NEW NAVAL ERA

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1935, Page 8

NEW NAVAL ERA

BATT LESHIP CONSTRUCTION

LONDON, December 12

Published on the eve of the naval conference, “June's Fighting Ships" says a new era in battlebip contructio • has begun. It may. be said to have opened with the laying down of the French battleship Dunkerque I three years ago. A sister ship lias * since been commenced, and approval *| has been given for the construction.of two HSOOO-ton vessels to match the Italian ships. Germany is building two 26.000-ton battleships to counter balance the Dunkerque type. Giving the first authentic details.of the new German battleships, Jane’.s says that they are based on the experience gained in the Hattie of Jutland, when 11 in gnus put British ships out of action. Very heavy iguns. have been abandoned, and 11 1 0 new ships will mount nine 11m guns, which will be a lighter battery than the wartime battle cruisers such as the Seydlit'/i carried, on a displacement 0000 tons less. Dwelling on the costliness of modern ships. Jane’s points out that a salvo of nine shells from the 16in guns of the British battleship Nelson, which herself cost £7,600,000 costs £7OO.