DEFECT IN TAILSHAFT BRACKET

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 101, 23 January 1935, Page 8

DEFECT IN TAILSHAFT BRACKET

11.M.5. Diomede in Dock REPLACEMENT OF BEARING NECESSARY By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, January 22. The discovery of a defect in a bracket supporting the starboard propeller tailshaft of 11.M.5. Diomede will mean that the cruiser will make a prolonged stay in dock. The lignum vitae bush in the bearing, of tlie bracket has become badly worn and will have to lie 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 her stay in dock would be from five to ten days, depending on the amount of work to be done, but the defect in the bracket, means much additional work. Faults in these 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 say in dock than anticipated has interfered with the programme for her southern cruise. If the repairs are completed according to present schedule, she will leave Auckland for Gisborne on February 5. a (lay 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. The 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. . -