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4. On Ist April, 1946, the Royal New Zealand Navy consisted of H.M.N.Z. ships " Achilles," " Arabis," " Arbutus," and H.M.N.Z. minesweepers and auxiliary craft. In addition, the following shore and training establishments were in operation: H.M.N.Z.S. " Philomel " and H.M.N.Z.S. " Tamaki " at Auckland, H.M.N.Z.S. " Cook " at Wellington, H.M.N.Z.S. " Tasman" at Lyttelton, Naval W/T Station, Waiouru, and Navy Office, Dunedin. SECTION lI.—PROCEEDINGS OF CRUISERS OF THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND NAVY H.M.N.Z.S. ££ Achilles " H.M.N.Z.S. " Achilles," under the command of Captain W. E. Banks, C.8.E., D.S.C., R.N., made her farewell visit to New Zealand ports prior to her return to the United Kingdom for reversion to the Royal Navy, showing the flag in Dunedin, Bluff, Southern Sounds, Picton, New Plymouth, Nelson, Lyttelton, Timaru, and Wellington, departing finally from Auckland on 17th July, 1946. H.M.N.Z.S. " Black Prince " 2. H.M.S. " Black Prince " arrived in New Zealand waters under the command of Captain G. Y. Gladstone, R.N., to begin a goodwill cruise of the Dominion. She called at Dunedin on 24th April, 1946, leaving there on the 28th April, and proceeded to Timaru. She then called at Lyttelton on 30th April, and, after a stay of four days, sailed for Wellington. She then proceeded to Auckland, arriving in that port on the 11th May. During her cruise in Dominion waters arrangements were made with the Admiralty that " Black Prince " should be one of the ships to replace H.M.N.Z.S. " Achilles " and H.M.N.Z.S. " Gambia." Her crew were Imperial officers and ratings, 400 of whom were embarked on the 28th May, 1946, in the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Co.'s liner s.s. " Arawa " for return to the United Kingdom and reversion to the Royal Navy. " Black Prince " was paid off to reserve on Ist June, 1946. H.M.N.Z.S. "Bellona" 3. H.M.N.Z.S. " Bellona," commanded by Captain M. B. Laing, C.8.E., R.N., commissioned in the United Kingdom on Ist October, 1946, and sailed for New Zealand on the 14th October via Panama Canal, San Diego, Pearl Harbour, and Suva, arriving at Auckland on the 15th December, 1946. Essential repairs, &c., were carried out from 17th December, 1946, to 17th February, 1947. 4. With H.M.N.Z.S. " Arbutus " and an H.D.M.L. placed under her Commanding Officer's operational command, the cruiser worked up in the Hauraki Gulf prior to sailing for Australia for a further exercise period and full calibre firings. 5. H.M.N.Z.S. " Bellona " left Auckland on 3rd March, 1947, for Sydney, where the exercise period had been arranged with units of the Royal Australian Navy at Jervis Bay. After her work-up programme was completed she paid goodwill visits to Sydney, Melbourne, and Hobart. 6. H.M.N.Z. Ships " Bellona" and " Black Prince" are light cruisers of the improved " Dido " Class. They have a displacement of 5,770 tons and have a main armament of eight 5-25" guns besides numerous 40 mm. and 20 mm. A/A guns, and carry 6 x 21" torpedoes. They are capable of a speed of 32 knots. SECTION lII.—H.M.N.Z. ANTI-SUBMARINE AND MINESWEEPING VESSELS, ETC. After the successful completion in June, 1946, of the clearance of the German minefield laid in the approaches to the Hauraki Gulf, the ships of the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla, with the exception of H.M.N.Z.S. " Arbutus," were placed in reserve.

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