NAVAL MISHAP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 August 1939, Page 6

NAVAL MISHAP

ACHILLES FOULS LEANDER ON RETURN FROM PACIFIC CRUISE. NEITHER SHIP DAMAGED. i (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. When drawing alongside the jetty at the Devonport Naval Base at nine o’clock this morning, after a six-weeks’ cruise of the Pacific islands, with Viscount and Lady Galway on board, the Achilles swung her broadside against the side of the Leander, carrying away her stanchions and guard rails along the quarter deck. A strong wind and choppy sea made manoeuvring difficult, but immediately after the impact hawsers were secured to the jetty and the cruiser was slowly drawn away from the Leander. Little damage was done to the Leander, the main force of the impact being taken by the port anchor, which protruded from the bow.

Owing to the strong wind, it took 20 minutes to get the Achilles alongside the jetty. Her guard rails and stanchions were torn away along the starboard length of the quarterdeck, but the wreckage was soon cleared away and the rails were repaired. Though the impact was fairly severe, many aboard the Achilles were unaware that the accident had happened. Spectators on the jetty, hearing a grinding and a crash, expected Serious damage, but the strength of steel armour plating withstood the strain and the ship’s hulls were undamaged. Within half an hour few traces of the accident remained.