A REAL DUCKING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 32, 8 February 1928, Page 8

A REAL DUCKING.

BIG TARGET TAKES THE WATER.

CAPSIZES BUT RIGHTS HERSELF. FOUR WORKMEN IN THE TIDE. SPECTACULAR LAUNCHING. No fluffy duckling ever took to water more willingly than did the huge battle practice target which was launched at Auckland this morning. Not content with giving herself (the target more or less resembles a crude sort of vessel, and therefore can be termed a "she") a liberal spraying as she slid off the ways, she persisted in lying on her port side with the greater part of her ugly bulk completely submerged for five or ten minutes before condescending to take up a more sober stance. But notwithstanding "Targy's" pranks, it was an excellent launching. At 9 o'clock, the hour appointed for the launching, there Was quite a crowd at the yards of Messrs. BaUey and Lowe, the builders of this freak craft ! Apart from the .usual gathering of ship-, ping men, there 'Were the Mayor . (Mr. G. Baildon), Commander Bradley, oflicar in charge of'the naval base, Engineer-j Commander Marchant, and a number of ladies. • Five minutes after the hour Mr. I. Lowe, who was supervising the launching arrangements,' announced that aD was ready, and Mrs. Bradley stepped on to the rough platform built about the craft's bow. Suspended under the bow by blue and gold ribbon was a large bottle of the best "Gold Top," almost too good to waste, even in the interests of an Admiralty battle target. Frcm "the target's single mast flew, or rather .hung, the New Zealand ensign. "Smash." "Right," said Mr. Lowe, when the Press photographers had finished' their clicking, and Mrs. Bradley smashed the bottle of champagne well and truly across the target's bow. So well did tlie bottle shatter, and so widely did its precious contents scatter, that one could readily have imagined that the lady liad been launching ships all her life. One workman nearest the bow was seen to close his eyes and slightly open his mouth, but if he caught any of the magic drops he gave no sign. Immediately the bottle-breaking part of the ceremony was over, one of the builders released the trigger. Slowly at first the big target —it weighs nearer three hundred tons than two—began to slide down the well-greased ways, and never once looked like needing aiv coaxing. Nearer the water it gained pace, and as the stern thrust itself in and down, it sent two large waves tumbling across the bay. There was a further disturbance of the waters as the target left the skids altogether and pitched about a little, as if unable to find its feet* Up to this stage it had been a model launching, and the crowd on the shore clapped enthusiastically. ' Spectators Get a ThrilL But then something happened; which provided .an .unexpected thrill for _ the" crowd.* rßefore the clapping ended, the target, as if annoyed at the (display of enthusiasm, heeled Over and capsized on: her port side. The spectators wert u little uncertain as to whether this un-drawing-room-like act was a part of the show, and for a second there was silence. The four workmen, who had'waved their arms about as the target slid down the ways, were seen to scramble through the trellis and on to the hull, and with a wave of their hands they signalled that they were all right. Strangely enough they did not show any signs of surprise or annoyance at their ducking. To all appearances the whole thing had been done for the benefit of the onlookers. "She'll Right Herself." Meantime the crowd gathered about the ways watched and wondered. A number of small boats had put off from the shore as soon as the target went over, but their assistance not required and they stood off. "She'll soon right herselt,' volunteered one of tjie workmen, who had helped to put her together, and sure enough she did. No sooner was the 5000 square feet of trellis properly wet than the target began to show signs of having had enough of swimming side-stroke, and to make an effort to get on to an even keel. An inch or so at a time the mast lifted from the water, bringing with it a verv wet and very sober-looking new Zealand ensign. And then this eccentric craft shook herself and came up to stav up, making a great show of falling water as' she did. With this the launching was all over bar the clapping and the Harbour Hoards study tug Tc Awhina which throughout the proceedings had stood nearby as if impatient to get the business over, nosed in and soon had the target in charge. Capsize Not Unexpected. It was explained afterwards that the capsize of the target was not unexpected. Owing to the shallowness of the water at the foot of the ways the builders had considered the question of a possible stranding and for this reason had not pumped water into her ballast tanks before the vessel left the ways. Thus, no sooner was she in the tide than she turned over, fortunatelv without any harm to anyone. At once the water commenced to* fill her tanks, flowing in through openings provided for the purpose, and within a few minutes the target was again on an even keel. I looking as steady and as business-like as the most bloodthirsty naval gunner could wish. And with everything in order those of the spectators not°"iu the know' smiled again and once more gave a burst of clapping, this time considerably louder than before Cost £10, COO. Built at a cost of approximately £10,000, the target is the first of its kind to be attempted in this par; of the world. The contract was signed on February ] of last year and the target would probably have taken the water several months earlier except for a delay in the delivery of some of the building materials. Briefly, the target may be described as a long narrow barge, carrying a high trellis fence. It is 104 ft long and lift wida and draws about 12ft. The 51 masts forming the uprights of ' the trellis are each 31ft high, while the transverse battens are 145 ft long.' BuiLt of Oregon _ pine, with a liberal sheathing of metal, the target has a deep steel keel. The 160,000 ft of timber ! contained in the target necessitated a special shipment from the Pac-ifi. Coast. | Mooring and towing rings are calculated to bear a strain of nearly 100 tons. Arrangements have been made for the target to permanent moorings at Devonport. °