THE LARGEST AND MOST POWERFUL BATTLESHIP AFLOAT—H.M.S. NEPTINE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 20, 17 November 1909, Page 28

THE LARGEST AND MOST POWERFUL BATTLESHIP AFLOAT— H.M.S. NEPTINE.

The first-class battleship Neptune was launched at Portsmouth on September 30. the Duchess of Albany performing the naming and launching ceremonies. Nothing indicates better the character and extent of the present competition in naval armament than the fact that the Neptune, though she displaces 20.250 tons, is already outclassed in size and power m American and bv the most recent British ships now projected and under construction. The Neptune is 30 per cent more nowertul than the Dreadnought and has practically the same displacement as the recently launched German battleship Helgoland. In America, however all records are being passed; two great ships of 26.000 tons have been authorised this year, and now plans have been prepared for a leviathan of 30,000 tons, costing about £3,000.000.