According to what a correspondent at Moscow wrote on 20 May was the Soviet Russian government very disappointed that despite the well known 5 year programs a capable weapon industry wasn’t realized. Especially lacking yards and well educated engineers caused large problems for creating a modern navy and that with the big naval shipbuilding programs! Russia wanted gigantic battleships larger and heavier armed than the then existing battleships. They even tried to let this ships built abroad. In England were the yards not interested for several reasons and the English yards were hardly capable to built the ships demanded by the Royal British navy. France had the same problems and the French yards weren’t capable to built the battleships with such much demanding technical conditions. And what about the United States? The American weapon industry was now booming business although there were hardly warships built for European navies. About a year ago inquired Russia what the possibilities were of building battleships whether partly or complete. The first attempts were not successful and there were just expensive armour plates and parts for engines nought with the intention to built the first large battleship in Russia. This wasn’t succeeded so they tried again in the United States. There were even plans to establish an own company at New York with as main purpose creating a new yard. This yard could also built ships for the United States navy. Although the Americans negotiated concerning this plan they never decided. A well known firm of engineers at New York made plans for the giant battleship.(1) This was to be the largest battleship of the world with a length of more as 300 metres. At that moment was the British battle cruiser HMS Hood with a length of 216 metres and a displacement of 42,000 tons the largest warship. The Russian battleship should with a length of 300 metres measuring 45,000-50,000 tons. The journalist doubted if such a length didn’t influence the armament. He couldn’t believe she could be armed with 45cm guns if not was decided tom compromise with the strength/thickness of the armour and the speed. When she was armed with 40cm guns was a sufficient armour and a speed of at least 32 knots guaranteed. The same engineers firm advised regularly the American Navy Department. The Assistant Deputy Charles Edison confirmed that he knew the Russian plans. But there was just only a construction plan without further specifications and the approval of the American government was needed before the plan could be realized. As long as the Russian plan could be united with the American naval shipbuilding program he saw personally no objections. The American navy however used all the capacities of the steel industry and yards. Creating a new yard as Russia wanted wasn’t done within a short time. Despite this all Russia intended to built these battleships regarded the Japanese building of 40,000-45,000 tons battleships.(2)
Notes
1. The firm was presumably Gibbs&Cox who reported to the USA government that she was asked in the end of 1937 to make plans for a 62,000 tons battleship armed with 45,7cm guns. In 1938 this firm made clear that such plans were not realistic just 45,000 tons with 40,6cm guns against the American government didn’t object. The order was rejected by the firm on 28 November 1939. The Soviet Russia also possessed a design made by the Italian Ufficio Progretti Navali at Genoa belonging to the Ansaldo-concern. This is known as the U.P. 41 project.
2. The Yamato-class battleships were in fact much larger with a displacement of 72,800 tons full load although their length of 263metres over all wasn’t as large as that of the projected Russian battleship. The Japanese guns had a calibre of 46,1cm!
Notes
1. The firm was presumably Gibbs&Cox who reported to the USA government that she was asked in the end of 1937 to make plans for a 62,000 tons battleship armed with 45,7cm guns. In 1938 this firm made clear that such plans were not realistic just 45,000 tons with 40,6cm guns against the American government didn’t object. The order was rejected by the firm on 28 November 1939. The Soviet Russia also possessed a design made by the Italian Ufficio Progretti Navali at Genoa belonging to the Ansaldo-concern. This is known as the U.P. 41 project.
2. The Yamato-class battleships were in fact much larger with a displacement of 72,800 tons full load although their length of 263metres over all wasn’t as large as that of the projected Russian battleship. The Japanese guns had a calibre of 46,1cm!
