SHIPYARD RECORDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 82, 7 April 1919, Page 4

SHIPYARD RECORDS

■ BUILDING DURING THE WAR.

NEW TYPE OF DESTROYER.

A summary of the operations in Messrs Cammell, Laird and Co. ’«• yards at Birkenhead during the period of tha war was given by Sir George Carteif at the launching _ of' H.M.S. Mackay,* This vessel embodies all the features of; the latest destroyers with many of thoser of a light cruiser. The type has a speed ot over 40 miles an hour in ■all' weather, the machinery developing oyer 40.000 horse-power and has-five, guns of Jarce calibre. Sir George Carter said that at the outbreak of hostilities there wove ''under 1, construction in their yards, amona other vessels, three cruisers and duo flotilla leader, ships which' became of urgent necessity. Special efforts were made tp. deliver them in' the jjojilk* f’Rt possible time, and as a consequence the cruiser Caroline was delivered to the Admiralty 5i months' before-thfe contract date, and the flotilla leader" Kempenieit was four months m advance' of the contract date. ‘ The Caroline wahfollowed by seven vessels of.‘ aimilaVlight. crir.ser type, each; unit. being com* piked , within vg months, whereas ,ia pre-war days the usual time was from* 1H to 20 months. The Kempenfelt had’ been followed by 16 flotilla leaders suni-. Jar to the Mackay. Those vessels-were super •destroyers, with enormous ‘ engine power, high speed, magnificent seagoing qualities, and particularly heavy armament for the type of vessel. H.M.S. Swift, which on several occasions distinguished itself in the Dover Patrol, was the pioneer of this %pe of warsi..p, and was designed and constrained for the Admiralty by Gammell, Laipdi in 1907 as an experimental ship. Ten submarines - had been bunt during the war, and several others were being constructed. During the war period they had completed ten merchant vessels, including three originally intended as lyjers, and had built fly© of the largest type of. standard ship. Between thp commencement of the war and the sighing of the armistice the total output had been 152,168 tons and ! 1,130,000 horse power. r ■ ' :