NAVY DESTROYS FLOATING MINE WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN MENACE TO SHIPPING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27027, 11 March 1949, Page 4

NAVY DESTROYS FLOATING MINE WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN MENACE TO SHIPPING

PA WELLINGTON, Mar. 10. From Dominion Special Reporter, by Radio from the Bellona The cruiser Bellona to-day destroyed a floating war-time mine 12 miles seaward off Akaroa Heads, Banks Peninsula, a potential menace to all shipping off the east coast of the South Island, including the inter-island passenger steamers Rangatira and Hinemoa. The mine had been floating in the area for a week at least. It was crusted with white barnacles and was floating high in the water. The mine took almost half an hour to sink by rifle fire.

The New Zealand Naval Squadron was carrying out fire practice off Banks Peninsula when the mine was first sighted. It is believed to have passed close, to HMNZS Kiwi before being sighted by the Bellona. Immediately the mine was seen a firing party was mustered on the starboard side of the cruiser.

Although the rivetted top casing of the mine could be clearly seen from the ship, there were no signs of horns or detonators.

Although the mine was fitted with a device which was supposed to render it safe once it broke adrift, there was more than a possibility that time and corrosion had upset the safety precautions, said Commander Phipps. The mine had been reported more than a week ago by Lyttelton fishermen. The Bellona had spent some time searching for it while on her way to Wellington. High seas and a gale had rendered the first search unavailing, and to find the mine almost in the same area a week later was a stroke of luck.

With 3001 b of high explosive in the inner canister, the mine contained enough to damage the cruiser or to sink one of the fri-

gates. The Bellona lay about 50 yards off the mine while the firing party blazed away. The shooting was good, and hollow clangs soon told that the bullets were hitting home as both the ship and the target rolled in the swell. Under the impact of the shots barnacled patches and rust peeled off to reveal a black and apparently wellpreserved steel exterior. After many hits had been scored the mine gradually sank. The mine was the British moored type which could be fired by electrical impulse from the shore, said the commander of the Bellona, Commander Phipps. The mine had probably been laid during the war off some New Zealand harbour, had broken away during a storm and drifted since that time.

Their main armament shoot completed, the cruiser, the four frigates and the anti-submarine vessel Kiwi anchored in Akaroa Harbour this afternoon. The Kiwi, with the naval officer in charge at Auckland, joined the squadron last night. She acted as target-towing ship this morning. The squadron will remain at Akaroa till early next week, carrying out harbour exercises, and will hold a regatta here after further sea exercises next week, the ships will return to Wellington on March 18.