JAPANESE CRUISERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19761, 12 April 1926, Page 9

JAPANESE CRUISERS

NAVAL WORLD SURPRISED. NEW METHOD OF GUN MOUNTING. (Pres» Association—By Telegraph—Copyright ) LONDON, April 9. The naval correspondent of the Daily News says that Japan, by building four secret cruisers, has sprung a surprise on the naval world. Even the Japanese officers in Britain were unaware that the vessels were being constructed. They are named Furutaka, Kako, Kinugusa, and Oaba, Although much smaller and cheaper than the 10,000-tun vessels provided by the Washington Treatv, they are nevertheless extremely formidable fighting ships. The secret of theii design is well kept. The Furutaka completed, is revealed as 7100 tons, a vessel of which is 2900 tons smaller than the British county class. She has a speed of 33 knots and is armed with six eight-inch guns, three twelve-pounder anti-aircraft guns, and 12 torpedo tubes, ft is the disposition of the heavy artillery that the Japanes designs have shown marked ingenuity. Contrary to text-book plans, the Furutaka’s six big guns are mounted on turrets, three on the fore deck and three astern. The second of each group is super-imposed for the purpose of obtaining end-on-fire; thus all will be able to fire a broadside and two, possibly three, to fire directly ahead or astern. This distribution minimises the risk of a few lucky shots silencing the whole batffry. The guns are mounted singly, and can develop more rapid fire than in pairs. These ships represent better value for the money than tile larger, more vulnerable, and more expensive 10,000-tonners which Britain and the other nations are building.—Sydney Sun Cable.