| Hmnzs Achilles (70) |
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HMNZS ''Achilles'' was a Commonwealth cruiser, famous for her part in the Battle Of The River Plate . She was a ''Leander'' Class Cruiser which served with the Royal New Zealand Navy through World War II . She was the second of five ships of the ''Leander'' class light cruisers, designed as effective follow-ons to the ''York'' class. Upgraded to ''Improved Leander'' class, she was capable of carrying an aircraft, although this was removed before the war. HISTORY ''Achilles'' was originally built for the Royal Navy , and was commissioned as HMS '''''Achilles''''' on October 10 , 1933 . She served with the Royal Navy's New Zealand Division from March 31 , 1937 through the creation of the Royal New Zealand Navy , to which she was transferred in September 1941, renamed the HMNZS ''Achilles''. Her crew was approximately 60% from New Zealand. After the war, ''Achilles'' was returned to the Royal Navy at Sheerness , Kent , England on 17 September 1946 . The ship was then sold to the Indian Navy and recommissioned on 5 July 1948 as INS ''Delhi'' . She remained in service until decommissioned for scrap at Bombay on 30 June 1978 . As part of the scrapping her Y turret was removed and gifted to the New Zealand government, it is now on display at the entrance of Devonport RNZN Base in Auckland . World War II service On the outbreak of the which she entered at 22:00 that night, having been pursued by ''Achilles'' and ''Ajax'' all day. Following the battle, ''Achilles'' returned to Auckland , New Zealand on 23 February 1940 , where she was refitted until June. After Japan entered the war, she escorted troop convoys, then joined the ANZAC squadron in SW Pacific. While operating off New Georgia with US forces, she was hit by a bomb on X turret on 5 January 1943 . Repaired at Portsmouth from April 1943 to May 1944, during which X turret was replaced by four two-pounders. Sent to the Eastern Fleet, Achilles then joined the British Pacific Fleet (Task Force 57) in May 1945 for final operations in the Pacific. SEE ALSO
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