NEW ZEALAND'S NAVY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17459, 1 May 1920, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND'S NAVY.

CRUISER COMMISSIONING.

OFFER OF TRAINING SHIP. H.M.S. DIAMOND. By Telegraph—Prow Association-Copyright. A. and N.Z.-Reuter LONDON, April 29. H.M.S. Chatham was paid oL on July 16 last. She will be re-commissioned directly with a crew obtained voluntarily to serve in New Zealand, on • the same terms as the men lent to the Australian Navy. The Chatham did splendid service in the war, including the blockading of the German raider Konigsberg, in the Rufiji River, East Africa. The Admiralty, in addition to presenting the cruiser Chatham to New Zealand, has offered the cruiser Diamond to the New Zealand Government for training men for the mercantile marine, New Zealand to bear the expense of refitting. The Diamond is a substitute for the Sapphire, recently offered. The Philomel is at present refitting, and shortly departs for New Zealand.

H.M.S. Chatham is a light cruiser of 5400 tons displacement, similar to the Melbourne and Sydney, of the Australian Navy. She was built in 1911-12, at a cott of about £334,000. Her armament comprises eight 6in guns, one 13-pounder anti-aircraft gun, four three-pounders, foir machine-guns, and two submerged 21in torpedo tubes. She is protected with 2in deck armour and Jin side armour. Her length overall is 457 ft, and site is capable of a speed of 25 to 26 knots. She carries a complement of 391. The Diamond is a light cruiser of 3000 tons displacement, built in 1904, at a cost of £240,000. She carries a complement of 296. She ie armed with 12 4in guns, eight pounders, and two torpedo tubes, and has a speed of 21 knots.