THE FASTEST CRUISER.

Mataura Ensign, 25 January 1911, Page 6

THE FASTEST CRUISER.

SPEED OF H.M.s. INDEFATIGABLE The new battleship cruiser Indefatigable returned to Plymouth on December 12 on the completion of he)- 30 hours' steaming trials. She has been described as the ugliest warship in the British Navy, and will in all probability prove the fastest cruiser in the world. Using only three-quarters of her power, she exceeded 27 knots. A speed of 30 knots is confidently expected on her full-power trials. The Indefatigable, completed at Devonport in 22 mouths, is of 18,750 tons, carries eight 12in. guns, has a horsepower of 43,000 and a contract speed of 25 knots. Thvi 30 hours' trial was extremely although for the whole time the vessel was at sea the water was rough and the wind occasionally reached almost the force of a gale. Enormous waves broke over the vessel, but she is stated to have proved a splendid sea boat and her crew were able to work in comparative comfort. It was not until 4.30 on the previous Saturday afternoon that the great cruiser steamed into channel for the trials. She headed -Jown channel and went right into the Atlantic. After passing the Scillies she turned and steamed up channel as far as Beachy Head. The trial was at varying speed, and she made six runs, three in each direction, on the measured mile course. Her average speed was 24 knots, and while doing her best at three-quarter power while running up channel she reached 27 knots. This is so satisfactory that there is every hope of her exceeding 30 knots in her full-power trials.