H.M.S. LEANDER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 222, 19 August 1937, Page 8

H.M.S. LEANDER.

SUPERIOR TO ACHILLES. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Aug. 18. Looking almost like a twin of H.M.S. Achilles, the new cruiser for the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, H.M.S. Leander, arrived at Auckland this morning from Plymouth Her long voyage and the three days’ buffeting by. a gale that, was met between Pitcairn Island and the East Coa6t gave her a slightly weatherworn appearance. She brought more than 150 petty officers and ratings from H.M.S. Dunedin, which left the Dominion earlier in the year. Although the Leander was launched almost 12 months before the Achilles, which belongs to the same class as to which the new cruiser has given her name, she is regarded as being superior k in some respects to the Achilles. Before she left for New Zealand she was thoroughly overhauled and renovated, and whereas the Achilles has eight 6-inch guns, four 4-inch anti-aircraft guns, four three-pounders and 18 smaller guns, the Leander has now a much better anti-aircraft equipment, having been fitted in the last few months with eight 4-inch guns of the very latest type for this work. Her aircraft, which arrived on fhe catapult amidships, which is used for hurling her off the ship, is also of a more modern and powerful type than the one brought out last year l>v the Achilles. It is a Walrus Amphibian, propelled by si single emrine set immediately behind .the cockpit.