NAVAL SQUADRON

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21372, 17 March 1941, Page 6

NAVAL SQUADRON

AMERICAN SHIPS SIX FOR AUCKLAND ARRIVAL EXPECTED TODAY EXERCISES IN PACIFIC (By Telegraph.—press Association) WELLINGTON, Sunday Reference to the visit to New Zealand of ships of the United States Fleet was made by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, at a meeting of citizens held in Wellington this afternoon to express gratitude to America for the passing of the “Lend-and-Lease” Bill. On Mr Fraser’s motion, a resolution was adopted extending a welcome to the officers and men to New Zealand. “It is fitting that today a section of the American Fleet should be almost at our shores,” Mr Fraser said. “Tomorrow we will welcome into the Waitemata Harbour two cruisers of the American Navy and four destroyers. The officers and men will get a welcome from friends to friends, from brothers to brothers. We hope we will be able to see them in Wellington and welcome them to our capital city. They are here on exercises, but are making a friendly call, and those of us who remember the great welcome the American Fleet got in every port visited in 1925 will agree that we will give them as great or even a greater welcome, because today we are welcoming those representatives of a nation which will place and have placed the whole of its resources at the disposal of the cause of freedom and democracy.” Two Cruisers; Four Destroyers The squadron consists of the cruisers Brooklyn and Savannah and the destroyers Case, Shaw, Cummings and Tucker. Captain E. S. Stone, U.S.N., commands the squadron, his flagship being the Brooklyn. Timed to reach Auckland at three o’clock this afternoon, the squadron will berth at the city side of the harbour, the cruisers going to King’s Wharf and the destroyers to Western Wharf. Only official calls will be exchanged today. A programme for the entertainment of the visitors has been prepared for submission to Captain Stone. Launched from 1936 onward, the six warships are among the most modern in the United States Navy. The two light cruisers are of the Brooklyn class, of which the United States has nine ships. The first of the class to be launched and completed, the Brooklyn, has a displacement of 9700 tons, and was completed on July 18, 1938. The Savannah was completed on August 30, 1938. She has a displacement of 9475 tons. The ships were built at an approximate cost of 17,000,000 dollars each. Heavy Armament Heavily armed, the Brooklyn and the Savannah have 15 6in. guns, eight sin. anti-aircraft guns, four three-pounders, five one-pounders, and three machine-guns. A hangar included in the hull right aft is provided with a lift and can accommodate eight aircraft although four is the normal peace complement. Ships of the Brooklyn class have a maximum speed of 32.5 knots, and a cruising radius of 14,500 miles at 15 knots. Although officially termed light cruisers, ships of the Brooklyn class are much heavier and more heavily armed than the average light cruiser. Also built under the 1933 programme, the destroyers Case, Cummings, Shaw and Tucker are of the Mahan class, and have a displacement of 1500 tons. All were completed early in 1937 at costs ranging from about 3,500,000 dollars to 3,750,000 dollars each. They have a top speed of 36.5 knots, a radius”of 6000 miles, and carry five sin. guns. They also have 12 21in. quadrupled torpedo tubes. The normal complement of the Brooklyn and the Savannah is 868 men each, and each of the four destroyers is expected to carry about 150 men. About 2300 men are expected therefore to arrive with the ships today. Previous Visits The first visit of American warships to Auckland was in 1908, when, on August 9, under the command of Rear-Admiral Charles S. Sperry, in the flagship Connecticut, 16 warships of America’s Great White Fleet steamed into Auckland Harbour, remaining a week. Eight battleships of America’s battle fleet, under the command of Admiral S. S. Robison, arrived at Auckland on August 11, 1925. The ships were the California, West Virginia, New Mexico, Colorado. Tennessee, Maryland, Idaho and Mississippi. Simultaneous visits were paid to the other main ports by other Units. The fleet left New Zealand on August 25. More recent was the vis.t of two American destroyers, the Preston and the Smith, on a preliminary “shakedown” cruise, on February 27, 1937. The largest American warship to call at Auckland since the visit in 1925 was the heavy cruiser Louisville, which arrived on March 3, 1938. The last visit was made on October 31, 1938, by the destroyer Maury. AUCKLAND PREPARES WELCOME TO VISITORS (By Telegraph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Monday Auckland is preparing to give the personnel of the American squadron much more than a typically New Zealand welcome when the six ships arrive at 3 o’clock this afternoon. The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, arrived from Wellington today and joined the Hon. W. Parry, Mr J. Heenan, and the heads of the three fighting services —Sir John Duigan, Commodore W. Parry and Air Commodore H. L. Saunders—and others in the completion of arrangements.

Thic afternoon official calls will be paid by Captain E. S. Stone, the senior officer of the squadron, on the heads of the Armed Services, the Mayor, and the Chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, and these calls will be returned later. This evening has been left free, though unofficial entertainments will be available to all members of the ships’ companies. The official programme will not be

announced until it has been approved by Captain Stone. The proposals include a civic reception, visits to Rotorua, and dances in the Town Hall. The squadron leaves on Thursday.