H.M.S. Achilles Gallant Part

Camp News, Volume 1, Issue 3, 29 December 1939, Page 4

H.M.S. Achilles Gallant Part

Everyone throughout New Zealand will feel proud of the gallant part played by H.M.S. Achilles in the battle wi the German “pocket” battleship, Admiral Graf Spee, in the South Atlantic recently, for of the Achilles complement of approximately 580 officers and men, 327 are New Zealanders. Practic.ally the three British warships stood no chance against then much more heavily armed adversary, and their success can only be accounted for by presuming that their training and efficiency have proved superior to that of the enemy.

The Achilles

The Achilles was commissioned at Chatham on March 31, 1936, for service in New Zealand waters, and recommisisoned at Portsmouth on January 27 last.

The. Achilles (7030 tons) carries eight Gin. guns, eight 4in. anti-aircraft guns, four three-pounders, and 18 smaller guns and eight 21in. torpedo tubes. An aircraft is also carried. The designed speed is 32.5 knots.

The 6in. guns are powerful semiautomatic weapons, mounted behind armoured shields. They throw 1001 b. projectiles about 22,000 yards.

The Achilles is also fitted with engines of 75,000 h.p., and on her official speed trials easily did 32.5 knots, which the builders, Messrs. Caramel, Laird and Company, Birkenhead, had contracted to give. The. crusier, which is 5544 feet in length, is oil-fuelled, carrying 1800 tons in the tanks and double-bottom, which gives her a long cruising range. hen completed for her maiden commisison with the Home Fleet in October, 1933, the Achilles had cost £1,545,780.

Lord Galway’s Tribute

HEROIC PART. The Governor-General, Lord Galway, has sent the following message to the Secretary of State for the Dominions in connection with the naval battle off Rio de la Plata: “Kindly ask the Admiralty to convey to Captain Parry and all ranks and ratings of the Achilles the most cordial congratulations of the Government and people of New Zealand on the heroic part which they played in the defeat of the Admiral Graf von Spee. The bravery and tenacity which they displayed in fighting a- ship armed with heavier guns are worthy of the highest traditions of the , British Navy.”

Prime Minister’s Tribute

PLAYED SPLENDID PART. “The people of New Zealand will be thrilled by the fact that one of their own fighting ships, the Achilles,’ played so splendid a part in putting the German pocket battleship Admiral

Graf Spee to rout,” stated the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) t in an interview recently. < “The sea battle involved a long and ( strenuous encounter, which will take a notable place in the glorious annals . of British naval history. “I should like to express on behalf of the Government and people the admiration which New Zealanders everywhere feel, and to offer the heartiest congratulations to Captain Parry and the complement of H.M.S. Achilles, which includes 327 New Zealand sailors. “I have just received a telegram from our High Commissioner, advising me that the Admiralty has not yet been informed whether or not the Achilles has suffered any damage or casualties, and that the latest Admiralty statement is to the effect that the smallest Dominion Navy will be proud of the fact that many of her men took part in so gallant an action. “The High Commisisoner, who is in Geneva at the moment, also reports that he has received a very large ■'number of expressions of gratitude and admiration, in which New Zealanders. in the United Kingdom join for the courageous feats of the officers and ratings in H.M.S. Achilles. “It is indeed gratifying that in this first naval action our boys acquitted themselves in a manner fully in keeping with the great traditions of -the British Navy. We are all proud of them.” [ ..