The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-06-14

is evidence that some of the new ships are even now in action against the enemy, And in total impact, ef- feet of these disclosures is to reveal to the world that any aggressor na- tion may well think twice before starting any World War III.
 Begin. with battleships; News of the six. Iowa class 45,000 tonners has already been announced, show ing them to be the most formidable ships afloat. Their 88O-foot length should be compared to the 750-foot length of the four South Dakota class ships now in service. On the tremendous gun decks of the Iowa class ships are more than 125 anti- aircraft guns, topped by % five inch guns and, nine 16-inch guns in triple turrets. For observation, these ships carry three catapult-launch planes and every known device for fire control and communication. Their crews-,more than 2500 of- ficers and men; their cost-more than $l00. 0.O00, 900 for the hull alone, exclusive of equipment.
 CRUISER NOW A 'BATTLESHIP"
 More dramatic, perhaps, than these big battlewagons is & new class of cruiser, the first of which have been named for the U. s. terri tories Alaska, Guam, and Hawaii. They are 2F000-ton ships, 750 feet in length, mount nine l2-inch guns as main armament, capable of about S5 knots-faster than most speed- boats.
 These super-cruisers have been designed to knock the spots off any pocket battleship of the Tirpitz class built by Germany. The first was built by the New York Shipbuilding Yards, Camden, N. J.
 Aircraft carrier developments are no less sensational. Under construc- tion at the New York Navy Yard is the first of a new. type 45,000-ton carrier-largest ship in naval his- tory-intended to carry the Navy's new twin -engined planes, larger and of longer range than any other car- rier-borne aircraft now in service. \ There is new 2200-ton super -de- stroyer that Is almost dream ship, better than many World War I cruisers in firepower and speed.
 What destroyers were in the last war. what the old four-stackers traded to the British for Atlantic island bases are in this war-is now surpassed by the most modern de- stroyer escort vessels. These lowly DE's now carry three-inch guns, torpedo tubes and anti-aircraft guns swell as depth charges. They are built now at 1900 tons, as compared to the 1200-ton destroyer of the last war. "
 ALL GROW UP A NOTCH
 All up and down the shipyards this tendency of adding armament, armor, firepower and range is note- worthy. Every class of weapon has assumed the characteristics of the class that used to be above 1t.
 : Advances in landing craft show this in marked degree. The new LSM,y or Landing Ship, Medium seen, at the Federal Yards at Kear- ny is no longer an auxiliary vessel, but 20O- foot ocean-going ship, capable of carrying light and med ium tanks and, gun mounts, armed with 20-mrn. 4anti-aircraft guns to fight It's way right up to the beach.
 Bigger than these and for later waves of an invasion are the new AKA ships-Attack Cargo Auxiliar- ies--that can bring in heavy tanks and complete little expeditionary force of their own. And for trans port of troops by the thousand there are the new AP ships, Auxiliary Personnel vessels like the General M. c. Meigs seen at Kearny-a lux ury transport with an x-ray equip ped operating room and a mechan- ical COW to provide fresh milk to drink and for ice cream for the troops sailing. to war in style.
 From every angle, 1t looks like a whale of new Navy.