THE DERFFLINGER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9988, 26 January 1915, Page 6

THE DERFFLINGER.

f* , (Completed 1914.) its. The DerfTlinger is Germany's newest cruiser. Laid down at the end ot u Hl9ll at Hamburg, she was intended to be S>. launched on June 14 .last year, hut owing to a mishap to the slipway she did not go afloat until a fortnight later. & She was performing her trials when war w, broke out, hut was then no doubt hut 1 - completed and placed in commission, f iler displacement is 26,200 tons, and she |:->j lias a length on the waterline of 689 feet, L, with a maximum breadth of 95 feet, jjjsvf-' High speed and great fuel endurance are fcrf-'t-he outstanding features of this ship, which §>-. in proportion to her size is by no means < heavily armed. The main battery consists of eight 12in. guns in four double C turrets, all on the centre line. Twelve j/ _ 5.9 in. quick-firers represent the secondary '■ battery, and twelve 21-pounders the antifc torpedo armament. There are ;n addi- • tion some special anti-aerocraft guns, tour &> submerged torpedo tubes are fitted. B The maximum thickness of the armour p* 'belt is 12in., but great attention has been

paid to the protection of the guns and ['. 'other important positions. The fuel capacity reaches the enormous figure of 4300 » tons, which includes about 1000 tons of jp' oil. The turbines are of t new pattern, |; ; designed to work up to 63.''00 shaft horseI power, giving a speed of knots; but } there is every reason to suppose this figure j will be exceeded m service. A peculiarity is the straight stem, no j ram being lilted. The appearance of this i huge vessel is strikingly formidable, and '■ she is undoubtedly a most valuable uddif tion to the Herman cruiser squadron.

} ; though in armament she is outclassed liy < contemporary British battle cruisers. ( om- [ plement. 112b officers and men.

THh SEYDLITZ. (Completed 1913.) The battle cruisers Seydlitz is in a class by herself, though her design closely reI semblcs that of tiie Moltke and the Gocben, of which she is a slightly larger cdi|j lion. Her displacement is 24,600 tons, | length 656 feet, and she has Parsons' turbines of 63,000 h.p., designed for a speed f of 26! knots, though she is reported to fj have attained over 28 knots on trial. She was built at the Bloliin and Voss | yard, Hamburg, and was commissioned last f! year. Her armament comprises ten llin., | twelve 5.9 in. and twelve 21-potinder guns, with four submerged torpedo tubes. The * big guns, mounted in double turrets, are f so disposed that all can be fired on either | broadside, whilst eight can be trained asjj tern and six ahead.

On the waterline amidships there is a 12in. armour belt. The gun positions are also well protected. The maximum fuel B capacity is 3350 tons, equivalent to u steam- | . ing radius of 12,000 miles at moderate ;i speed. 'I This ship, however, is a notorious "coal- !-: eater," and consumes an enormous amount 1 of fuel when running at high speed.

Her complement numbers 1108 oflicers and men.