New Cruiser, Royalist, Arrives To Join R.N.Z.N.

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28157, 21 December 1956, Page 15

New Cruiser, Royalist, Arrives To Join R.N.Z.N.

(New Zealand Press Association)

... AUCKLAND, December 20. . The radar-packed H.M.N.Z.S. Royalist, the first atomic age cruiser in the Commonwealth and hardest-punching ship of her type in Western navies, reached Auckland today. But Captain P. Phipps, her commander, frankly admits that his ship is not ideally suited for Pacific operations. He cites a relatively short cruising range and cramped quarters as weaknesses. “There was no alternative to Royalist. She is the best available. he explained. Only Britain’s Tiger class would have filfed the bill. And they are only now being built. “For instance, we couldn’t cruise to Panama non-stop. W’e’d have to go via Suva and Pearl Harbour . . .” Captain Phipps said. That was his only criticism today of a ship which overseas experts have described as a gumea-pig for atom-age navies. “She’s the best-equipped ship of her type in the Western world,’’ he said. Royalist is a dual-purpose ship, geared for anti-aircraft and surface bombardment and as a control ship for carrier-borne aircraft. Her mass of top-secret electronics and radar—behind locked doors today—fit her to engage surface targets beyond the horizon with “uncanny accuracy,’’ blow attacking aircraft out of the skies, sometimes with the first salvo, and take charge of and direct carrier aircraft on to their target and home. She also sifts (“delouses’’ in Royalist language) returning aeroplanes to see there are no enemy intruders. In action the commander directs operations from the radar brain of the Royalist, the closely-guarded air direction room-bridge operations room, which is crammed with electronics and sealed against atomic fall-out. Royalist can be “driven” by remote control under atomic attack, with hei engine and boiler rooms evacuated and the crew in two sealed compartments. All air is filtered for radioactivity. The cruiser can engage three targets simultaneously as a matter of course, dividing her main armament—eight 5.25 in guns—two ways, and using secondary armament on a third target.

The Suez crisis gave the Royalist two years' exercises in two months, said Captain Phipps. “We fired off two years’ supply of practice shells and in six months steamed 26.000 miles,’’ he said.

The reason was that, operating under war-time conditions—including strict security precautions—the Medi-

terranean Fleet, to which Royalist was attached, did extensive exercises and that was “tough going” for a crew still getting the feel of the world’s most modern naval fighting equipment. “They worked hard, and they worked long hours,” said Captain Phipps. The lower deck’s view of Royalist is that she is a good ship to work in, though living conditions are cramped. But her quarters have not been restriced by her modernisation, Captain Phipps said. The area available is the same, and the lay-out better. , But for Royalist’s crew, and for tne wives, families, and sweethearts crowded on the wharf at Devonport, technical details about the cruiser were second-rate conversation topics. “Home for Christmas’’ was a time for a rousing welcome home for the sailors.