KEEL PLATES OF TWO MONSTER BRITISH WARSHIPS LAID
London (JFK+50) On November 29, 1921, "the keel plates of...two monster warships were laid at Portsmouth and Davenport."
One is "the improved Dreadnought* battleship" the Orion** and the other is the cruiser-battleship the Lion.
The warships are expected to be completed within a two-year time span.
The Evening Star reports the Lion is to have 70,000 horsepower and a displacement of 21,000 tons. Her length at 700 feet makes her "the longest man-of-war ever laid."
The Lion's "nominal speed" is rated at 27 knots an hour.
*Dreadnought, the main type of battleship of the early 20th century. Her design had revolutionary features with unprecedented number of artillery guns & steam turbine propulsion.
**Orion, the 1st dreadnought ship to carry 343mm guns was superior to all battleships before her in firepower. She was reinforced with side armor & had a more advanced artillery gun arrangement.
SOURCES
"Two Monster Warships," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., November 29, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
"Orion," wargaming.net/
