NAVY LOSSES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 57, 9 March 1946, Page 5

NAVY LOSSES

REVEALED IN HOUSE OF COMMONS DESTRUCTION OF U-BOATS BY ALLIED FORCES

Recd. 6 p.m. London, March 7. The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. A. V. Alexander, moving the Navy estimates in the House of Commons, emphasised that the war at sea began on the first night of the war with the sinking of the Athenia. Twenty-seven British merchantmen, totalling 131,001 tons, were destroyed in the first fortnight.

A total of 996 German, Italian and Japanese commissioned U-boats were destroyed during the war, of which 600 were destroyed by the Britisn forces and Allied forces under British control. Of the 1174 U-boats which the Germans commissioned after they began rebuilding their fleet before the war 781 were destroyed. The intensity of the U-boat concentrations against. Britain was illustrated by the fact that nearly one-third of the U-boats sunk throughout the world were destroyed within 500 miles of Britain.

Nearly 51,000 members of the Royal Navy, excluding those from the Dominions and Royal Marines, were killed or posted missing during the war. This was over 20,000 more than the number killed in the 1914-18 war. Awards to naval personnel included 23 Victoria Crosses and 19 George Crosses. 328 WARSHIPS LOST Ship losses totalled 328, including three battleships and two battle cruisers, comprising one-third of the pre-war capital ship strength, five fleet carriers, 23 cruisers, 134 destroyers, and 77 submarines.

Mr. Alexander said it was planned to reduce the navy personnel from 778,000 when the European war ended to 200,000 by the end of 1946. The building of 727 vessels had been cancelled since V.E. Day, giving a net saving of £125,000,000. New construction continuing comprised mainly larger vessels or new types, such as light fleet carriers for the post-war fleet.

There were £64,000.000 worth of cancellations before VE Day. Only one battleship, the Vanguard, was under construction. She was of 42,500 tons and carried eight 15in. guns. The estimated cost was £9.000,000, excluding the cost of mounting the guns. It was decided early in the year not to oroceed with the building of four other battleships provided in the 1938-39 programmes. The risk was that the navy’s efficiency might be lowered by attempting too great a reduction in 100 short a time, but he believed Jt could survive successfully, even with the rapid reduction going on. Mr. Alexander said the Admiralty intended to devote a considerably larger proportion of navy votes to scientific research end development than before the war. The experience of war and scientific developments would no doubt affect future fleets and sums wisely soent on research and develonment might save larger sums which might be spent in making war~hins a weapon of an ineffective or inrei’inr kind.

The Government had adopted the Admiralty and Transport Ministry proposals to set up nn advisory committee on matters affecting the efficiency and stability of the shipbuilding industry. including the safeguarding of its war potential. EFFECT OF ATOM BOMB

“Wo do not yet know the limit of the atom bomb’s effectiveness against ships at sea, and the result of the forthcoming tests may lead to big changes in methods of naval defence and the form of ships, but it is premature t-o attempt to say what changes may be,” he added. “There are very strong reasons for refusing to act now as though the possibility of atomic energy destroying the need for navies is a certainty. Possible means of defence have yet to be devised and applied to this new weapon. It may tax the resources of defence more than any weapon previously known, but the powerful defence in the past provided against any weapon which at first seemed invincible.” DEPENDENCE ON SEA

Mr. Alexander, after referring to Britain’s dependence on sea communications, said: “If we ever neglect the security of our communications, we should be at an aggressor’s mercy. He would not need to incur the hazards of using atom bombs. He could simply, surely and swiftly destroy us by cutting our r.ea arteries. We hope we will never again have to engage in the struggle for liberty, but wo must be able and ready to play a full part within the United Nations for maintaining peace, and if necessary defend ourselves. ’ We must never again dare to risk unpreparedness. We may hope the United Nations will become so trusted that the forces required for its support may be steadily reducible, but meanwhile the House of Commons owes the Navy a duty of vigilance now and in the years to come, so that we may never again bo unprepared.’’ Mr. Alexander, paying a tribute to Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, said: “His overall hand guided the Navy through years of the greatest peril. He was complete master of his profession. He weighed dangers and possibilities with a sure touch and laid plans which brought us from the extremity of peril to the threshold of victory. May we never cease to. honour his name.”

Referring to Lord Cunningham, Mr. Alexander said: ‘He was endowed with a touch of magic which enabled our greatest admirals to enthuse the forces under their command. He is the greatest sea captain since Nelson. ’