HMNZS Achilles

E54829

HMNZS Achilles was a Leander-class light cruiser of the Royal New Zealand Navy that gained fame for its role in the early World War II Battle of the River Plate against the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee.


Statements (47)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Leander-class light cruiser
Royal New Zealand Navy ship
warship
alignment British Commonwealth navies
alliance Allied powers
armament eight 6-inch (152 mm) guns in four twin turrets
secondary anti-aircraft guns
torpedo tubes
armour belt and deck armour typical of light cruisers of the period
carried ship-borne reconnaissance aircraft
category Leander-class cruisers
Ships involved in the Battle of the River Plate
World War II cruisers of New Zealand
class Leander class
conflict World War II
country New Zealand
crew mixed Royal Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy personnel
designOrigin British Royal Navy cruiser design
designPurpose trade protection and fleet duties
displacement approximately 7,000 tons standard
era World War II era
interwar period
fame early Allied victory publicity in World War II
flag White Ensign
hasAircraftFacilities yes
historicalSignificance first major combat action of a New Zealand-manned warship in World War II
hullMaterial steel
maximumSpeed about 32 knots
namedAfter Achilles
nationalService Dominion of New Zealand
navalGunCalibre 6-inch main battery
navalTheater Pacific Ocean
South Atlantic
notableEngagement Battle of the River Plate
notableFor contributing to the scuttling of Admiral Graf Spee
operator Royal New Zealand Navy
opponent German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee
originalOperator Royal Navy
participatedIn Battle of the River Plate
propulsion steam turbines
role commerce protection
fleet screening
surface combatant
serviceBranch Royal Navy
Royal New Zealand Navy
type light cruiser
usedIn surface raider hunting operations

Referenced by (4)

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