NAVAL DOCKYARD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21604, 5 January 1945, Page 6

NAVAL DOCKYARD

TREMENDOUS EXPANSION

OVER £1,000,000 SPENT WORK AT DEVONPORT For the first time in more Ilian five years it has become possible to discuss the extraordinary development of the Royal New Zealand Navy's dockyard at Dcvonport. Hitherto, considerations of security have shrouded this tremendous programme in secrecy and, although most Aucklanders arc aware that there has been much activity at the base for a long time, few have had the precise means of discovering the extent of the expansion, or to realise that what has been and is still being done at the base constitutes one of the major works of New Zealand's war effort. The base is in two parts. There is the depot and training ship called 1 LM.N.Z.S. Philomel, after the old cruiser, now barely recognisable as a ship, which has for so long presided over this section; and there is the dockyard, which includes not only the dock, but also a staggeringly wide range of related features, wharves, workshops and stores. Many Major Alterations

Apart from the development of the depot, which now includes large barracks, messes, administrative buildings and sick-quartefs, the magnitude oi the work undertaken is such that another six to 12 months will probably be taken for the completion of Hun which is already being done. It woul. be idle to suggest that the dockyard 1: another Portsmouth, or that it is one of the largest establishments of its kind in the British Empire, but it is fair to say that it is a miniature Portsmouth, and that there are many smaller naval dockyards in the worm. Five years' growth can scarcely be outlined in a few sentences, and certainly cannot be detailed, but here is a'list of some of the works either finished since 1939 or at present in hand: —A second lengthening, by 4011. of Calliope Dock; an extension of 580 It. to Calliope Wharf, the main berthing space at the base, now about 1700 it. inTength; the reclamation ot a substantial part of Stanley Bay, and also of a large portion of Ngataringa Bay; the construction of such new buddings as an electrical shop, sail loft, boiler shop, very large stores, boatshed and workshop, boat harbour, four tunnels for the underground storage of oil fuel, one traffic tunnel right through front the base to Ngataringa Bay, aim to the new stores and victualling section there, and several smaller tunnels designed as air-raid shelters for base personnel. Obviously, the dockyard facilities arc now greater than would be needed by a Royal New Zealand Navy of 1939 size on a peacetime footing. Obviously too, their post-war maintennace in their present proportions would cost far more than the country spent on its Navy six years ago.

Further, if by chance the post-war Pacific naval ‘ programme demands more than the maintenance or the present Dcvonport establishment, the base site can only be extended physically by reclaiming more land from the sea and clifi's, and thereby encroaching on civilian property and services. Limitations ol' (he Dock

Although it has been twice lengthened within recent years, once just before the war and the other time since then, the dock cannot accept ships of greater beam than light cruisers, and even then the docking of such ships as the Gambia is a ticklish business calling for the utmost precision on the part of ship and shipyard personnel. Unless Australian docks are used, the Devonport dock thus becomes a limiting factor in any consideration given to the ships which should compose the post-war Royal New Zealand Navy. If it is desirable to use New Zealand as a base for warships of greater size than light cruisers, then the Devonport dock will not be large enough for their refits. It is apparently not practicable to widen it, and therefore any increase in the size of the ships which the future may bring to New Zealand must sooner or later be accompanied by the provision of a larger dock. Expenditure Since War Began

However, within its scope the present dock lias been oi' great value to the Royal New Zealand Navy, the United States Navy, and the merchant navies of several countries. It is not possible to detail the work which has been done —almost invariably under the special pressure imposed by war and shipping shortages—but enough evidence is available to show that the tasks bestowed on the dockyard have been performed with complete skill and creditable rapidity. To achieve this result the dockyard must clearly have at its disposal men trained to perfection and the machines and other equipment which they need for their work. Rather more than £1,000,000 has been spent on the dockyard since the war began, and of this total very considerable sums have gone toward the purchase of thoroughly modern equipment for the various constructive/* engineering and electrical sections of the yard, upon which falls the responsibility for the repair and technical refit oil all ships.

For everything which the dockyard needs for shipyard work, and equally for everything which ships need at sea. whether" it be a large item' of equipment or a bag of potatoes, the Navy calls upon its stores and victualling branch. It is this branch which is now expanding to very large stores built and being built on reclaimed