Anti-Submarine Work An Air And Sea Operation

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28766, 11 December 1958, Page 16

Anti-Submarine Work An Air And Sea Operation

‘‘The need for good antisubmarine forces throughout the Commonwealth is well recognised and New Zealand makes a useful contribution in this field. The rapid advances made in recent years in the development of the submarine which does not have to surface to recharge, has greatly aggravated the problems of antisubmarine defence, perhaps more so for fixed wing aircraft, as opposed to helicopters, than for ships,” says Vice-Admiral Sir Maxwell Richmond, R.N., retired, in a supplied statement to ‘‘The Press.” Admiral Richmond, a New Zealander, now of Whangarei, joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1918. When he retired in 1956 he was Flag Officer (Air), Mediterranean, and Flag Officer Second-in-Command, Mediteranean Fleet. “Fallacious” ‘‘The Ministers of Finance and Defence are reported as being ‘impressed by the Argus,’ a Canadian military version of the Bristol Britannia, for use as a long range maritime aircraft in New Zealand waters and it is hinted that four of them might be bought instead of two frigates. It is not said what equipment these aircraft carry, but assuming it to be of the latest hnti-submarine type, the addition of such aircraft would be all to the good. To suggest, however, that long-range maritime aircraft can take the place of the frigates is fallacious from an operational standpoint Jf “.My long experience in antiSlibmarine work (including joint command, with an R.A.F. group captain, ; of. the Joint Anti-sub-School at Londonderry) has convinced me that hunting submarines is a combined air and surface operation; the use of ships and aircraft together; enhances

■ the efficiency of both. : “My argument is that we should I not unbalance our forces on the I grounds of financial expediency. • The Minister of Defence is quoted t as saying: ‘We can’t afford to ! equip ourselves into bankruptcy’. > “New Zealand spends only r about 3 per cent, of her national • income on the whole of her de- » fence forces! If the Government ■ is unable to afford the cost of : balanced forces perhaps we per- • sonally might forego a small , amount of the money we spend > on pleasure and buy the two frigates whose purchase has been ' deferred. After all the country , gave the battlecruiser H.M.S. New t Zealand to Britain when the popu--5 lation was less than half its - present size.” Yacht Moorings l Representations for additional ; moorings for the larger yachts . have been made to th_ Lyttelton . Harbour Board by the Banks , Peninsula Cruising Club. The ’ works committee reported to the . board yesterday that, after a full discussion with representatives of ' the club, it was decided that the ’ question of the provision of more 1 moorings be deferred pending ’ consideration by all yacht clubs. > Hillary’s Book • Sir Edmund Hillary is working ' on a book about his experiences : as leader of the New Zealand Antarctic expedition. Sir Ray- ’ mond Priestley, who said this in ‘ Christchurch yesterday, added 1 that it was good to see other • members writing about the Com- ' monwealth trans-Antarctic ex- ! pedltion, as it was in this way I that the best picture would be s obtained of what was done during s those years.