ITALY'S NAVY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19128, 24 September 1936, Page 9

ITALY'S NAVY

POWERFUL NEW SHIPS "THE WORLD'S BEST" LONDON. Aug. 15. The largest of the powerful ships nowbeing built for the Italian Navy arc the "35.CC0 tons sister battleships Littorio and Vittorio Veneto, which arc to be launched within the next six months, according to information which has now been disclosed by the naval correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph, Mr. 11. C. Bywater. Except in the calibre of their main armament they will, it is claimed, outclass all other battleships in existence, including the British Nelson and Rodney. The Littorio is 11C0 tons larger than H.M.S. Rodney, the greatest battleship now afloat, and will be armed with nine 15in. guns, as against nine 16in. guns in the British ship. Bui the Italian 15in. gun is a brand new model, which is claimed to be fully equal in range to the heavier gun, besides having a higher rate of lire.

Twelve 6in. guns form the secondary battery, as in the Rodney, but. the Italian ship's anti-aircraft armament is

far superior, consisting of 12 3.0i1), anil 20 machine-guns, mostly of flic pompom type. Four seaplanes arc to be carried. SPEED OVER. 30 KNOTS The Littorio and her sister will have a speed of well over 30 knots, whereas i iie Rodney's maximum is 2«5. Another striking feature is tlie immense radius of action, staled to b«. 15.000 miles. Armour, anti-aircraft, and undor-wntor protection are described as "the las! word." According to Admiral Qivagunri. the Deputy-Minister of Marine. tiic new ships ''represent to-day and for a long period the most powerful ships in the world'." The only British vessel which can be compared with the Littorio in speed and ■lighting power is Ii.M.S. Hood. 42.1C0 lons, which was launched 18 years ago. Of equal or greater technical interest. are Italy's new "rejuvenated" battleships Conic di favour and Giulio Cesare. which are shortly to be commissioned. As originally completed' in ISI4-15 they were twin vessels of 21,604 tons, with machinery of 31.000 It.p.. a speed of 22 knots, and a main armament of 13 12in. guns. They have now been entirely rebuilt, and in their new guise are much more powerful than before. | INCREASING SPEED i

Xew machinery of 75.000 h.p. has been installed, raising the speed to 27 knots. The new armament consists of 10 12.8 or 13in. guns in two triple and two double turrets. An auxiliary battery of 12 4.7 in.. eight 3.9 in.. and 20 heavy machine-guns is mounted, all these guns being capable of anti-aircraft firing. Both ships have been completely rearmoured against gunfire and bombs

and equipped with anti-torpedo protec lion.

As soon as thev are completed thev will replace the new battleships Andrea Doria and Caio Duilio, which will then be taken in band for similar reconstruction. Eventually, therefore. Italy will possess si.e battleships with speeds of 27 to 30 knols. constituting the fastest battle qnadron in existence.