COMBINED EXERCISES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27060, 20 April 1949, Page 6

COMBINED EXERCISES

DOMINION AND AUSTRALIAN NAVIES TASMAN SEA PROJECT PA AUCKLAND, Apl. 19. Ships of the Royal New Zealand and Royal Australian Navies are expected to join forces in the spring for combined exercises in the Tasman Sea. The programme will be carried out in Australian waters, and every major New Zealand warship which can be released from the home station will probably lake part. Except for the permanent survey ship to continue the charting of the Dominion's coastline, the New Zealand Navy will reach its full peace-time establishment this year. The fifth frigate of the Loch class, was commissioned from the reserve fleet at Chatham earlier this month, and the sixth and final addition to the flotilla will be taken over in England within a few weeks. Manned by English exratings who have signed on for service in New Zealand, these two vessels are scheduled to reach Auckland in August. The proposed exercises with the Australian Fleet, in which the New Zealand ships would be led by the cruiser Bellona, follow the squadron manoeuvres held in Cook Strait last month The 'Bellona and the four frigates already on the station and the anti-submarine minesweeper Kiwi took part in these operations. It was the first time that the ships on the station had exercised as a single squadron under the command of Captain D. Hammersley Johnston in the Bellona. Post-war exercises with the Australian Navy were introduced on a small scale last year, when the 10,000-ton cruiser Australia and the destroyer Bataan joined the Bellona for a week in New Zealand waters. At the conclusion of these operations Rear-admiral H. B. Farncomb, fla£ officer commanding the Australian squadron, emphasised the value .of joint exercises to ensure a common doctrine of thinking and working. . The ooerations with a large force of the Australian Navy will provide added opportunities for fleet training for the officers and men of the New Zealand ships. The frigate flotilla would also be able to work up detection and attack methods with similar Australian groups and possibly with submarines that are sent periodically to Australia for the British Pacific Fleet. Before the Australian exercises take place, at least two of the frigates will make the customary winter cruise of the Pacific Islands. No winter programme has been announced for the Bellona, which is at present undergoing her twoyearly refit at the Devonport naval