HMNZS Achilles (70) facts for kids
 |
|
Quick facts for kids History |
|
|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
|
| Name | HMS Achilles |
| Namesake | Achilles |
| Builder | Cammell Laird, Birkenhead |
| Laid down | 11 June 1931 |
| Launched | 1 September 1932 |
| Commissioned | 10 October 1933 |
| Out of service | Loaned to Royal New Zealand Navy 1 October 1936 |
| Identification | Pennant number: 70 |
| Honours and awards |
River Plate 1939 |
| Fate | Sold to Indian Navy 5 July 1948 |
| New Zealand |
|
| Name | HMNZS Achilles |
| Commissioned | 1 October 1941 |
| Decommissioned | 17 September 1946 |
| Identification | Pennant number: 70 |
| Honours and awards |
Guadalcanal 1942-43, Okinawa 1945 |
| Fate | Returned to Royal Navy 17 September 1946 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Leander-class light cruiser |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 555.5 ft (169.3 m) |
| Beam | 56 ft (17 m) |
| Draught | 19.1 ft (5.8 m) |
| Installed power | 73,280 shaft horsepower (54,640 kW) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 32.5 knots (60 km/h) |
| Range | 5,730 nmi (10,610 km; 6,590 mi) at 13 kn (24 km/h) |
| Complement |
|
| Armament |
|
| Armour | 3 in magazine box
1 inch deck 1 inch turrets |
| Aircraft carried |
|
HMNZS Achilles was a famous light cruiser that served during the Second World War. She was part of the Leander-class, a group of five similar ships. Achilles was first built for the Royal Navy in 1931. Later, in 1936, she was loaned to New Zealand. When the Royal New Zealand Navy was formed in 1941, she officially became one of their ships.
Achilles is most famous for her role in the Battle of the River Plate in 1939. In this battle, she fought alongside two other British ships, HMS Ajax and HMS Exeter. She was also special because she was the first Royal Navy cruiser to have a new type of radar for aiming guns. This radar, called SS1, was made in New Zealand. After the war, Achilles was returned to the Royal Navy. She was then sold to the Indian Navy in 1948 and renamed INS Delhi. She was eventually taken apart for scrap metal in 1978.
Contents
Ship Design and Features
Achilles was the second ship of the Leander-class light cruisers. These ships were designed to be effective and modern for their time. Achilles was an upgraded version, sometimes called an Improved Leander-class cruiser.
She was built to carry an aircraft. Achilles was the first ship to carry a Supermarine Walrus, which was an amphibious plane that could land on water. She also carried a unique DH.82 Queen Bee. This was a special radio-controlled aircraft, often used for target practice.
Early Service and Patrols
Achilles was first launched as HMS Achilles for the Royal Navy on 10 October 1933. From 1936, she served with the Royal Navy's New Zealand Division. In September 1941, she officially joined the new Royal New Zealand Navy and was renamed HMNZS Achilles. About 60% of her crew members were from New Zealand.
When the Second World War began, Achilles started patrolling the west coast of South America. She was looking for German merchant ships. By October 1939, she was near the Falkland Islands. Here, she joined a group of ships called Force G. This group included Exeter and Cumberland.
The Battle of the River Plate
.jpg)
_(15333552416).jpg)
On the morning of 13 December 1939, Achilles, Ajax, and Exeter spotted smoke. They soon realized it was a German warship. They thought it was the German battleship Admiral Scheer, but it was actually the Admiral Graf Spee. This German ship was a powerful "pocket battleship."
A fierce battle began from about 20 kilometers away. Achilles was hit and suffered some damage. Sadly, four of her crew members were killed. Her captain, WE Parry, was also wounded. The Graf Spee also suffered losses, with 36 crew members killed.
The ships got closer, and the battle continued. Around 7:45 AM, Graf Spee stopped fighting. She headed for the neutral port of Montevideo in Uruguay. Achilles and Ajax followed her all day. According to international law, Graf Spee had to leave the port within 72 hours.
The captain of Graf Spee, Hans Langsdorff, believed he was facing many enemy ships. To save his crew's lives, he decided to sink his own ship. He scuttled (sank) the Graf Spee rather than risk another battle. A special flag flown by Achilles during this battle is now on display. You can see it at Christ Church Cathedral in Port Stanley.
Service in the Pacific
After the Battle of the River Plate, Achilles returned to Auckland, New Zealand. She arrived on 23 February 1940 and underwent repairs until June. In 1940, German ships were active in the South Pacific. Achilles then escorted the first commercial convoy, VK.1. This convoy traveled from Sydney to Auckland in December 1940.
When Japan entered the war, Achilles began escorting troop convoys. She then joined the ANZAC Squadron in the southwest Pacific. In December 1941, Achilles met HMAS Canberra and HMAS Perth. Together, they escorted the Pensacola Convoy.
On 5 January 1943, while near Guadalcanal Island, Achilles was attacked by four Japanese aircraft. A bomb hit her, destroying one of her gun turrets and killing 13 sailors. From April 1943 to May 1944, Achilles was repaired and updated in Portsmouth, England. Her old anti-aircraft guns were replaced with newer, more powerful ones. Modern radar was also installed. The damaged gun turret was replaced with four smaller anti-aircraft guns. The repair work was delayed by an explosion in the dockyard. A brave sailor named William Dale saved several workers during this explosion. He was awarded the Albert Medal for Lifesaving.
After her repairs, Achilles returned to the New Zealand Fleet. In May 1945, she joined the British Pacific Fleet. She took part in the final operations of the Pacific War.
Life After the War
After the Second World War ended, Achilles was returned to the Royal Navy. This happened on 17 September 1946, in Sheerness, England. She was then sold to the Indian Navy. On 5 July 1948, she was recommissioned as INS Delhi.
She continued to serve in the Indian Navy until 30 June 1978. At that time, she was decommissioned (taken out of service) and scrapped in Bombay. In 1968, she was present when Mauritius gained its independence. She represented the Indian Government at this important event.
When she was scrapped, one of her gun turrets was removed. This turret was given as a gift to the New Zealand government. Today, you can see it on display at the entrance of Devonport Naval Base in Auckland. In 1979, the Indian Navy Chief, Admiral Jal Cursetji, presented some of Achilles's original items. These included her builder's plaque, steering wheel, and engine room telegraph. They were given to Admiral Terence Lewin of the Royal Navy.
Achilles even played herself in a movie! In 1956, she appeared in the film The Battle of the River Plate.
Images for kids
-
HMNZS Achilles
