Warships to visit N.Z.

Press, 10 July 1979, Page 20

Warships to visit N.Z.

Parliamentary reporter More than 15 allied warships and submarines will visit New Zealand ports during August. The 19,000-ton aircraft carrier H.M.A.S. Melbourne will head the Australian contingent comprising two destroyers, H.M.A.S. Hobart, and H.M.A.S. Brisbane, and the two submarines Otama and Onslow. H.MA.S. Melbourne, with her crew of 1335, will visit Wellington from August 8 to 11 and Auck-

land from August 13 to 17. H.M.A.S. Brisbane will only visit the one pdrt, Auckland, from August 13 to 17, but H.M.A.S Hobart will visit Nelson from August 8 to August 11, and Auckland from August 13 to 17. The Australian submarine Otama will be at Auckland from August 1 to 15, and for a short period near the end of the month. The other submarine Onslow will visit Auckland from August 13 to 17. A 10-ship Royal Navy

task force will arrive in New Zealand waters late this month and visit ports between Whangarei and Dunedin. The task force will include four fleet auxiliaries, two of which carry fuel. Three of the British ships will take part in Squadex, a small exercise involving three New Zealand frigates off the east coast of the North Island in early August. All "the visiting units, with several United States Navy ships, will take part in Tasmanex 79.