NEW CRUISER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18546, 5 November 1934, Page 11

NEW CRUISER

H.M.A.S. SYDNEY LAUNCHED

TO REPLACE BRISBANE

LONDON. Sept. 28.

The cruiser Sydney, just launched at Wallsend-oii-Tyne, was to have been uamen the Phaeton, hut as the Australian Government requires a cruiser to replace the Brisbane, now over the age of 16, the limit of a cruiser’s life —-it- has acquired her at her estimated cost ol £505,657. In order that the name of Sydney should he perpetuated—in memory of the first Sydney, which destroyed the (Serin.m raider .Kmden—the Phaeton was named Sydney at tjhe launch, which ceremony was performed bv Mrs. S, M. Bruce.

'l’he Syduev was laid down in July of last year, as one of the trio authorised under the programme of 1932. She is of the [.candor class and the eighth ot the type. Her chief dimensions tire : Length, £2211. ; beam. 55ft. Bin. ; draught. 16ft.; tonnage, tit that load line, 7COO. Her engines tire of 72.CC0 h.p., and calculated to give a speed of 32J, knots. Her main armament will include eight, 6iu. guns, four 4in. guns on high-angle mountings in her anti-aircraft battery, and four 3-pounder guns. She will he oil fuelled ami carry alKiut 1800 tons of oil in her tanks and double bottom.

The cruiser will be completed lor her acceptance trials about June next.