Estimate of Germany’s Naval Power

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 256, 29 October 1942, Page 5

Estimate of Germany’s Naval Power

(British Official Wireless.) Received Wednesday, 7.20 p.m. RUGBY, Oct. 27. “Allowing for Germany s losses since the outbreak of war and tor certain additions to her navy, we may assume she now has in commission a few uuttiesinps, including two pocket battleships, two ermsers, tour ngnt cruisers, aoout 70 destroyers, over 3uu submarines ana over ivo lorpecio-cuuers," writes waptam CtKurov, of tiie soviet Navy, m the latest issue of the soviet War ixews. He aaas: “uuring the past year aoout naiT tne big Gentian vessels nave not appeared at sea, wnicn lends weignt to me assumption that they are unucryoing capuai repairs. German/ is experiencing an acute Shortage e. sKineu snipoutiding workers and Aineu oomos nave turtner reduced tneir prouuctivity. “i ne Germans can now produce no more tnan 120 to 140 submarines annua*•y, whereas in 1940 tney launcnea about *OO. “To make good the loss of over three and a-hau rnimon tons of mercnaiu snipping, Germany is rorced to bunu numerous merchant vesse.s and ama.. warsmps tor convoy work. i o build a power.ui navy, at me same time maintaining powertui land and air forces, nas proved beyond Germany’s capacity.”