vessels in the British Navy have a tonnage’ of 1520 and a designed speed of tlurf.v-live knots H.M.S. Acheron, a recently-launched destroyer, is a great'technical advance on any foreign design, for she will.be fitted witb high pressure boilers and 'machinery to give' ' a’fueLeconomy. 10 per cent, better than o, 'sister ships.' _ ,

French and 1 taliair warship builders concentrate on speed as'a good “advertising point” to attract’foreign "orders. The French flotilla' leaders of 2400 tons that almost deserve Hie name of “light entisors” .1 1 a,ye_exceeded. Jdi ijtv-sevon knots du trials 'wifTf'eTigines'of"7o7ooo horsepower. Doubtless the french will attempt to recapture the “record.” Tho British AdijuHiTtV will; IT rt'-nib-' tiling to do with this sort,of roii.iu-ri-tbin. though'- British ' 'ML', Hoyts would dearly love to see : 'b- t Lest products pitted against D., .. o.rrigll vessels- under struj-tiy • -aruble conditions.