NAVAL LEADER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 24000, 25 June 1941, Page 6

NAVAL LEADER

VICE-ADMIRAL ROYLE

FLEET AIR ARM EXPERT

VISIT TO DOMINION

FLEW FLAG IN ARK ROYAL

The essential part played by aircraftcarriers in modern war at sea was outlined yesterday by Vice-Admiral Sir Guy C. C. Boyle, C.8., C.M.G., R.N., formerly Fifth Sea Lord in command of the Fleet Air Arm, who is visiting Auckland. Vice-Admiral Bo.vle, who is accompanied hy Lady Boyle, is on his way to Australia to take up his new post as First Naval Member of tho Commonwealth Naval Board, but while in New Zealand he will have consultations with the Government and tho Naval Staff. One of the world's leading authorities on aircraft-carriers, \ ice-Admiral Boyle spoke with enthusiasm of tho work of the Fleet Air Arm in tho present war. He also recalled that as Bear-Admiral (Air), he had flown his flag in Britain's famous aircraft-carrier Ark Royal, "sunk" several times by enemy propaganda, but still in fact doing yeoman service. Work of the Carriers "It may not be generally realised that the somewhat elderly Fa i rev Sword fish torpedo-carrying planes of the Meet A'r Arm have done far more damage to men-of-war than any 1 other form of attack in this war," \ ice- ' Admiral Boyle said. "They sank the j Italian battleship favour at Taranto, i the Dunquerque at Oran, damaged two I of the latest. Italian battleships, put ! the French Richelieu out of action, | and were responsible for bringing the Bismarck to her final destruction with three torpedo hits. "We in the Navy have no doubt that the carriers are an essential part of Fleet organisation, whether it is for purposes of reconnaissance, protecting the fleet from air attack by means of fighters flown from carriers, attacking ships in harbour, or for slowing down ships at sea, as was dono with the Bismarck, and the Littorio at Cape Matapan. We think this war has definitely proved the value of carriers." Protecting Merchant Ships Better protection for merchant shipping against the long-range German bombers which were taking toll of British ships was forecast by ViceAdmiral Boyle. He said the obvious answer to the problem was to give the merchant shipping better armament and to have thoroughly-trained gun crews to deal with the low-flying raiders. Short-range anti-aircraft guns were now being provided for Britain's merchant fleet and the special training of crews in their new equipment was in progress. With the new equipment and expert crews, he believed that a counter would be provided to the German air attacks. "These long-range raiders attack at a very low altitude," lie said. "Sometimes they Hy just above the ships' masts, and the short-range anti-air-craft. weapon is needed to deal with them. The Germans are using extensively for this form of attack a bomber converted from the Focke-Wulf Condor, a civilian machine, which has long range and a fairly high speed, about 250 knots." The Navy's Huge Task The burden being carried by the Royal Navy was mentioned by ViceAdmira! Royle, who said the unspectacular part of the Navy's work was proceeding steadily. Shipping lanes were being kopt open and convoys were getting through, but to enable this to be done, the Navy was being "stretched" to the utmost. "We had five navies doing the work in the last war." he said. "There were the American, Japanese, French, Italian and our own, but now we are fighting a lone fight, and the Royal Navy is doing the job of the whole five. Transfer of Armies "The advent of air attack also makes the whole problem very much more difficult," he continued. "Wo reckon, however, that the unspectacular part, which goes on day after day, is going very satisfactorily. We have transferred vast armies from the United Kindom. Australia and New Zealand to the Middle Fast without loss, the Channel and coastal convoys proceed without interruption under the protection of the Navy and Air Force, and we have kept the western approaches to Britain open."

The dive-bomber had proved a serious menace to surface craft, unless there was some form of fightor cover to assist the ships' gunfire, he said. One of Britain's newer ship-borne warplanes, the Fairer Fulmar, has proved highly successful against the two best-known German dire-bombers, the Junkers Ju.B7 and Ju.BB, but was not as fast as some of tho escorting German fighters. New Fleet Fighters Newer machines would be supplied to the aircraft-carriers, and they wotdd be even faster than the Fulmars, although tho problems of design were many, since ship-borne aircraft bad to have folding wings, quick take-off ability, low landing speed and other features, as well as sheer speed. Vice-Admiral Horle, who was met on arrival by Commodore W. E. Parry, C.8., Chief of the Naval Stafi, will spend to-day in Auckland, fie will probably leave for Wellington to-night to discuss naval matters with Government representatives, before continuing his journey to Australia. At the outbreak of war Vice-Admiral Horle was naval secretary to tho present Prime Minister of Britain, Mr. Winston Churchill, who was then First, Lord of the Admiralty. He was later appointed Fifth Sea Lord. A Distinguished Career Born in J88C), Vice-Admiral lloyle has had a distinguished career. He served in the last war, being mentioned in despatches and awarded the C.M.G. From ID'JI to li'li? be was Naval Attache to the British Fi>»bassr at Tokio, and for the following two years he commanded 11.M.5. Canterbury, llis next eoinniand was 11.M.5. I- Ixcellent. troin l'.l.'iO to I!M2, and lie commanded 11.M.5. (Morions in IP.'!.') and ID.'il.

An appointment as Naval Secretary to the I'irst Lord of the Admiralty followed, and in 19157 he became Vice-Admiral. Aircra|'t-('arriers. ViceAdmiral Boyle was appointed Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty and Chief of Naval Air Services in 1939. He has been appointed First Naval Member of the Commonwealth Naval Board in succession to Admiral Sir Ragnar Colrin.