MIGHTY BRITISH NAVY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23355, 25 May 1939, Page 10

MIGHTY BRITISH NAVY

GROWTH IN PAST YEAR ADDITION OF 76 NEW SHIPS MORE STILL BEING BUILT The tremendous development of the Royal Navy since May of last year was graphically illustrated by Commodore ,T. W. Rivett-Carnac, Commodore Commanding the New Zealand Squadron, when replying to the toast of "The Services'' at the Empire Day dinner held at Hotel Cargen last night. During that period, he said, moral and material rearmament had taken place 011 a scale never approached in recent years. Since Empire Day last year 76 new ships had been added to the Navy, he said. The total of 9000 skilled officers and men necessary to man those ships would take three and a-half hours, marching four abreast, to pass a given point. If the ships were anchored as closely together as safety woidd permit, the heavy ships being three abreast and the lighter types four abreast, the fleet would extend for four miles. Steaming at 10 knots it woidd take the ships one and a-half hours to pass an observation point.

That was an example of the tremendous effort being made. Commodore .Rivett-Carnae added. More ships were being built, including two battleships which would be launched next 3-ear.