GERMAN MYSTERY SHIP

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16838, 29 December 1928, Page 5

GERMAN MYSTERY SHIP

MOST REMARKABLE AFLOAT FORMIDABLE ARMAMENTS (Australian and N.Z AssociatioD.i LONDON, Dec. 28. A complete description from official sources of the German mystery ship, the .so-called "Pocket Battleship," is now first published in the Daily Telegraph:'. It says:— Tho new 10,000-ton ship laid down at Kiel' ivill be the most remarkable warship afloat. No other will have such a large cruising radius at high speed. She will carry enough oil to drive the ship KIjOOO nautical miles at a speed of 20 knots, and could probably at a lower speed cruise from Germany to China o.a one load of fuel. The Ersatz Prcussen, as she is provisionally designated, though probably sho will be named after Admiral von Scheer, will be driven at 26 knots by twin sets of Diesel motor's, developing 50,000 horse-power. These engines, which are being built at Nuremburg, are of novel design, but the strictest secrecy is maintained. It is known, however, that a feature is the extraordinary lightness of tho engines. In the construction , of the hull supergrade steel is utilised with the adoption of electric welding instead of rivets.

The guns are most formidable, and include six ■'. 11-in. guns firing 6701 b. projectiles. The range is 30,000 yards. It is evident that the Ersatz Proussen has been built for service only in the Baltic and the North Sea. The great cruising radius, in Germany's absence of overseas bases, constitutes an important strategical advantage, because the vessel will be fast enough to escape any capital ship except a battle cruiser, and strong enough to overpower any type of warship below the dreadnought standard. The estimated cost is $4,000,000, due to superfine quality throughout. Three similar ships will follow. •