NAVAL AIR ARM

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30126, 9 May 1963, Page 16

NAVAL AIR ARM

Helicopters . Wanted Press Association) WELLINGTON. May 8. New Zealand is likely to be asked to make a larger contribution to naval defence in South-east Asia. British defence chiefs have already indicated to the Chief of Naval Staff (Rear-Admiral P. Phipps) that they would like a bigger contribution. Admiral Phipps has just returned to Willington after attending the S.E.A.T.O. council meeting in Paris. In Britain after the meeting he had talks with the United Kingdom Chiefs of Staff, and then in Singapore with the commander in chief’s committee.

“The United Kingdom defence effort is widespread, and the Far East is so far from home base that the more we can do the more they appreciate it.” he said today. While in Britain, he inspected a Leander-type frigate, similar to the one for which New Zealand has called tenders. It is a more up-to-date version of the Whitby-claes frigate and has a landing deck and hangar for a helicopter on its afterdeck. “I found that the Westland Wasp helicopter being used by the Royal Navy has proved most successful, and able to operate in rougher weather conditions than had been expected,” Admiral Phipps said. “There is an army version of the same machine, known as the Scout, and should a decision be made to purchase helicopters for New Zealand forces, the advantage would be that the same spares and workshops could be used for both naval and army machines.”

He said he hoped helicopters would be purchased by the Navy, and would recommend their purchase in about three years when the new frigate was completed.