An item dated London, England 19th December referred to the newest Jane’s Fighting Ships which was just published. The news item was especially dealing with the shipbuilding programs of the major naval powers England, France, Italy, Japan added with Russia and Germany but strangely not mentioning the USA. Dealing with Japan it was believed that there were 4 battleships (1) projected of which two each larger as 40.000 tons in 1938 were to be laid down with a main armament of 8/9-16” guns.
Note
1. The Yamato-class of which the Yamato and Musashi were completed as battleships the Shinano as aircraft carrier with the fourth to which is referred as the No. 111, was laid down on 7 July 1940 but never completed. The displacement of the Yamato was actually 71/659 (full load) tons and the main armament 3x3-46cm/18.1” /45 guns.
