STRONGER THAN EVER

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22478, 13 January 1943, Page 5

STRONGER THAN EVER

The Royal Navy

Losses More Than Made Up N.Z.P.A.—Special Australian Correspondent (6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 11. The Royal Navy is stronger than ever, says the Naval correspondent of the "Sunday Express.” He states that the losses in practically every category of fighting ship have been either replaced or exceeded by the new vessels. The Navy began the war with 15 capital ships—battleships and battlecruisers—the design of all which, except the Nelson and Rodney, dated from the last war or even earlier. Ine losses total five, but replacements comprise five of the King George V. class, only one of which has been sunk. Britain started with seven aircra.tcarriers, of which only the Ark Royal was up to date. We lost five, including the Ark Royal, but commissioned the Illustrious, Victorious, Formidable and Indomitable, of 23,000 tons, all of which are of greater value than the five which were sunk. We are also using a number of auxiliary cruisers. In cruisers the losses total 25 of an initial 64, of which six were small, having been built in 1916-18, but at least eight, probably four, more of the 8000-ton Mauritius class and nine cf the Dido class have been built. Losses of destroyers total 92, but there was the addition of 16 of the Lightning class, 14 of the Javelin class, and 20 of tl.e Hunt class building or completing at the outbreak of the war. There were also published the names of an additional 60 new Hunts, also 32 of Onslow, Pakenham, Queenborough and Rotheram groups, some of which were delivered. Six destroyers which were being built for Brazil were acquired, while the Royal Australian and Royal Canadian Navies have 14 Tribals between them. Including the 50 American destroyers, the correspondent estimates that the present total of destroyers is hardly less than 280, possibly 300.

Submarines at the outbreak of war totalled 60, and losses total 44, including 17 not in service in September, 1939. Particulars of the additions are not available, but there are probably more than 50 new submarines.

Corvettes, minesweepers, sloops, trawlers and coastal motorcraft of every description has been built in hundreds.