ROYAL NAVAL FRIGATE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28474, 2 January 1958, Page 3

ROYAL NAVAL FRIGATE

Cruise For Sea Cadets

A British warship will be in Canterbury waters later this month for sea cadet training. The ship is H.M.S. Cardigan Bay. a 19-knot frigate which has re cently been engaged in terrorist bombardments off the Malayan coast. In the course of a New Zealand cruise to assist the Navy in training duties, the Cardigan Bay will pay short visits to Lyttelton and Akaroa. It is due to arrive at Lyttelton at 9 a.m. on Thursday January 9. Two officers and 18 sea cadets from Christchurch units will embark m the vessel on Friday and will sail for Akaroa for an unofficial two-day call the next morning. The frigate is expected back in Lyttelton on the evening of Monday, January 13. After disembarking the Christchurch training party it will put to sea almost immediately for Auckland. Welsh Named Welsh-named and Scottish-built, the Cardigan Bay was designed as an anti-submarine frigate with good endurance, for convoy escort duties to Russia in World War II Its first commanding officer was Lieutenant - Commander Petei Scott, son of the polar explore! and a leading ornithologist- and painter. Korean Battle Honour The ship’s most notable exploit was the opening up of the Han river running up to Seoul in 1951 during the Korean war. The Cardigan Bay was the first ship to attempt the passage after the Communists were driven back. Aftei some anxious moments among sandbanks the ship’s company succeeded in buoying the river for safe navigation again. The commanding officer of the Cardigan Bay is Captain G. O Roberts. R.N., a gunnery special ist who in 1956 relinquished command of the Royal Naval Gunnery School at Chatham He is now in command of the 3rd Frigate Squadron engaged in general duties on the Far East Station The squadron comprises Cardigan Bay and three other ships. One of them, the St. Brides Bay, visited Lyttelton last year.