ITALY TO BUILD BIG CRUISERS
CONSTRUCTION OF 12 TO BEGIN SOON
FRENCH AND BRITISH SHIPS OUTCLASSED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received August 11, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, August 11. The Daily Telegraph says that Italy will shortly begin the construction of 12 light cruisers bearing the names of Roman emperors and warriors. The cruisers will be of 3600 tons and will have a speed of from 39 to 40 knots. Their armament will consist of 6in. guns or guns of a calibre of from 4.7 in. to 6in., in addition to anti-air-craft guns and torpedo tubes. The cruisers will be completed within 22 months.
These “exporatori,” or scouts, will eclipse the big French flotilla leaders and further outclass the British Tribal class destroyers. The Italian cruisers are the biggest of their type in the peace-time, programme o’ any Power.
The strengths of the six leading naval Powers was as follows on July 1, 1937: —
.6 •a m w s ft ra <u o § £ 3 i a Capital ships 15 15 9 6 4 6 Aircraft carriers ; G 3 4 1 — Cruisers 55 27 32 15 21 6 Destroyers 156 197 98 63 102 29 Submarines 53 83 57 77 79 36 TOTALS 285 325 200 159 206 77
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19380812.2.52
Bibliographic details
Southland Times, Issue 23585, 12 August 1938, Page 5
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207ITALY TO BUILD BIG CRUISERS Southland Times, Issue 23585, 12 August 1938, Page 5
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