NAVY BATTLE PRACTICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21293, 21 September 1932, Page 8

NAVY BATTLE PRACTICE

SPECTACULAR OPERATIONS EXERCISES IN THE GULF HIGH STANDARD OF GUNNERY SURPRISE FOR COASTAL BOAT A high standard of efficiency was attained by the cruisers Diomede and Dunedin during the gunnery exercises and manoeuvres carried out in the Hauraki Gulf during the past week. The cruisers returned to port yesterday, together with the sloop Veronica, Commander H. L. Morgan, which assisted in towing the battle-practice target during the last two days. The standard of gunnery on both H.M.S. Diomede, Commodore F. Bulges Watson, and H.M.S. Dunedin, Captain M. J. C. de Meric, was described as being exceptionally good and reached its height in the full-calibre concentration shoot held yesterday. "Tbo weather, especially during the first four days, was distinctly uncomfortable, to say the least of it," said one of the senior officers of the squadron last evening. "However, this probably made the exercises all the more valuable. Naturally, accurate shooting is more difficult in choppy weather than when there is a flat, calm."

The difficulty in handling the heavy target during the first two days of the practice was solely due to the weather. There was a strong easterly breeze, with fairly rough seas, and considerable trouble was experienced la<st iucsday evening when the target broke away from the Dunedin, her mooring line passing underneath the cruiser. The line crossed the propeller blades, but did not foul them, eventually catching on some projection on the bottom of the ship. Divers' Difficult Task

Thc work of divers in clearing the line was particularly arduous. They had to carry oflt their operations fr6m a boat at the side of the ship and the choppy seas added to the difficulties of their task. Operations had to be suspended when dusk fell on Tuesday, but they were resumed early next morning, when the line was cleared after about four hours' further work.

The most spectacular exercises took place on Jlonday and yesterday. On Monday both cruisei>s carried out a full-calibre shoot when travelling at 26 knots. Later each did a full-power speed trial. During the evening both ships engaged in a night shoot at tho battle-practice target, which was towed by H.M.S. Veronica. There was a magnificent display of star shells and searchlights, and in addition each shell fired at the target carried a tracer, so that it was fully visible as it hurtled through the night. The effect produced, when the tracers on the shells seemed to converge as they fell on the target tvas remarkable. While tiie practice was being carried out a small coastal steamer passed between the cruisers and the target. Actually, she was. perfectly safe, but her captain manifested signs of distinct uneasiness • and crammed on every available ounce of speed in order to draw clear. Fine Concentration Shoot There was spectacle, too, in the concentration shoot carried out yesterday. This was controlled by wireless from the Diomede and as the two ships fired complete broadsides simultaneously huge spouts of water were thrown skyward in ,lhe vicinity of the target, which was towed by the Veronica. During the exercise each ship fired two torpedoes. The [ standard of gunnery in this work was exceptionally high. Both cruisers spent the week-end at Mansion House Bay, Kawau, and Commodore Burges Watson there carried out an official inspection of H.M.S. Dunedin. All the ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy are now in port together. The Admiralty trawler Wakakura will leave on Saturday to take another section from the Auckland division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on a training cruise in the gulf and on October 3 the Diomede and Dunedin will leave on their Southern cruises, returning to port on November 24 and December 9 respectively. The future movements of the sloops are afe vet indefinite.