CRUISER ACHILLES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22512, 1 September 1936, Page 12

CRUISER ACHILLES

AEEIYAI ON SUNDAY DIOMEOE'S MEN RETURN FEATURES OF NEW SHIP Three clays ahead of her expected date of arrival, H.M.S. Achilles, the new cruiser which is to replace H.M.S. Diomedo on the Now Zealand station, is now due at Auckland from the Mediterranean at 10.30 a.m. on Sunday. She will borth at Calliope Wharf in the position occupied by H.M.S. Dunedin, which will be taken into tho dock. Friends and relatives of the cruiser's company will be admitted to tho dockyard. Serving in tho Achilles, whose date of arrival was recently ahnouneod by the Minister of Defence, tho Hon. F. Jones, as September 9, are the New Zealand ratings who were in tho Diomedo when she left tho Dominion last year for special service under the Admiralty. They will be returning to their homes after an absence of approximately 12 months. Tho Achilles is the first of the two Leander class cruisers for service"on the New Zealand station. When she arrives the commodore, Rear-Admiral tho Hon. E. It. Drummond, will transfer t-o her with five of his officers. The other new cruiser, H.M.S. Leander, is expected to arrive at Auckland toward tho end of the year or early next year. Both the Dominion's present cruisers are of war-time construction, the Dunedin having been launched in November, 1918, and the Diomede in April, 1919. They are now entering tho veteran stage for warships. The new cruisers will have advantages over the present ships in size, armament, and speed. The 6in. guns are of an entirely new model and the disposition of armament is regarded by gunnery experts as ideal. Although the speed is given officially as 32.5 knots, the Leander and some of the ships of the class to which she gave he/ name have exceeded this several times. They have an exceptional cruising rango as well. Whereas the complement cf the present "D" class cruisers is approximately 450 officers and ratings, tho new cruisers will probably carry over 600 'men. Following are the principal details of the class, with those of the Dunedin given in parentheses: —Displacement, 7000 tons length, 554Jft. (472.Jft.); beam, 55ft. 2in. (46ft. 6in.); mean draught, 16ft. (14ft 3in.); guns, eight 6in., four 4in. anti-aircraft, four three-pounders, and 18 smaller guns (six 6ih., three 4in. anti-aircraft, four threepounders, and 12 smaller guns); _ torpedo tubes, eight 21in. (twelve 21in.); speed; 32.5 knots (29 knots).