BATTLE FLEET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 12 June 1939, Page 5

BATTLE FLEET

SINGAPORE SQUADRON NO SHIPS UNTIL 1942 BRITAIN'S PROGRAMME LONDON, 3rd June. Britain’s “two-hemisphere ’ fleet should be available in 1942, as announced in 1935 by the First Lord, says the “Daily Telegraph's’’ naval correspondent, Mr Hector C. Bywater. “Until 1942,” he adds, "Britain has no battleships to spare for the Pacific, excepting in an emergency.” The correspondent goes on to say that a special effort is being made to hasten completion of the five battleships of the King George V. class (which will release the Royal Sovereign class for the Pacific), because it is essential to maintain the balance of power, in view of the large capital-ship programmes of Italy, Germany and Japan. Acceleration is possible as a result of the overcoming of difficulties in the supply of guns and equipment, which were mainly due to the demands of the Army and Air Force. It is understood, Mr Bywater says, that 16-inch guns and gun-mountings, and 25,000 tons of armour-plate for the 40,000-ton battleships Lion and Temeraire, have already been ordered, and their keels will shortly be laid down on the Tyne and at Birkenhead. Two sister ships will be ordered in the autumn. There are now nine British battleships under construction, or authorised, and further battleships are projected, in order to build up a two-hemisphere fleet and guard Imperial interests, particularly a battle-fleet in the Pacific, if required.