Knockdown Battleship

Though Russia stood fourth in gold production before the War, the Soviet Union last year produced a full 200 tons of the metal, the second highest gold production in the world, exceeded only by South Africa. Russia's army is the largest in the world, one of the best equipped. It was no surprise to anybody last week to learn that bigwigs in the Kremlin had decided to spend some of Russia's new gold on building up her long-neglected navy, but eyebrows shot up over one item in the new naval program.

The Soviet Fleet contains only three battleships, each 26 years old. Besides plans for more submarines, cruisers, destroyers, Moscow announced that two new dreadnaughts would be built, each of 35,000 tons, equipped with 16-inch guns.

A battleship is not only bigger than a destroyer, it is a thousand-fold more complicated. Comrade V. M. Orlov, chief of the navy department, admitted last week that there were neither yards nor designers in Russia today capable of constructing such a craft. His solution was simple: one battleship would be ordered from the U. S. to be shipped to Russia knocked down in separate parts, accompanied by a force of U. S. naval architects and technicians. On Soviet shores the parts would be duplicated, then both battleships would be screwed together.

Investigation in Washington found much truth in the story. Russian agents have talked with Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. Ltd., Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. and New York Shipbuilding Corp. The State and Navy Departments have been approached for consent to the plan. Because Russia is not a belligerent in any war, the State Department would be forced to grant licenses, the Navy Department's only objections being that they would not allow the shipping abroad of 16-in. guns, a U. S. specialty, nor may Navy proving grounds be used to test the quality of guns or armor plate. But 15-in. guns, big as those on H. M. S. Hood would be quite all right. Shipyard rumors last week gave Bethlehem the contract. Within 18 months Comrade Orlov may set himself the gigantic task of making order out of a series of shipments that will include everything from turrets, barbettes, gears, pistons, armor plates, electric hoists, turbines, boilers, stanchions, steampipes, searchlights, smokestacks to a davit for the Captain's gig.

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