NEW CRUISERS FOR N.Z. NAVY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21932, 29 January 1946, Page 2

NEW CRUISERS FOR N.Z. NAVY

DIDO-CLASS SHIPS GAMBIA’S RETURN SAILING NEXT MONTH ACHILLES LATE IN 1946 (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Jan. 29. The New Zealand Government in agreement with the Admiralty has decided to replace H.M.N.Z. ships Gambia and Achilles with cruisers of the improved Dido-class as a major part of the post-war Royal New Zealand Navy, stated the Minister of Defence, Mr. F. Jones, last evening. H.M.N.Z.S. Gambia, he said, would sail from Auckland on February 12 and arrive at Sydney on February 16. She was expected to leave Sydney at the end of February for the United Kingdom, where she would revert to the Royal Navy. Movements of Achilles

Referring to H.M.N.Z.S. Achilles, the Minister said that the tentative programme was that the ship would remain with the British Pacific Fleet in the forward areas until March, when she would return to New Zealand for a minor refit. It was expected to sail the Achilles to the United Kingdom late in 1946. Following the arrival of H.M.N.Z.S. Achilles in the United Kingdom, tvvO ( Dido-class cruisers would leave Britain in company for New Zealand. H.M.N.Z.S. Gambia was commissioned as a unit of the Royal New Zealand Navy by Captain N. J. W. WilliamPowlett D.S.C., R.N., at Birkenhead on September 22, 1943, with officers and the ship’s company of H.M.N.Z.S. Achilles, which had paid off at Portsmouth the previous day. During December, 1943, H.M.N.Z.S. Gambia was operating under orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth, against enemy blockade-runners in the Atlantic. At the end of January, 1944,

she sailed from Plymouth to join the British Eastern Fleet, and arrived at Trincomalee on February 19. The ship gave anti-aircraft support to carrier forces which struck at Sabang, in Sumatra, on April 19 and Sourabaya and Java on May 17. H.M.N.Z.S. Gambia also took part in the bombardment of Sabang on July 22. Gambia’s Extensive Refit H.M.N.Z.S. Gambia arrived at Wellington in November, 1944, and proceeded three days later to Auckland, where she underwent an extensive refit in the Devonport dockyard. Subsequently she proceeded to Sydney, where she rejoined the 4th Cruiser Squadron of the British Pacific Fleet during March, April and May of last year. The ship saw much service with aircraft carriers in operations against Sakashima, Gunto and Formosa. Captain Ralph Edwards* C.8.E., R.N., assumed command on April 28 after spending three weeks in Sydney. In June she returned to the Northern Pacific and took part in the final naval operations against Japan. In the forenoon of August 20 two seamen platoons with a company headquarters under Lieutenant-Commander G. R. Davis-Goff, R.N.Z.N., and a Royal Marines’ detachment under Captain G. M. Blake, R.N., were disembarked from H. Gambia to land in Tokyo Bay in company with H.M. ships King George V; Newfoundland, Napier and Nizam. H.M.N.Z.S. Gambia entered Sugami Wan on August 27. Four days later she anchored in Tokyo Bay, and was present at the signing of the Japanese surrender. The first Dido-class cruisers were launched early in 1939 and with others in the same class saw' considerable service in the Second World War. These vessels have a displacement of 5450 tons and originally carried 10 5.25 in. guns, six of which-were mounted forward in three twin super-firing turrets and four aft. They each carried one aircraft.

The Dido-class cruisers which will be sent to New Zealand are an improved type, but particulars of their armament have not been released by the Admiralty. Powered with Parsons geared turbines, their speed is given as 33 knots.