FUTURE OF CAPITAL SHIPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26216, 29 July 1946, Page 6

FUTURE OF CAPITAL SHIPS

DOOMED IN PRESENT FORM (From E. W. McAlpine, Australian Associated Press) BIKINI, July 26. Questioned about his views regarding the effect of the bomb, Admiral Blandy said it seemed to be a normal bomb of the Nagasaki type, and beyond that he refused to be drawn, saying: “We must not jump to conclusions. It may be months before we have an accurate estimate of the damage.” We sailed into the lagoon last night about 12 hours after the explosion, but the Appalachian was prepared to move out if the contamination area spread. Though the ships of the target array are still mostly riding on even keels, there is little doubt that if they had been manned the crews would have suffered serious radiological casualties apart from those killed by blast. “They would have been doomed men,” said Colonel Warren, radiological safety officer, “ though their immediate physical efficiency might not have been impaired and they would be able to sail the ships.”

It can now be taken that the atomic bomb will sink a capital ship with a near miss. Its blast will smash the superstructure and its fission products will kill the crew. From talking to many naval officers here there seems little doubt that navies as we now know them will be revolutionised.

The capital ship, with its great superstructure housing radio, radar, fire control and navigation control, is doomed.

Whether or not there will be evolved a submersible capital ship remains for the future, but it seems to me that speed will be one of the essentials of the navy of the future. It is probable that fleets will centre on an aircraft carrier with great speed housing aircraft to. carry atomic bombs, and that escorting ships will be much smaller.and more on speed boat lines. It is possible that these will be constructed so that a combination of them will function as a capital ship, but they must be able to disperse with terrific speed.