THE BRITISH NAVY

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20853, 11 July 1939, Page 7

THE BRITISH NAVY

BATTLESHIP PROGRAMME CONSTRUCTION SLOW OTHER POWERS ACTIVE * (United Press Assn.— Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, July 9 Tiie slow rate at which Britain's battleship-building programme is progressing is indicated by the announcement that the 35,000-ton battleship Lion was laid down at tiie Vickers Armstrong's yard yesterday, although she was authorised in March. 1935. Although Parliament authorised the building uf nine battleships, only six are at present actually being built. It is understood on good authority that the delay is not due to lack of accommodation for the building of hulls, hut to the slow production of special armour for the new battleships, which can be made by only a few manufacturers throughout the world. The slow rate at which Britain is laying down capital ships inevitably postpones the time when the proposed new battle fleet will be able to make its power felt. Italy, Germany and Japan are believed to be together actually building 11 or 12 36,000-ton ships, and Britain and Franoe together nine. Britain has actually launched two. Germany two, Italy two, France one, and the United States nil. Every Japanese naval shipyard is occupied to its lull capacity with work on new warships, including capital ships, but it is very difficult to ascertain the categories and numbers of ships under construction. New German Cruisers Information regarding Germany’s existing or projected construction is much more accurate, the full programme to April 28, 1938, being known to the British Admiralty. Germany, until the denunciation of the London Naval Treaty, faithfully observed the clause regarding the passing on of information. if, by the denunciation, she intends to exceed the 8000-ton cruisers with 0.1 inch guns, Britain will invoke the escalator clause and lay down 10.000ton vessels, with Sin. guns, which type she is anxious to avoid resuming because of the cost. Britain prefers smaller cruisers, of which she is building large numbers. Germany’s capacity of normal construction is somewhat limited by the number of slips, but she is producing large quantities of high-efficiency naval guns, the steel for which received a fairly high priority over other armament steel. The Soviet Navy The naval correspondent of the Amsterdam newspaper, Algemeen Handelsblad. gives details of additions to the Russian Navy. Two Buoo-ton cruisers have six 7.2in. guns, six torpedo tubes, two or three aeroplanes and a speed of 35 knots. There are nine new high-speed 2800ton flotilla leaders and 130 motor torpedo boats. The submarines include 61 in the 900 to 1200-ton class, 45 of COO tons and 40 of 200 tons. Thirty submarines, a number of large aircraft-carriers and one battleship are being constructed. To Be Speeded Up The naval writer of the Daily Express says that the British submarine building programme will be speeded up. Six submarines now building will be compleled before tiie end of the year and seven more are following in 1940. Four others of new design are planned.