CRUISERS AT SEA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23023, 28 April 1938, Page 12

CRUISERS AT SEA

FIRING PRACTICE IN GULF IMPRESSIVE NIGHT TACTICS ESCORT SHIPS FOR SYDNEY A comprehensive range of gunnery practices was carried out during exercises in the Hauraki Gulf this week by H.M.S. Achilles, flagship of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, and H.M.&. Leander. They returned to port yesterday -with the Imperial escort vessel H.M.S. Wellington, which towed the floating target. On board the Achilles as the guest of Rear-Admiral the Hon. E. R. Drummond, commodore commanding the New Zealand station, was the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, and a number of gunnery officers from the Defence Department. Perhaps the most impressive feature of the exercises was the practice conducted on Tuesday night, when the bursting of star shells and the use of powerful searchlights made an inspiring display in conjunction with firing from both ships.

A concentration shoot was conducted yesterday, and the Achilles fired 40 rounds from each gun. High-angle practices and half-inch machine-gun work were also included in the programme. The reverberation of the guns could be heard distinctly in Auckland in the morning. After returning with the floating target, the Wellington, accompanied by the Imperial escort vessel H.M.S. Leith, left for the Gulf en route to Sydney, whore they will remain until June 10. They will then start their annual winter cruise to the South Sea Islands.