RADIO CONTROL

Southland Times, Issue 20613, 11 October 1928, Page 7

RADIO CONTROL

GUNNERY TARGET BATTLESHIP WITHOUT A CREW USE IN BATTLE PRACTICE (United Press Assn. —By Telegraph—Copyright.) Rugby, October 9. Inspection was permitted yesterday at Cromarty Firth, of H.M.S. Centurion, formerly one of the finest super-dreadnoughts in the Navy, but now serving as a target ship for the Atlantic and Mediterranean fleets. Although she appears to be but a useless hulk and is completely disarmed, she is capable under radio control, without a single man aboard her, of travelling at 16 knots, starting, stopping, and turning as desired and in every way simulating the manoeuvres of a fully-manned battleship. The wireless controls not only manoeuvre her steering, but also her steam valves as required and regulate her oil fuel. The Centurion has been severely battered in gunnery practice, but owing to the system of protection adopted when the vessel was put to its present use her vital parts remain intact and an almost impregnable belt of steel protects her for several feet above the water line. Her crews forsake her at the last moment before the practice begins and are then accommodated in the old destroyer Shikari. When her duties as a target ship are temporarily over the crew re-board the Centurion and the work of repairing their quarters begins. Every part of the vessel bears evidence of merciless bombardments, for when the fleet makes mimic war the Centurion is victimized twice in a week.—British Official Wireless.