SIX FRIGATES BOUGHT FOR N.Z. NAVY

Grey River Argus, 20 September 1948, Page 8

SIX FRIGATES BOUGHT FOR N.Z. NAVY

First Four Arriving in January One Named After Lake Kanieri LONDON, Sept. 16

The first two of six Loch class frigates recently purchased by New Zealand from the British Admiralty to complete refits, H.M.iC Loch Shin and Loch Achanalt, were formally handed over to New Zealand control at Chatham by the Commander-in-Chief, The Nore (Admiral Sir Harold Burrough).! The two ships were renamed Loch! Shin becoming H.M.N.Z.S. Taupo and Loch Achanalt H.M.N.Z.S. Pukaki. Lady Burrough. wife of the admiral, unveiled the new name board of Loch Shin, and Mrs H. V. P. McClintock, wife of Captain McClintock, superintendent of the dockyards at Sheerness renamed Loch Achanalt. Captain McClintock is well known in New Zealand as one of the senior orficers 01 the cruiser, Leander, from 1938 to 1943, and as captain of the armed merchant cruiser Monowai during the latter years of the war. , Addressing the assembled ships companies, Admiral Burrogh said it was a matter for deep satisfaction to 1 the Naw that, although the two frigates, with their sister ships, were being transferred, they would still sail under the White Ensign and as His Majesty’s ships, in the defence of the British Commonwealth. He was glad to know, too, that half of the ships companies were former men of the Royal Navy, who would be given an opportunity later to settle in New Zealand. . _ T The High Commissioner for New Zealand (Mr W. J.. Jordan), in accepting the two ships on behalf of the Government of New Zealand, said he was sure that any men of the Roval Navy would be well received in the Dominion. VOYAGE TO N.Z. With Loch Achray (to be renamed Kanieri) and Loch Eck (to be renani--led Hawea), Taupo and Pukaki will sail tor New Zealanc from Ports- ' mouth in mid-October. After carrying out “working up” exercises oft Malta for a month they will arrive at Auckland not later than January 6. The vessels are of shallow draught and will, therefore, be able to visit all the smaller New Zealand harbours. The four frigates will sail throughout the voyage as a flotilla and will be commanded by a New Zealander, Commander L. P. Bourke, D.S.C., and Bar, sailing in Taupo. The remaining two frigates, Loch Katrine and Loch Morlech, will not be ready to sail for New Zealand until March next. The flotilla will call first at Gibraltar and then, after completing anti-submarine exercises at Malta, will call at Port Said and probably Fremantle before reaching Aucklanf* They will later form part of the New Zealand nava'. escort for H.M.S. Vanguard as the battleship nears Wellington with the King, the Queen, and Princess Margaret. On September 28 at Portsmouth, Loch Achray will be renamed H M.N.Z.S. Kanieri by Lady Willis, wife of Admiral Sir Algernon Willis, I Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, and Loch Eck will be renamed 1 H.M.N.Z.S. Hawea on October 1 at Plymouth by Lady Burnett, wife of Admiral Sir Robert Burnett, • Com-mander-in-Chief at Plymouth. Lady Willis is a sister of Mrs Attlee.