NAVY OF BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20174, 7 February 1929, Page 9

NAVY OF BRITAIN.

LONDON COMMISSIONED.

CRUISER FOR MEDITERRANEAN

(Received February G. 5.53 p.m.) British Wireless. IIUGBY, Feb. 5. The new British 10,000-ton cruiser London, the first of four of her typo provided for in the 1925 programme, was commissioned at Portsmouth to-day by 'Captain Rogers. Tho vessel is to go to the Mediterranean, where she will be the flagship of the iirst Cruiser Squadron. Tho London was laid down at Portsmouth in February, 1926, and launched in September, 1927. Lord Ebbisham, formerly Sir Rowland Blades, who was Lord Mayor of LonJpn, 1926-27, has collected 50 prints illustrating the history of the ships which have borne the name London. These arc to be given to tho Admiralty for tho new cruiser. A suggestion has been made that the London should come up the Thames as close to the city as possible for the presentation. The London is tho eighth vessel of that name.

The four cruisers in the 1925 programme, including the London, were designed by Sir W. J. Berry. They are the same typo as the Canberra and Australia, built for the Australian Navy. Thov are the first flush-dcckcd cruisers since the Powerful and Terrible. Their armament comprises eight Bin. guns, four 4in.