A NEW ERA

Southland Times, Issue 22758, 7 December 1935, Page 7

A NEW ERA

BATTLESHIP BUILDING DETAILS OF GERMAN VESSELS LIGHTER GUN BATTERY (United Press Assn—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, December 6. Published on the eve of the Naval Conference, Jane’s Naval Review says that a new era in battleship construction has begun. It may be said to have opened with the laying down of the French battleship Dunkerque three years ago. A sister ship has since been commenced, and approval has also been given for the construction of two 35,000-ton vessels to match the Italian ships. Germany is building two 26,000-ton vessels to counterbalance the Dunkerque type. Giving the first authentic details of the new German battleships, Jane s says they are based on the experience of Jutland, when 11-inch guns put British ships out of action. Very heavy guns have been abandoned. They will mount nine 11-inch guns which are a lighter battery than those of the war-time battle-cruisers, such as the Seydlitz, carried on a displacement of 3000 tons less. Dwelling on the costliness of modern ships, Jane’s points out that a salvo of nine shells from the £7,500,000 Nelson’s 16-inch guns cost £7OO. The principal task of the conference will be to ensure that an armament race shall not start on the termination of the Washington and London treaties.