LATEST GERMAN CRUISERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19753, 28 September 1927, Page 11

LATEST GERMAN CRUISERS.

' MANY NEW FEATURES. MOST FORMIDABLE CRAFT. SPECIAL STEEL FOR HULLS. EXTRAORDINARY GUN-POWER. By Telesraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received September 27, 5.20 p.m.) Sun. LONDON. Sept. 26. The Daily News says Germany is now building warships which in proportion to their tonnage will easily be the most formidable craft in the world. The paper gives hitherto secret details as to the latest German cruisers, Konigsberg and Karlsruhe, which were launched respectively on March 26 and August 21. It says they possess so many new features that the Germans have christened them " wonder ships." The hulls of these two cruisers are built of special steel the formula of which is not known outside the Essen laboratories. This steel combines lightness with great strength. Weight is further saved by the use of electric welding instead of rivets. The displacement of each ship is 6000 tons, the length 554 ft., aud the breadth 50ft. They vrill be driven by high-speed geared turbines of 65,000 shaft horse-power working at high pressure on steam from six oilburning boilers. 'At full power the speed of each vessel will be at least 32 knots, but more is expected. In cruising the steam turbines will be cut out and only Diesel motors will be used. Each ship will carry enough oil for a voyage of 6000 miles.

The armament of these cruisers, says the paper, is extraordinary. It comprises nine 6in. guns—Krupp's latest—which will fire a 1011b. shell. The extreme range will be 20,000vds. The guns are to be housed in triple turrets intended for three guns. Each turret can be loaded and fired as if from a three-barrelled gun. The result will be the firing of more than one shell a second. Each cruiser will also have four 3.4 anti-aircraft guns and 12 torpedo.tubes and each a moderate freeboard. The upper works are inconspicuous, the possible object being to reduce their area as a target. Special devices for eliminating funnel smoke are included. The News says there is little doubt but that the ships will overwhelm cruisers of much greater size. Moreover their great speed will enable them to avoid action with antagonists with superior gun-power. It must be conceded that in designing the Konigsberg and the Karlsruhe German naval architects have lived up to their pre-war reputation, which was very high.