THE DREADNOUGHT OUTOLABBED.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 11973, 17 September 1906, Page 4

THE DREADNOUGHT OUTOLABBED.

It is remarkable how rapidly ships become obsolete, but it is a little startling to be told, five months after the Dreadnought waa launched, that the supremacy of that monster of strength is already threatened. However, we are told this by Colonel Cuniberti, the chief constructor of the Italian navy, in an article contributed to the last issue (just published) of Mr F. T. Jane's "Fighting Ships." Now Colonel Cuniberti is the real designer of the Dreadnought^ for^ it was in his brain that the idea originated, three

years ago, of building a battleship 1 tons larger than the largest existing type, with ten 12-inch guns, protected by a complete belt of twelve inches of steel, and steaming 24 knots. The world laughed at him, but before long came the Dreadnought, which, although she fell fell short of his ideal, embodied some of his ideas. But now Colonel Cuniberti says the Dreadnought, in the light of the- lessons of the late war, is not the type best calculated to meet the demands of modern warfare. He now has a new ideal, a ship mounting eight 16-inch guns, firing projectiles of 18001 b. However, the demands of speed are such that he is content ' for the present with guns of 13.5-inch calibre, throwing a shell of 12501 b. The British 12-inch gun throws an 8501 b projectile. Moreover, all the guns of the new , ship are to be so arranged that they cap all be fired in the one broadside, whereas ' 20 per cent, of the Dreadnoughts' gunr cannot be so trained. Ahead, astern, and "' broadside on the new vessel will throw a > much greater weight of metal. The speed of the Dreadnought (estimated at 21 knots) will be exceeded by at least two and very probably three knots (says an English critic), and the protection to the waterline of the Italian ship will,)be thicker than that given to the Dreadnought, guns, would enable her to keep outside The greater speed of the "new ideal," combined with the longer range of her the danger zone of the Dreadnought^ 12inch weapons and sink her at a distance at which the latter's projectiles would ta powerless. In short, the Dreadnought iit to be outclassed. Work has already been ■ begun on the new vessels, which iB to be '1, as great an advance on the Dreadnought as the latter was on former vessels. It - iB indeed a strange position, especially' after the way din which we have prided ourselves on the lead we have given to the world. The Admiralty's next move will be awaited with interest. The writer we have quoted suggests that the Admiralty should adopt the plans Cuniberti has put aside temporarily, and astonish. the world with a leviathan mounting 16inch guns and throwing a shrell of 18001 b. Perhaps the imagination might picture the day when battleships will have reached such a size that the rival navies will each consist of one ship!