Since the end of World War II there has been a remarkably steady increase both in the number of warships under construction and in the number of nations engaged in building them. Ranging from rocket firing battleships and fleet aircraft carriers to small torpedo boats and survey ships, these vessels, when completed, will embody all the lessons learned during and after the recent war. These new ships, the first war vessels of the so-called “Atomic age” navy, will be the subject of much attention and discussion in the months to come, and it is for this reason that perhaps a summary of just how many and what kind of fighting ships are involved might not only be in order, but might, and should, also be of general interest.
Some of the vessels included in the summary are “left-overs” from the war program of the various nations; however, innovations and alterations of design, in order to incorporate wartime lessons, permit them to be classified as of partially, if not wholly, postwar construction. Therefore they are included. The summaries which follow are arranged alphabetically according to country and include, so far as is known, all vessels of war under construction at the present time.
Australia. The Royal Australian Navy, which up to 1939 had been accustomed to obtaining its vessels on transfer from the Royal Navy, during the war developed its yards to a degree that now permits of considerable activity. Now that the shipyards have been developed, Australia, remembering her close call in 1941/42, does not intend to keep them idle. In 1945/6 two destroyers, HMAS Anzac and Tobruk, were ordered from Australian-yards. Displacing 2,325 tons standard, these vessels duplicate the British Battle class design. Both have reached the launching stage. In 1947 four more destroyers were ordered from home yards. These vessels will displace 2,610 tons and will resemble the British Daring design. No names have as yet been released for these vessels. The primary armament of both classes will consist of 4.5-inch dual purpose guns, five in the Battles and six in the Darings.
Brazil. Six destroyers of British design are building at Rio de Janeiro. They have been under construction for some years now and should be due for completion soon. They are the Amazonas, Araguaia, Acre, Ajuricaba, Apa and Araguari. They displace 1,376 tons standard and carry 4 4.7-inch guns as their primary armament.
Canada. The construction of three escort vessels of unspecified type together with the construction of one icebreaker resembling the United States Eastwind class has been authorized by the Dominion Government.
Denmark. The Royal Danish Navy, hard hit by. the recent war, has begun a rebuilding program. Thus far a number of warships have been acquired from other nations and a number of torpedo boats and submarines built or refitted. New construction consists of six 329 ton torpedo boats Hammer, Holm, Krieger, Krabbe, Bille and Buhl. Carrying 2 3.5-inch guns as primary armament, these vessels have all been launched and several, if not all, will have been completed by June 1949.
England. The Royal Navy, pressed for funds, has had an extremely difficult four years. Steady and drastic curtailments of monies both for ships and personnel have caused it to shrink to but a shadow of its former self. Nevertheless progress has been made and it has been decided to complete a good number of the war program vessels which it was feared might be cancelled. This decision provides Britain with a considerable building program which, while not entirely to the satisfaction of the navy-conscious public, represents definite progress.
First and foremost among the fighting ships under construction in England today are the two 33,000-ton fleet carriers Eagle and Ark Royal. Both vessels have reached the launching stage but the date of their completion is uncertain, though present plans call for the Eagle to complete this year. Next in line are the four 18,300-ton carriers Bulwark, Albion, Hermes and Centaur. These vessels too have reached the launching stage and their dates of completion are also not known. Under construction also are four of the six carriers of the Majestic class. They include, besides the name ship of the class, the Hercules, Powerful and Leviathan. Two of this class, the Sydney (ex Terrible) and Magnificent, have been completed and are serving in the Australian and Canadian navies respectively. All four have been launched and should be completed in a year or two. One will be transferred to the Royal Australian Navy and will be renamed Melbourne. They are of 14,000-ton standard displacement.
Three cruisers, Blake, Defense, and Tiger, are also building in Britain. All have been launched and, while their completion date is uncertain pending a brightening of the financial horizon, work is being continued on their equipment. These cruisers are listed as members of the Superb class, displace 8,000 tons and will carry 9 6-inch rifles as primary armament. It is more than possible that on completion, these ships will differ slightly from the Superb.
Eight destroyers of the Daring class round out Britain’s construction program. Of 2,610 tons standard displacement these vessels will carry 6 4.5-inch dual purpose guns and 10 21-inch torpedo tubes. One, the Decoy, was launched on March 26, 1949 and the others should shortly follow. The class, besides the Daring, includes the Diamond, Delight, Defender, Decoy, Duchess, Dainty and Diana. These names duplicate the “D” flotilla built in the early 1930’s.
It has been recently announced that work on the magnetic survey vessel, HMS Research, has been temporarily suspended. No further particulars are available at this time.
Finland. One icebreaker, the Into, is reportedly under construction. No further particulars are available.
France. The French fleet suffered cruelly during the war. Riddled by the forces of both Axis and Allies, the rehabilitation of the once powerful French Navy is being made doubly difficult by an awkward national economy. However some progress has been made. A new 16,000-ton aircraft carrier has been authorized. This ship, to be named Clemenceau, will carry about 50 aircraft, have a speed of 32 knots and will utilize as much of the machinery ordered for the carrier Jo fire, which was destroyed on the stocks, during the war, as possible. No completion date has been set.
The cruiser De Grasse, of 8,000 tons displacement, which was laid down just prior to the outbreak of war, will also be completed when funds can be found. The vessel is close to 50% complete at the moment. The design has been altered to conform to lessons learned in the war, and when completed she will mount 9 6-inch rifles as primary armament.
Four submarines complete the French construction program. Work on these vessels, ordered in 1937 and 1938, was suspended during the war but the ships have now been taken in hand for completion. One, the La Creole, was towed to England during the war but is being returned to its yard for completion. Displacing 910 tons on the surface, these submarines, the La Creole, L’Africaine, Andromede and Astree, will carry 10 21.7-inch torpedo tubes and will incorporate several changes in the original design.
The appropriation for 1949 includes provisions for three escort vessels and three river gunboats. Particulars on these vessels are not as yet available.
Netherlands. The Royal Netherlands Navy, also severely crippled by wartime attrition, has made great strides on the road to recovery. Indeed, when the present construction programs are completed in 1952, Holland will have a far stronger fleet than she possessed before the war. One important change has occurred in naval thinking in Holland which is worthy of note. It is just this, that Holland appears to be assembling a homogeneous collection of fighting ships to be organized into a complete task force, rather than building vessels for both colonial and home service as was her pre-war policy. This will enable the Netherlands to make a unit contribution to the forces of her Allies in the event of another war.
To this end construction of two cruisers, abandoned during the war, has been resumed. These two vessels, displacing 8,500 tons, the De Zeven Provincial and De Ruyter, are scheduled for completion in 1950. Considerable alterations in original design have occurred in order to incorporate war-learned lessons. Both are approaching the launching stage and upon completion will mount 8 6- rifles in four twin mounts.
In 1948 six 2,097-ton destroyers were ordered. They are scheduled for completion in 1952 and will mount 4 4.7-inch guns as principle armament and have a top speed of 32 knots.
It is believed that the 1949 program also included provisions for six destroyers, possibly of the same design. These six ships are scheduled for completion in 1954.
Eight submarines are also on order, to be completed in 1954. No details have been released on these vessels but it is presumed that they will incorporate the high underwater speed characteristics of the latest United States, Russian and German submarines.
A 10,000-ton repair ship will be laid down in 1949 to replace the Vulkaan now on loan from the British Navy. Three survey vessels, two of 1,275 tons and one of 368 tons, have also been ordered. These auxiliaries conclude the summary of the Dutch Naval programs which are, proportionately, at least, the most ambitious in the world.
Norway. One destroyer, the 1,220-ton Aalesund, is being completed at Horten. Badly damaged during the war, while incomplete, she has been considerably redesigned. The Aalesund should be completed in the very near future. The ship was laid down in 1939.
Russia. The Soviet Union, in naval matters, as in every other question, remains an enigma. All one receives from behind the Iron Curtain is rumors, rumors and yet more rumors—all of them evil. There is considerable evidence that tremendous naval activity is taking place in Russian and captured German yards, but as to' what kind of activity no one knows very much. Certain items have come through from time to time, however, and they shall be repeated here for whatever value and interest they may have.
One of the most dramatic and interesting reports to be published concerning the Soviet Navy appeared in the February 26, 1949 issue of the Sphere. The report, stated as emanating from the International News Service correspondent in Stockholm, describes the existence of certainly one and very likely two, new rocket firing battleships. Of even more interest was a sketch of the new ship or ships. In this sketch the armament of the giant warships is shown as 6 16- inch rifles mounted in two triple turrets in “A” and “Y” positions and two rocket-launching turrets resembling giant telescope observatories in “B” and “X” positions. The displacement is reported at about 42,000 tons standard. This report, strangely enough, coincides with a report published in the British Navy League Magazine, The Navy, about two and a half years ago, which reported the launching at Leningrad of a 40,000-ton Soviet battleship. The occasion of the report was, I believe, a review of Mr. Le Masson’s latest edition of Floites de Combat, which made mention of the fact. Both of these vessels were built at Leningrad. One is reportedly named Sovietzei-Soyuz, the other name is not known.
If the above is true, and it very well may be, it indicates two extremely important things.
1) Russia very likely is ahead of the United States in experimenting with rocket firing warships, and,
2) The battleship may not be as defunct and obsolete as is now pretty generally believed.
Whether or not the report is accurate only time will tell.
Concerning other Russian construction, it is generally believed that at least three light cruisers are building. They are members of the Kirov class and their names are reported as Chapev, Chekalov and Zheleznyakov. Of 8,800 tons they will mount 9 7.1-inch rifles if and when completed.
The 25,000-ton ex-German aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin and the 15,000-ton ex-German heavy cruiser Seydlilz, now Poltava, captured incomplete and' in somewhat disheveled condition, are being completed in the Baltic.
Six destroyers are also said to be under construction. Designated the Opasni class and including, besides, the Obraztsov, Otvashni, Ognevoi, Otliglini and Ozarnoi, these vessels are reported as displacing better than 2,000 tons standard. No other particulars have been released.
In the matter of submarine construction Russia is particularly enigmatic. Inasmuch as there has been considerable discussion on the subject already, it will suffice here to merely record the various numbers reported as being under construction in the Soviet and German yards. One report has it that 100 is the total, another has it that 250 is the total while yet a third puts the figure at 1,000 to be completed by 1952. Whichever one is the accurate account, it is evident that the number being built must be considerable and represents a definite threat. Almost all are reported to be of improved German design.
Spain. Franco’s fleet suffered rather severe losses during the civil war of ten years ago, losses that have not as yet been replaced. In the meantime most of the surviving units of the Spanish Navy have become obsolete. This has led to a not inconsiderable building and refitting program being undertaken with a view to modernizing the Spanish fleet, as far as is possible.
The most important vessels under construction are the nine destroyers of the Oquendo class. Including, besides the name- ship of the class, the Garay, de Lezo, Bonifaz, Gelmirez, Langara, de la Ensenada, Recalde and de Lauria, this class will displace 2,050 tons standard and will mount 8 4.1- inch as main armament. All are to be constructed at Ferrol and were to be laid down in 1948.
Two additional destroyers, ordered in 1936, the Alava and Liniers, are also building. Delayed by the Civil War, their construction was finally begun in earnest in 1944. Both should be completed shortly. They will displace 1,650 tons and will carry 4 4.7-inch and 6 21-inch torpedo tubes.
Nine 1,010-ton torpedo boats, the Ariete, Atrevido, Audaz, Furor, Intrepido, Osado, Rayo, Relampago and Temerario are also under construction at Ferrol. Six were laid down in 1945. Three will be begun later. Mounting 3 4.1-inch guns and 6 21-inch torpedo tubes, these vessels will have a rated speed of 33 knots.
Six submarines were ordered in 1948. Numbered G-l to G-6, these undersea boats will have a surface displacement of 650 tons and should be laid down shortly.
Seven 600-ton minesweepers round out the Spanish construction program. Ordered in 1947, nothing further is known concerning these vessels. All in all, the program is an extremely ambitious one and is one calculated to greatly strengthen the Spanish Navy.
Sweden. The Royal Swedish Navy, continuing its tradition of building a few warships at a time but building them often, has just completed two light cruisers of the Tre Kronor class and two destroyers of the Oland class. New construction consists of two more Oland class destroyers. These destroyers will be of 1,800-ton standard displacement, will carry 8 4.7-inch guns and will have a speed of better than 35 knots. They were scheduled to be laid down in 1948 but no confirmation of this is available.
United States. As befits the-United States’ position as the greatest nation in the world, the naval construction program undertaken by our country is the largest and most varied of all. Paradoxically enough this considerable program has been achieved in the face of the most difficult opposition confronting the navy of any nation in the world.
Of the war program vessels still under construction the largest and possibly, eventually, the most important, is the 45,000-ton battleship Kentucky. Originally ordered as a sister ship of the Iowas, construction has been temporarily suspended pending the completion of plans for converting her into a rocket-firing warship. Work on the Kentucky will continue until she has reached the launching stage whereupon she will be floated free of her building dock and will be laid up until experimentation with rocket firing vessels has arrived at the point where it will be worth while completing her.
In the same category as the Kentucky, and for the same reasons, is the ex-Battle Cruiser Hawai. Of 27,000 tons the Hawai was originally one of the Alaskas. She was launched on March 11, 1945.
Another large war program vessel, now completed, is the 27,100 ton Essex class carrier Oriskany. Launched on October 13, 1945 her completion was delayed while the design was modified. Principle change concerns the strengthening of the flight deck in order to accommodate larger and heavier aircraft. Scheduled date of completion was January 1, 1950, but the work was not finished until this past summer.
Five cruisers, all of them completed, remain from the war program. Three of these, the 17,000 ton Salem, Newport News and Des Moines are survivors of the Dallas class of heavy cruisers of which, originally, there were to have been 8 units. These ships, at least two of them air conditioned, are especially interesting because of their improved armaments. All possess 9 8-inch rifles which are described as automatic, firing as they do fixed ammunition which enables them to triple the ordinary rate of fire. These ships are the largest heavy cruisers ever constructed, their displacement equalling that of the famous HMS Dreadnought.
Two 14,000-ton light cruisers, the Roanoke and Worcester, have recently been commissioned. Of improved design, these vessels are the most modern of their type in the world. Mounting 12 6-inch guns in six twin turrets, they are capable of a speed of 33 knots. Unfortunately a number of vessels of this class were cancelled at the end of the war.
One other cruiser also remains from the War Program, this the Northampton. Initially ordered as one of the heavy Baltimores, the contract for her construction was cancelled at the conclusion of the war. However, she was re-ordered in 1947 and will be completed as a Command ship, CLC-1. This will doubtless involve a reduction of armament and an increase of space devoted to communications and accommodations. Armament reportedly will consist of 6-inch guns. No completion date has as yet been announced though the ship is better than 50% complete.
Several destroyers and submarines complete the war program, though most of them are being completed to new design. In this category fall the 2,400-ton destroyers (recently commissioned) Basilone, Epperson, Carpenter and Robert A. Owens. As completed, two will be high speed destroyer escorts and two will be “hunter killer” vessels. Modifications will result in slightly larger displacements. Another destroyer, the Timmerman, is likewise completing to a new design, not as yet revealed.
All submarines of the war program which are completing will be of the new Guppy design. Equipped with new engines, schnorkels and other post-war features, they will be the fastest and most modern undersea vessels in the fleet. The Pickerel and Volador have already been completed while three, the Tiru, Grenadier and Grampus, will follow shortly.
Several vessels on which construction has been suspended but which are still considered as under construction remain. This group is made up of seven destroyers, two destroyer escorts and two submarines. It is possible that eventually they will complete to a new design.
Of vessels on the building program the largest are the two anti-submarine cruisers. Expected to displace about 6,000 tons standard, these ships were authorized in 1947 and 1948. One will be named Norfolk, the name of the other has not been announced. No other details have been announced.
Four Mitscher class destroyers are also included in the program. Displacement on these ships may reach the 3,000 ton mark, which will make them the largest destroyers in the Navy. Besides the Mitscher the names selected are McKain, Wilkinson and Lee. No further specifications have been revealed.
Nine submarines are building. Six of these will be of the 2,000-ton Tang class while three will be smaller anti-submarine craft. They will embody all the latest improvements and will have an extremely high under-water speed. Names have been released on four of the six 2,000-ton boats—Tang, Trigger, Wahoo and Trout, and on the three anti-sub vessels—K-1, K-2 and K-3. Nothing further in the way of information is available.
Four PT boats complete the “new” construction list. They are the PT-809-812. They were ordered in 1946 from the Electric Boat Company.