VALUE OF NAVAL EXERCISES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 144, 31 March 1948, Page 4

VALUE OF NAVAL EXERCISES

Common Doctrine of

Thinking AUSTRALIAN OFFICER'S OPINION (P.A.) AUCKLAND, March 30. Naval exercises of any sort were always valuable, and particularly when made with units of other Dominion navies, as they ensured a common doctrine of thinking and working along common lines, said the flag officer commanding the Australian Squadron (RearAdmiral H. B. Farncomb, C. 8., D. 5.0., M.V.0.) before leaving Auckland for Sydney in the 10,000-ton cruiser Australia this morning. “Then if We have to join in a war wo know what the other is doing,” he said.

That had been well demonstrated

in the early stages of the war with Japan, when the New Zealand cruisers, Leander and Achilles, joined Australian units in what was known as the Anzae Navy, said Rear-Admiral Farncpmb. The Dominion’s cruisers moved in just as if they had been units of- the Royal Australian Navy. They operated together in unison until a change in command, when the New Zealand ships came under the South Pacific area and the Australian ships under the ' South-west Pacific area.

Close Co-operation

Co-operation between the staffs of the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy was close as far as active exercises were concerned, but the first couple of years after the war had been quiescent. “I hope the interchange of visits will continue, and that there will he New Zealand ships in - Sydney. We shall come back here in due course,” he said. s

Asked to comment on the value of the smaller of the New Zealand ships combining with the larger units of the Royal Australian Navy in exercises for escort training and convoy duty. Rear-Admiral Farncomb said they had not yet had exercises with the smalled vessels of the Royal New Zealand Navy. He thought that if small vessels could get together with Australian mine-sweepers and antisubmarine vessels the exercises would be beneficial. “Submarines from the British Pacific Fleet have been sent dowm to train out anti-submarine vessels. Possibly there will be an opportunity for New Zealand ships to work with submarines.” There had been exercises every day for six weeks with the submarines when they were in Australian waters. In the meantime artificial targets were used. The Royal Australian Navy would have a new light fleet aircraft-carrier at the end of the year, said RearAdmiral Farncomb. It would be the same as the 13,350-ton Theseus, which visited Auckland last September. Combined would then be more valuable. A second aircraft-carrier would join the Royal Australian Navy in two years. “We are already collecting pilots and aircrew in Australia,” said RearAdmiral Farncomb. The officers and men were going to Britain to take ovei' the carrier. The pilots were mostly members of the R.A.A.F., with some Fleet Air Arm pilots. The Royal Australian Navy was training soine men itself. Preliminary training was undertaken at a R.A.A.F. station, but later training was given at a naval air station in England. The Cockatoo, Garden Island and Williamstown dockyards were valuable adjuncts to the Royal Australian Navy, continued Rear-Admiral Farm comb. Small ships, including destroyers, bad been built and were in building. Engines and other equip> ment could be manufactured at the Cockatoo dockyard. Visit to Commonwealth

The chief of the New Zealand Naval Staff (Commodore G. W. G. Simpson, C.8.E., R.N.) left in the cruiser for a brief visit to Australia. He will return by air on April 14. Commodore Simpson said he was going to meet the Chief of the Australian Naval Staff (Rear-Admiral J. A. Collins) to discuss naval matters of interest to both countries. He would be the guest of the Governor of Victoria (Major-General Sir William Dugan).- / ~ ■ Commodore Simpson said he was interested in visiting the Flinders training depot, where New Zealanders received their training from leading seamen to petty officers and chief petty officers. With the introduction of radar diroction finding and othei equipment during the war, trainingtechniques had changed. In company with the New Zealand cruiser Bellona, the cruiser Australia and the Australian destroyer Bataan, which is commanded by Captain .T. C. Morrow, left Devonport naval base at 10.30 o*clock this morning. The Bellona moved out first from her berth alongside the cruiser Black Prince, her Royal Marine Baud playing “Rule Britannia.” The Bellona waited in the stream while the Australia sailed, her band playing “Now Is The Hour,” “Advance Australia Fair” and “Waltzing Matilda.” She was followed by the Bataan. The Australia leading, they had to weave through idle shipping in the stream before leaving port in line ahead.

After a fuelling operation in I-lau-raki Gulf (luring the afternoon and other exercises, the two Australian ships and the Bellona were to part company at the Three Kings Islands to-night. The Australia and Bataan were to set course for Sydney, while the Bellona was to proceed to Tara* kohe. where she is due on Thursday. The Bellona will return to Auckland on May 6 after a training cruise in New Zealand waters.