WORLD’S WAR FLEETS

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 47

WORLD’S WAR FLEETS

E ELATITE STB ENGTHS. The changes which are occurring in the naval strength of the great maritime Powers, as a result of the Washington Treaty, are revealed in a White Paper issued last month. The return shows that the greatest number of battleships belong to the United States, under which country 31 vessels are entered as built, compared with 18 for Great Britain and 11 for Japan. Eight of the American ships, however, are to be scrapped under the Treaty, while five are shown as being dismantled; in the case of Japan five are to be scrapped under the Treaty, leaving the effective strength of the two countries at 18 and six respectively. The entries in respect of battleships in the case of the other Great Powers are: France, nine; Italy, 12 (the Minister of Marine having power to dispose of three); Russia, four; and Germany, eight. Britain and ihe United States are each shown to be building two battleships, while seven battleships in construction in America are to be scrapped under the Treaty. The. only other entries under the heading of “building” are those of Japan, where two vessels being built are to be scrapped and one for Russia, on which operations have been stopped. Britain and Japan are the only Powers having battle-cruisers, there being four in the British Navy and seven in the Japanese, including three which are to be scrapped. The four battle-cruisers under construction for the United States are to be scrapped, and two for the Japanese navy are to be converted into aircraft carriers. No other Power is building this class of vessel.

In the case of cruisers, of which none is now in course of conrfnution in any State, America possesses the greatest strength, 10 in all. France ranking next with six. There are three cruisers in the It!ian navy, two in that cf Britain. Russia owns one. and Japan and Germany are without. Britain is supreme in the ma ter of light cruisers, for, including six belonging to the dominions. there are 48 of this type of vessel in the British Navy, while four more are being built. With a fleet of 15, eight being built and six projected. Junan ranks second in light cruisers, followed ivy lialy, with 10 built and two projected. The United States have at present nine light cruisers, but 10 are under construction. Russia, whose navy does not include a vessel of this class, is reported lo be building eight, the figures in the case of France being five built and three building, and Germany two built, and one building. Only three countries at present include aircraft carriers in their navies, the British Empire possessing four and the United Slates and Japan one each. Two of these vessels are being built for the British Navy and two also for the American, while France is constructing one. Jajvan, as already stated, is converting two battlecruisers to the purpose. A great superiority in the matter of tor-pedo-boat destroyers is held by the United States, their destroyers outnumbering those in the British Navy by nearly two to one. The figures are : Building. Built. Great Britain (including 13 belonging to tho dominions) ... 4 pn United .States Japan as 72 Prance 12 SO Tta.lv 4 r, 2 Raskin ” 26 16 Germany _ ]6 Only two navies include torpedo-boats. Italy possesses 70, while four are being built, and Germany lias 15. The United States possesses the greatest number of submarines of any of the Powers, while considerable additions are still being made to their navy. The respective figures are: Building. Built. Great Britain 8 s 6 United states 27 104 France ];i 47 Russia 3 12 Germany (none built or building)