B-class ships are important to-day because, until the present treaties expire, they represent the principal type of warship which Japan and the United States are building Jeach other. Until the end there is no further room for competi lon in capital ships, and Japan, nearly three years ago, completed the 10,000 cruiser Maya, last of the JO-class ships she is permitted to) build under the London Treaty.
Two sister ships of the Suzuka, ithe Mogami and the Mikuma, were launched in March.and May last. year, respectively, and should be] [completed during 1936, The fourth, the Kumano, was laid down last} summer. Two others, unnamed, are to follow, with their' completion set These ships will go as well armed jas almost any cruiser afloat. The Jmain armament consists in each ease Jof Afteen guns of 155 min. (6.1) in. the absolute limit permitted' their Jclass and the latest "word in naval gun designs, arrayed in five triple-turrets. They will also carry eight S-in. anti-aircraft guns, six machineguns" and twelve torpedo tubes, far more than any other light cruiser lof to-day carries.
The Suzuya is designed for a speed Jot 83 knots. She is 625 ft. long, only five ft. Jess than the length of the Maya, newest of Japan's Avclass leruisers, and with a beam of 5044 ft. three ff, less than the Maya. Her: Jengines will develop 90,000 lip. Her cost is estimated at ¥.41,000,000,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.