Anti-Submarine Training For New Zealand Navy

Chronicle (Levin), 4 October 1949, Page 3

Anti-Submarine Training For New Zealand Navy

AUCKLAND, Oct. "3. A seheme fpr the training of men of the Koyal New Zealand Navy in the latest methods of anti-submarj ne • vVarfare, is believed to be under consideration by the Government. Modern detection and attack equipment for instine* tion is already in the Dominion. tfkilled specialistb have been loaned by the Royal Navy and the financial vote for maintaining an anti-submarine School at Lyttelton, has been increased tenfold to £7300 this year. The Navy established an anti-subma-rine school at Petone during the war years and when it ceased operating most of the instructiona! equipment was transferred to the Lyttelton base, H.M.N.Z.S^ Tasman. This base has since been known as the torpedo and anti-sub-marine school and has been maintained on a nominal basis by a resident naval officer and "caretaker" party of rattings. However, the financial arrangements made in the 1949-50 . estimqtes suggest that it may be recommissioned in an active role. H.M.N.Z.S. Tasman served during the war years as a general base for the navy as well as being 'the Dominion 'b communication school. It is well equipped with dormitories and administration buildings and cau accommodate about 300 officers and men. At least three highly qualified specialists ih anti-submarine warfare have been appointed to the New Zealand Navy this year. One of these officers served two periods in wartime with the fainous 3rd Escort Group in the western Approaches and was later on the staff of the anti-submarine sehools in Australia and Britain. Anti-submarine training for the Dominion 'a flotilla of six frigates will also be aided by the arrival of three T class submarines at Sydney early next year. They are being provided by the Koyal Navy for exercismg warships fropi Australia, New Zealand and the Far East station. Australia has already announced plans for developing antisubmarine effieiency. Proposals for a training school are well advanced and Australian warships are being modernised with the latest devices for fighting U-boats. The Pederal Minister oi Navy, Mr Kiordan, said at the weekend that in a future war Australian eities could be bombarded by atomic missiles fired from submarines.