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protection. British vessels, after the " Weymouth " class, were protected by side plating of 3-in. total thickness, the German ves- sels having less or no side protection, but with decks of i-in. or 2-in. thickness. A number of light cruisers were under construc- tion at the Armistice. The " Coin " is typical of them. On a water- line length of 489 ft. and displacement of 5,600 tons, she was to have carried 8 s-g-in. guns (five of which could be fired on the broad- side), 3 32-in. H.A. guns and 4 revolving 23-6-in. torpedo tubes. Turbine engines of 29,000 S.H.P. were to have been provided for a speed of 27^ knots. The protection consisted of about 2j-in. side and j-in. deck.

Four of the German light cruisers were incorporated, with new names, in the French navy, and three in the Italian navy.

Austria. In 1910 the light cruiser " Admiral Spaun " was com- pleted and in 1914 three similar but slightly improved vessels. These were of 3,500 tons, 27 knots, and mounted 9 3'9-in. guns. Two of these vessels were taken into the Italian navy, and one into the French navy, all with new names.

Italy. Six small light cruisers were completed between 1912 and 1916. The most interesting were the " Quarto " class (three ves- sels), of 3,400 tons and 28 knots, carrying 6 4'7-in. and 6 3-in. guns (see fig. 43).

Russia.. At the outbreak of the World War two small light cruisers, which were taken over by Germany, were under construc- tion in German yards. One is now in the French navy, and the other was lost at Jutland. Eight light cruisers of a larger and more pow- erful type were under construction in Russia, but were not com- pleted. They were designed to be 520 ft. long, of 7,600 tons dis- placement, armed with 15 5-in. guns, and, with turbines of 55,000 H.P. a speed of 30 knots was expected.

Holland. Two light cruisers of 7,000 tons and 30 knots, with 10 5-9-in. guns, were under construction for a long time, but had not yet been completed in 1921.

Spain. A light cruiser of 5,600 tons, generally similar to the British " Birmingham," was being completed in 1921, and others of this class were projected.

France. Six light cruisers of 5,000 tons, 30 knots speed and 8 5-5- in. guns, were projected in the 1920 programme.

Torpedo-Boats and Submarines

Specifications of the torpedo-boats and flotilla leaders and sub- marines of foreign navies are given in Tables IX. and X., and the reader is referred to the Transactions of the Institute of Naval A rchi- tects, 1920, for further information.

(3) MERCHANT SHIPS

The ordinary course of mercantile shipbuilding development, which continued from 1910 until the autumn of 1914, was

abruptly checked by the World War. As the result, merchant shipbuilding was practically stopped in France, Germany, Italy and Austria, and it was very much reduced in the United Kingdom owing to men joining the colours. At the same time a great fillip was given to shipbuilding in the United States and neutral countries. In England many of the best ships building were requisitioned and fitted out for war services, or for auxil- iary services with the fleet. Large numbers of vessels were also withdrawn from the mercantile fleet for similar purposes, and this, together with the great losses due to submarines, very quickly created great demands for new ships. Shipbuilding resources were developed with great rapidity all over the world, leading up to: (i) a vastly increased output; (2) new types of vessels which could be constructed quickly; (3) development of new methods of construction. At the same time a vast increase took place in the plant of all kinds for the manufacture of armament, etc. The services rendered by the mercantile marine during the war were invaluable (see SHIPPING), while, broadly speaking, the ships themselves stood the brunt of war with very remarkable success. In some cases, however, large pas- senger ships were quickly sunk because of the existence of passages, or doors in bulkheads, which permitted the sea to find access to compartments other than those directly damaged, thus leading to the foundering of the vessels. This caused renewed attention to be given in all maritime countries to matters of life-saving and subdivision.

Many very notable vessels were lost. Some of the best known are shown in Table XI. Among these losses, the " Britannic " and " Justicia " (formerly " Statendam ") were the largest vessels building in the United Kingdom in 1014.

After the war the German ships which had been seized or interned were distributed among the Allies. Germany also had to surrender all ships above 1,600 tons afloat or on the stocks, many smaller ones, floating docks, cranes, and other craft, amounting to about 3,000,000 tons. These were divided chiefly between Britain and the United States, with smaller shares to France and Japan. She also had to undertake to build 1,000,000 tons for the Allies if required, but this was not enforced. Table 12 gives the names of some of the most noteworthy vessels thus distributed.

TABLE IX. Torpedo-Boats and Flotilla Leaders.

Navy

Date of Launch

Length Ft.

Dis- place- ment Tons

Horse- Power

Speed Knots

Armament

Chile

1912

320

1, 800

30,000

31

2 4-7 in. 2 4 in.

4 21 in. T. T.

France <

1914 1917

269 272

880 675

17,000 10,000

3 29

2 3-9 in. 4 18 in. T. T.

I 4-7 in. 43 in. 418 in. T. T.

Italy. .

TQT-Z

2l8

77O

18,000

W

4 4 in.

418 in. T. T.

Japan ........ .

IQl6

-1*6

I ^OO

08 OOO

\A.

3 4-7 in.

6 21 in. T. T.

United States

1917

314

1,200

27,000

35

44 in. 12 T. T.

Germany

1914 1917 1917

1918

322 280 200

360

1,35 1,000

350 2,400

40,000 24,000 6,000

54,000

37 33 26

35

4 4' i in. 24 mines 619-7 in. T. T. 34-1 in. 6 19-7 in. T. T. 23-4 in - 117-7 in- T. T. 45-9 in. 423-6 in. T. T.

Russia

1917

315

1,260

30,000

35

44 in. 918 in. T. T.

Austria

1912

266

787

17,000

33

2 4 in. 4 3 in. 2 T. T.

Italy

I9l6

"*IO

i 4.60

40 ooo

7C

5 4-7

4 21 in. T. T.