STRONGER FORCES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 243, 14 October 1933, Page 11

STRONGER FORCES.

LEANDER CLASS CRUISERS

ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY.

In view of the statement which was made by the Prime Minister yesterday of the Government's intention to strengthen the defence • forces of the Dominion in respect of ships, aircraft, territorial force and coastal defences, it is of interest to_ recall that in February of this year it was announced that two new cruisers of the Leander class, which is said to r ®P l sent the greatest triumph in British naval architecture during recent yoaic, would join the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, possibly within the next three years. It was reported that these vessels would replace the Duncdin and Diomede. Two now Imperial sloops of the Rochester class to replace the present sloops of the New Zealand Division, Veronica and Laburnum.

The Leander class of vessel has a standard displacement of 7000 tons. The length is 554 ft and the beam and draught are 55ft 2iii and 16ft respectively. The armament consists of eight Bin guns in four twin turrets, four 4in anti-aircraft guns, six smaller guns, and 6ix 21in torpedo tubes in triple sets. The 6peed is 32 knots.

A feature of the cruisers is their long cruising range. They caii carrv sufficient oil fuel to steam from 10,000 to 12,000 miles without replenishing bunkers;- In addition, they are said to be most economical in fuel consumption, and generally with the standard of efficiency taken into consideration are less costly to maintain than cruisers of the Diomede. class. The present air force in New Zealand consists of nine officers and 4.3 otlici ranks. There are 21 machines, 15 being based at Wigram and sfix at Hobsonville. Of the latter, only two are of the modern service type. The new machines will be from a selection of the most modern type of British aircraft, and will, be fitted for alighting either on the land or sea. The Royal Air in Britain is being equipped with new machines. One of the latest type is the Blackburn Ripon, a two-seater machine for land or sea operations. The machine has a maximum speed of 130 miles an hour. The armament consists of a forward machine-gun and a riiar machine-gun, and can carry either or .bombs,