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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Consideration of the Navy Department's new building pro- gramme was completed by the Naval Affairs Committee on 28th February, when Mr. Butler, the Chairman of the Committee introduced a bill to authorise the construction of certain naval vessels and for other purposes."
The measure represents a very considerable reduction on the original proposals, the cost being $274,000,000 as against $740,000,000. No provision is made for flotilla leaders and submarines, and 10 cruisers and 4 aircraft carriers have been dropped.
The first section is as follows:-
The President of the United States is hereby authorised to undertake, prior to 1st July, 1931, the construction of 15 light cruisers and one aircraft-carrier, according to the following programme :-
(a) Five light cruisers during each of the fiscal years ending 30th June, 1929, 1930, and 1931, the cost, including armour and armament, not to exceed $17,000,000 (£3,400,000) each.
(b) One aircraft carrier prior to 30th June, 1930, the cost, including armour and armament, not to exceed $19,000,000 (£3,800,000).
Provided that, if the construction of any vessel herein authorised to be undertaken in the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1929 or 1930, is not undertaken in that fiscal year, such construction may be undertaken in the next succeeding fiscal year.
It will be noticed that no time is given for the completion of these vessels. A proposed limit of six years was removed just before presentation of the bill.
There is a clause which empowers the President to suspend construction in the event of an international agreement for the further limitation of armaments. It is possible that this provision may be extended to include a naval conference, which the present wording definitely excludes.
New Aircraft Carriers proposed by Navy Department. The hearings before the House Naval Committee disclosed some difference of opinion in the Navy Department as to the policy to be adopted for the construction of the proposed new aircraft carriers. It will be remembered that in the original programme announced by the Secretary of the Navy there was provision for one carrier to be laid down each year for the next five years. The evidence of the Assistant Secretary for Aeronautics showed, however, that he was in favour of laying down three carriers in the next eighteen months, their construction being expedited as much as possible in order that the fleet might have the benefit of their use during manoeuvres. He pointed out that
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aircraft carriers had only been in use in the U.S, Navy for a few years and had never taken part in a fleet action. Their tactical use had never been properly studied in the courses at the War College and additional experience of their operation with the fleet was essential.
The Assistant Secretary further explained that it was necessary to have mobile bases so that an aircraft could fly from carrier to carrier and thus avoid the necessity of returning to the carrier from which it flew. This, he said, was an additional reason why the carriers should be built as soon as possible, in order that the air personnel might have the necessary training.
Admiral Beuret, Head of the Construction Department, preferred to adhere to the original proposal on the ground that the interval of one year between the laying down of each vessel would permit such detailed changes in construction as study and the rapid development of aircraft might show to be necessary, although it was not contemplated to make general changes in design in that period "unless something radical came up.'
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The Committee had been informed that there was no limitation in the Washington Treaty which precluded the building of as many aircraft carriers under 10,000 tons as the United States might desire, and it was suggested that one vessel should be built for experimental purposes. Admiral Beuret was not in favour of this, as he considered it impossible to meet operational requirements with so small a tonnage. His bureau had worked out preliminary plans for the new carriers on the basis of a minimum tonnage of 13,800 tons, with a length of 750 ft. and a speed of 29 knots. He described the vessels as "undoubtedly experimental" and mentioned in particular the problems of dimensions, speed and smoke disposal. It had been decided that accommodation was required for 75 to 80 planes and this could only be done within the tonnage of 13,800 by reducing the weight of ordnance and machinery. Whether the speed of 29 knots would prove sufficient for fleet operations was a military question which could only be decided by experience. The carriers would be fitted with A.A. guns but would carry no 6 in. guns, their defence against surface craft being furnished by their own planes.
In discussing the question of A.A. guns Admiral Beuret explained that the use of guns similar to those of the Army was not practic- able. In the case of a Naval vessel the plane is nearly always attacking the battery since it is coming towards the ship, while in the Army the attacking plane may, and usually will be, at a much greater distance from the battery.
Rear Admiral Moffett, Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, stated that the projected aircraft carriers would need 375 operating planes and that an additional 100 planes would be required for the 25 cruisers, four to each vessel. Allowing a reserve of 50 per cent. and some additional craft for training, the total increase would be 759 aircraft in all types in addition to the thousand planes already provided in the five year air
programme.
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