NAVAL SQUADRON’S VISIT

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1923, Page 3

NAVAL SQUADRON’S VISIT

I u connect ion with the visit ol the Squadron to New Zealand, it Will include the battle cruisers Hood and Repulse, and the light cruisers of the "R" chis-. Ti.e squadron will leave Revolt port on November —, th. Alter visiting African. Asiatic, and Australian unit-, the light cruisers will spend a week at Lyttelton, iron. May 1-t. and the battle-cruisers will lev II dav- at Wellington, from April on,l '] Lev will reach Auckland oi. Mav filth, and will remain a week, ’ll.eiue thev will -ail for Fiji fur a sir. dav-' vi-it. Afterwards they will visit San Francisco. The light cruisers will thou proceed to Smith American ports, while the hat tie-cruisers will go through the Panama Canal to West Indies ana | Canadian pot'ts. The squadron vie roach England on September (lib. The Hood is the largest: warship it: the world at present, being «SlO reel long, of 11,200 tons displacement. JlitT I'nited States was contemplating a Still larger elas- oi battle-cruiser feet I mg and -(T.otK) tit,' displacement. with a speed of -'LL-' 1-1 knots, as against the Hood'- -'ll knots. The Repulse is a sister ship of the Renown, which was here in 11*20 with the Prince of Wales. Tn view of the above message ;t is interesting to compare the harbours of the main ports of New Zealand with reference to the berthing of the TEALS. Hood and H.M.S. Repulse. The “Nautical Almanac" gives the depth of water at m.l.w.s. at the four ports as follows:—Wellington, 42 feet; Auckland. .TO to 31 feet 0 inches; Lyttelton. TO feet : Port Chalmers, 30

feet. The Hood has a draft of 23} feet, and the Repulse 25} feet, and consequently there are no navigational obstructions to prevent tlie entry of tiie two battleships at either of the four ports, or their remaining there at all states of the tide.