H.M.S. DIOMEDE

Southland Times, Issue 22488, 24 January 1935, Page 11

H.M.S. DIOMEDE

MECHANICAL DEFECT. PROLONGED STAY IN DOCK. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, January 22. A discovery of a defect in “A bracket,” supporting the starboard propellor tailshaft of H.M.S. Diomede will mean that the cruiser will make a prolonged stay in dock. The lignum vitae bush in the bearing of the bracket has become badly worn and will have to be replaced. This is a somewhat lengthy task and repairs are not expected to be completed before February 5. The Diomede went into dock on January 12 for cleaning and inspection preparatory to her southern cruise. It was thought that her stay in dock would be from five to 10 days, depending on the amount of work to be done, but the defect in the bracket means much additional work. Faults in the “A brackets” of both the Dunedin and the Diomede have caused a measure of trouble in the past. The fact that this is the third similar repair job found necessary within the space of a year draws attention to the age of the two cruisers on the station. The fact that the Diomede will be making a longer stay in dock than anticipated has interfered with the programme for her southern cruise. If the repairs are completed according to the present schedule she will leave Auckland for Gisborne on February 5, a day late, and one day will be omitted from her stay at Gisborne before she proceeds to the south to sail on training cruises with the Wellington, Canterbury and Otago divisions of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. H.M.S. Laburnum will go into dock at Devonport as soon as the Diomede comes out. She will be overhauled and generally prepared for her final voyage to England, where she will be broken up. The Laburnum is to leave Auckland toward the end of February and will be replaced by the new convoy sloop Wellington about the middle of the year.