CORVETTE ARRIVES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 283, 26 August 1944, Page 8

CORVETTE ARRIVES

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, August 25.

H.M.N.Z.S. Arabis, one of two up-to-the-minute submarine-hunting corvettes presented to New Zealand by the United Kingdom Government, has arrived at Auckland. When her sister ship Arbutus will arrive is not yet known.

Though of only 900 tons each, these two corvettes will be the largest of the R.N.Z. Navy’s small ships. They are handy fighting vessels, with a capacity for giving hard knocks. Designed specially for hunting submarines, they mount every modern device of that class ot vessel, and also bristle with iintd-aireraft defences. Laid down in 1943. they arc brandnew ships. Their 900 tons compares with the 545 tons of the Scottish Isles trawlers represented in the New Zealand Navy by the Sandra. Killegray. and others of tbe same class, and they measure 205 ft. compared with the 164 ft. of those vessels Their speed as given in_the original Loudon announcement is 15 knots.

Though her voyage from Britain occupied 2i mouths, it was completely uneventful. though the Arabis covered dangerous waters. Her commander and oliicers are all New Zealanders, as also are most of her ratings. All have served tor varying periods of active service with the Royal Navy. . , . ~ Immediately after arrival at Auckland all the members of the ship's company wore granted foreign service leave. 'Hie ship is to undergo relit before undertaking her first assignment as a unit of the R.N.Z. Navy. Tbe name Arabis has boon carried by two other ships of the Royal Navy. Tbe first was of the type of tbe Laburnum and Veronica, aud tlie second was a corvette sunk iu the North Atlantic in this war.