H.M.S. DUNEDIN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18331, 24 February 1934, Page 4

H.M.S. DUNEDIN

N.Z. SQUADRON FLAGSHIP POVERTY BAY VISIT DUE IN ROADSTEAD MONDAY Paying her second visit to the Gisborne roadstead, the flagship of the New Zealand Squadron, H.M.S. Dunedin, will arrive here on Monday, and will remain at anchor, weather permitting, until Thursday next. The last occasion on which the Dunedin dropped anchor in the roadstead was several years ago, shortly after her arrival on the New Zealand station, and the visit was of less than two hours’ duration, owing to the rising of the sea in a sudden storm, which necessitated the warship putting to sea at short notice. The Dunedin will be remembered as a smart-looking warship, with the characteristic high forecastle and racy lines of the ocean-going cruiser. She was transferred to the New Zealand station in 1925, and is a sister-ship of the Diomede, which recently paid her first visit to Gisborne. Her speed is 20 knots as a maximum on an output of 40,000 h.p. from her geared turbine engines. She has a complement of about 400, more than half of those aboard lieing New Zealanders, who outnumber their Home comrades, especially in the seamen’s branch. Her armament comprises six 6in. guns, three anti-aircraft-guils of 4in, calibre, and 12 torpedo tubes of 21in. calibre. The torpedoes are of particular interest, being carried on the upper deck in four nests of triple tubes. The Dunedin was completed in 1922 by Arm* strong-Whitworths, and has a length of 472 ft.. a beam of 45ft., and a mean draught of 14ft., with a total displacement of 4850 tons.

During the temporary absence of the commodore of the New Zealand station, who is now returning from the Singapore naval conference, the Dunedin is under the command of Commander P. B. R. VV. William-Powlett. the other officers of the vessel being : Lieut.-Commanders C. D. Arbuthnot, (N) R. F. Nichols, Squadron Navigating Officer and Staff Officer (Operations to Commodore Commanding), and S. H. Curlill (Squadron Gunnery Officer); Lieutenants Tv. R. Buckley (Squadron Torpedo Officer), E. W*. J. Bunker (Squadron Signal and W/T Officer) R. 11. Courage and B. Walford; En ginoor Commander R. A. Fletche. (Squadron Engineer Officer); Engineer Lieutenant T. G. B. Winch; Royal Marine, Captain L. Priestley (Squadron Royal Marine Officer); Surgeor Commander ,T. E. Clark, M.R.C.8., L.R.C.P. (Squadron Medical Officer); Paymaster-Commander E. 0. Fenton (Squadron Accountant Officer); Paymaster Sub-Lieut. P. Weeks; Commissioned Gunners W. Paige and R. 11. Shipeott; Gunner E. J. Watts; Warrant Shipwright S, 11. To/.er; Warrant Engineers F. I. Sliarman and J. H. Longman; and Schoolmaster I. D. Law l'onee.

Among the features arranged in connection with the visit of the Dunedin will Ire a naval concert at the Opera House, at which the ship’s concert party will furnish the whole of the programme. Rehearsals for this concert have been proceeding since before Christmas, ana the attraction should have a wide appeal to the public.