NEW WARSHIPS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 21 May 1936, Page 3

NEW WARSHIPS

. ’ “7"ia23558i TWENTY THIS YEAR Tlie greatest naval construction programme 'which this country has undertaken since the war will be put in hand before the end of the year, writes Hector Bywater in the “.Daily Telegraph.” Between now and January the following ships will have been laid down': — , ... 2 battleships. 5 cruisers. 1 aircraft carrier. At least 12 destroyers and A number of submarines arid sloops. A further three cruisers are expected to be ordered in the summer of 1937. , These ships will total at least 175,000 tons and represent a capital outlay of about £35,000,000. The bulk of this new tonnage will bo contract-built, including at least one battleship, five cruisers, and all the destroyers. The second battleship may go. to Portsmouth or Devonport, provided the building berths in those dockyards arc sufficiently large and Well-founded to tnke capital ships. of the post-war type. When the four super-Hoods—subse-quently cancelled—were ordered in 1921 neither Portsmouth nor Devonport had facilities for building them, and all the contracts were placed privately. These, however, were ships of 48,000 tons, whereas the new battleships will not exceed 35,000 tons. The order inentioned above constitute only th u first instalment of the Ooverument’s naval programme. This involves the biulding of twenty-five new cruisers within the next five years,’

besides further battleships and a large number of destroyers, sloops, and submarines. From now on shipyards which specialise in Admiralty work should be assured of a steady stream of orders, in contrast to the spasmodic ebb and flow of such work during the past fifteen years. Several of the firms in question are already taking steps to build up a reserve of skilled labour. ■ It is anticipated that the new con- , tracts will call for the delivery of all types of warships at much earlier dates than have beeii customary hitherto., . • : \y- > ,