Image: HMS Achilles (HMNZS from 1941) (15333552416)

Description: On 23 February 1940 the cruiser HMS Achilles returned to New Zealand after its involvement in the Battle of River Plate. The Achilles was a Leander-class light cruiser, originally constructed by the Royal Navy. It was notable for being the first Royal Navy cruiser to have fire control radar, with the installation of the New Zealand-made SS1 fire-control radar in June 1940. After Second World War service in the Atlantic and Pacific, she was returned to the Royal Navy, then was sold to the Indian Navy in 1948 and recommissioned as INS Delhi. The Battle of River Plate was the first naval battle in the Second World War and the only episode of the war to take place in South America. It was the Allies’ first naval victory of the Second World War, and also the first time the current New Zealand flag was flown in battle. The crew of the Achilles during the battle was around 60 per cent New Zealanders. As nzhistory.net notes: ‘The crew of the Achilles were hailed as heroes when they returned to New Zealand in February 1940. Parades in Auckland and Wellington (on 2 April) drew huge crowds’ This painting by Frank Norton is part of the National Collection of War Art held by Archives New Zealand. The National Collection of War Art is composed of about 1,500 artworks, including portraits, battle scenes, landscapes and abstracts, depicting those who served New Zealand in times of war, and the arenas in which they served. It includes both official pieces of war art, by artists formally commissioned by the New Zealand government, and other unofficial art works that were acquired by or donated to the collection. The majority of artworks in the collection depict World War One and World War Two, however official war art continues to be commissioned by the New Zealand Defence Force up to the present day. Archives reference: AAAC 898 584/ NCWA Q223 www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=2249846... With thanks to nzhistory.net: '100,000 welcome home HMS Achilles crew', URL: <em>achilles</em>-crew www.nzhistory.net.nz/page/100%2C000-welcome-home-hms-%26l... (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), For updates on our On This Day series and news from Archives New Zealand, follow us on Twitter twitter.com/ArchivesNZ Material from Archives New Zealand
Title: HMS Achilles (HMNZS from 1941) (15333552416)
Credit: HMS Achilles (HMNZS from 1941)
Author: Archives New Zealand from New Zealand
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
Attribution Required?: Yes