NAVAL ATTACKS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18191, 12 September 1933, Page 10

NAVAL ATTACKS

SPECTACULAR SHOOTING GULF EXERCISES FINISHED The most spectacular exercise of the recent naval programme—even more so than the mock battle off North Cape—was the encounter last Thursday night between the Dunedin and the Canberra, in all previous night engagements only siarsliells had been bred, accurate gun training taking the place of actual shooting. However, on Thursday night .■the Duuedm brought the full strength of her armament to bear on the Canberra. Hue gained an insight into what naval warfare really means.

The two flagships left the other cruisers shortly after nightfall and steamed away to carry out their exercise independently. The order to darken ship was given, and the two ghostly cruisers separated and sped ill opposite directions. At a given time both turned about and the Dunedin commenced to search for her enemy.

ROAR OF THE GUNS’ Earlier in the day elaborate precautions had been taken on the Dunedin to guard against damage. Pictures and mirrors were removed from bulkheads, stanchions lowered, and cabin doors taken off their hinges. One sensed that the night’s shoot was to he something out ol the ordinary. And so it happened. In the darkness gun crews waited intently. Ammunition was ready, and keen eyes searched the sea for the enemy. Suddenly there was a shout: 'Alarm to port:’’ The range was shouted to the waiting gun crews and then “he roar of the guns shattered the stillness of tiie night. Searchlights groped forth and starshells ranged from the heavens, revealing the Canberra 4000yds. away, a perfect target. Almost simultaneously, a salvo clashed forth from the Dunedin’s 6in. guns. Salvo followed salvo. Flashes pierced the darkness, the roar of the guns was deafening in its wild intensity, and with every broadside the ship reeled and shuddered tike a human thing. Tracers on the 6in. shells cut thin gleaming arcs through the night, to fall to the right of the enemy, an error of 12 degrees having been’ purposely introduced into the training of the guns so that they could lire at the Canberra without hitting her. To the landsman, with eardrums throbbing, it seemed hours before these few minutes of frenzied energy finally ceased. SCARE FOR COASTAL VESSEL The practice was highly successful. Observations taken from the Canberra showed that she would have been sent to the bottom by those few deadly broadsides had they been aimed to hit. At the conclusion of the exercise RearAdmiral Dalglish made the signal- “ Congratulations to the Dunedin on a very line shoot.” There was an uninvited spectator at the practice in the shape of a small coastal vessel which was about half-way between the two darkened warships when the Dunedin opened tire. Lights blinked frantically on the little craft as the roaring broadsides hurtled over 7 head, and as soon as firing ceased she scuttled off into tho darkness.

A torpedo was also -fired from the Dunedin during the attack, and after the completion of the exercise it was interesting to watch the New Zealand flagship following its calcium flare when it came to the surface. A bout was lowered and the torpedo was quickly recovered and hoisted on board under the glare of searchlights,