NAVY OF BRITAIN.
STARTLING COMPARISONS. As America and Japan are aiming to reach the limits of the London Naval Treaty in their construction of ships, interest attaches to the latest fleet returns, which show the weakness of the Empire in destroyers similar to those which are to reach Australia before Christmas Compared with those of Japan, Britain’s flotilla leaders are ordinary destroyers, considerably below the treaty 'tonnage limit of 1850 tons, with 4.7 in. guns. America and Japan do not possess such ships. Japan, has 23 vessels of 1700 tons, mounting 6 sin. guns, and having eight torpedoes, in comparison with Britain’s latest flotilla leaders of 1400 tons, 4.7 in. guns, and eight torpedoes. A. further disquieting disclosure is that the latest British flotilla leader, tho Duncan, has fouj 4.7 in. guns, one 3in. gun and eight torpedoes, to compare with the new Japanese destroyers, with six sin. guns and nine torpedoes. In consequence of this weakness Britain is concentrating on the new convoy sloop type of vessel for trade route defence.
The British newspapers publish depressing accounts of the annual public inspection of the British fleet. Tlie Home fleet was distributed to home ports for the inspection. It includes battleships, aircraft-carriers, cruisers, destroyers and submarines. The newspapers emphasise the fleet’s contrast between its past glories and its growing obsolescence, as compared with modernised foreign navies. They further emphasise that, in the event of a conflict,- there would be difficulty in the Navy fulfilling its tasks because of its reduced numbers and the age of the ships. It is reiterated that Britain’s responsibilities demand adequate safeguards in the Seven Seas, but a major action in any one place would concentrate virtually the entire British Navy, leaving other territories unprotected.
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Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 263, 4 October 1933, Page 8
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289NAVY OF BRITAIN. Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 263, 4 October 1933, Page 8
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